PCUSA approves amendment barring discrimination based on sexual orientation

[Lori Dee]

PCUSA approves amendment barring discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity
Link to Full Article
The Christian Post - Michael Gryboski, Editor
Friday, March 14, 2025

Presbyterian Church (USA) has approved an amendment to its constitution that prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

The LGBT advocacy group Covenant Network of Presbyterians announced Wednesday the passage of Amendment 24-A in a statement posted to the PC(USA) 's official website through the Presbyterian News Service.

Amendment 24-A amended the PC(USA) Book of Order to include gender identity and sexual orientation to the antidiscrimination statement found in F-1.0403, which read in part that "God unites persons through baptism regardless of race, ethnicity, age, sex, disability, geography, or theological conviction."

CNP Executive Director, the Rev. Brian Ellison, said in a statement that "we're still a long way from equity in many areas of church life" for LGBT individuals.

Teaching Elder Benjamin Fitzgerald-Fye of the Cayuga-Syracuse Presbytery defended the amendment, claiming that it "doesn't ask anyone to do anything" and "doesn't stop anyone from doing anything."

"We cannot have a conversation if we keep giving ourselves permission not to talk about things," said Fitzgerald-Fye at the time. "It is not nice to set aside the rights of others because it is uncomfortable to talk about it."

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