DETROIT – The largest Presbyterian denomination in the United States voted today to allow their clergy perform same-sex marriages. The vote took place at Cobo Hall. The 221st General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), which meets biennially, brings commissioners and advisory delegates from all 172 presbyteries as well as delegates and observers from around the world.
On Monday night members of the LGBTQ community held a Love is a Blessing reception at the conference in anticipation of the vote which comes during a week when a number of religious groups filed legal briefs in a federal court in Ohio in support of the right of same-sex couples to marry.
On Monday two briefs were filed in the U.S. 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati representing dozens of faith-based organizations and clergy. One brief was filed by the Jewish group Anti-Defamation League (ADL) on behalf of Jewish, Hindu, Sikh, Japanese-American and other groups who back the right to gay marriage.
The other brief was led by Michigan's four Episcopal bishops on behalf of liberal Mormon, Lutheran, Methodist, Unitarian and Jewish groups.