Gay Clergy and Gay Marriage in the News: Four Articles

Gay Marriage Support at Historic High, Says Gallup Poll

Support for same-sex marriage in the United States is at a historic high, according to recently released results from a Gallup poll.

Gallup found that 60 percent of respondents believed that marriages between same-sex couples should be legally recognized, with 37 percent opposed. Keep reading

Pro-Gay Marriage Study Retracted for Using Fake Data

A study that purported to show gay marriage opponents can easily be convinced to change their minds if they talk to gays was retracted after finding it used fake data.

The study, "When contact changes minds: An experiment on transmission of support for gay equality," was published in the December 2014, issue of the journal Science. It was widely reported in the media and cited as evidence that support for gay marriage is inevitable.

Donald P. Green, professor of political science at Columbia University, retracted the study after learning that his co-author, Michael LaCour, a UCLA graduate student, had used fake data. Keep reading

United Methodist Body Votes to Change the Church's Position on Homosexuality by Allowing Clergy to Be 'Practicing Homosexuals,' Perform Gay Weddings

A United Methodist body approved proposed legislation that would, among other things, allow clergy to perform gay marriage ceremonies and local conferences to ordain non-celibate homosexuals.

The Connectional Table voted 26 to 10 in favor of proposed legislation that would allow clergy to perform gay weddings without concern of facing church discipline or to be "openly self-avowed practicing homosexuals."

While the proposal was passed by the Connectional Table, the General Conference, the denomination's top lawmaking assembly, will determine if it becomes official policy when it meets next year in Oregon. Keep reading

Number of PCUSA Congregations Slips Below 10,000 Mark

The number of congregations belonging to Presbyterian Church (USA) fell below the 10,000 mark during 2014, according to statistics released by the denomination.

PCUSA earlier this month reported that it had 9,829 congregations in 2014, which represents a decline from the 10,038 congregations it had in 2013.

110 congregations were listed as dissolved and another 101 were dismissed to other denominations. In contrast, in 2014 PCUSA had 15 new congregations organized. Keep reading