GENERAL ASSEMBLY MISSION COUNCIL
Presbyterians are closely divided on whether same-sex marriage should be allowed.
According to the February 2012 Presbyterian Panel survey, more members and ruling elders oppose same-sex marriage than support it. The reverse is true of teaching elders.
Around one-half of members (51 percent) and ruling elders (48 percent) oppose same-sex marriage, while just more than one in three are in favor (34 percent; 38 percent); the rest are not sure.
Among teaching elders, half of pastors (49 percent) and six in 10 specialized ministers (61 percent) support same-sex marriage, while 41 percent and 28 percent, respectively, are opposed.
There has been a significant increase in Presbyterian support for same-sex marriage since 2005, when only 13 percent of members, 22 percent of ruling elders, 35 percent of pastors, and 51 percent of specialized ministers favored allowing same-sex couples to wed.
On the related issue of allowing teaching elders to perform wedding ceremonies for same-sex couples, Presbyterians are also divided. About one-third of members (32 percent) and ruling elders (36 percent), 44 percent of pastors, and 58 percent of teaching elders favor allowing teaching elders to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies in locations where same-sex marriage is legal, according to another recent Presbyterian Panel survey. Most other respondents oppose giving such permission to teaching elders (49 percent, 50 percent, 44 percent, and 32 percent, respectively), though at least one in 10 in every group are not sure (19 percent; 14 percent; 11 percent; 10 percent).
“Opinions on allowing ministers to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies largely mirror those on same-sex marriage itself,” said Perry Chang, Presbyterian Panel administrator.
