Equal Rights for Civil Unions

The Denver Overture to give equal rights to same-sex civil unions passes with 76% of the vote.

Brunswick Presbytery had a similar overture

ElectronElectronic Vote - Plenary AffirmatAffirmative: 516 516 Negative: 151 151 Abstaining: 13 13

Overture from the Denver Presbytery 04-13 (Similar to 04-12 – Brunswick Presbytery)   Final Text: That the 218th General Assembly (2008) to do the following: 1.   Renew and strengthen the long-standing Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) commitment to equal protection under the law for lesbian and gay persons and the 216th General Assembly (2004)’s affirmation of the right of same-gender persons to civil union and, thereby, to all the benefits, privileges, and responsibilities of civil union.           a.  Recognize that married couples enjoy more than 1,000 protections, benefits, and responsibilities that are denied to committed couples in same-gender partnerships and their children.           b.  Recognize that equality under the law does not discriminate against some committed couples but sees that same-gender partners also have access to all protections, benefits, and responsibilities of civil union.           c.  Request the Stated Clerk, the General Assembly Council, and other representatives of the PC(USA) to urge state legislatures and the federal government to apply the principle of equal protection to same-gender couples and their children. 2.   Direct the Moderator of the General Assembly to appoint a special committee, representing the broad diversity [and theological balance] of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), to study the following, and report to the 219th General Assembly (2010), including any policy recommendations growing out of the study:           a.  The history of the laws governing marriage and civil union, including current policy debates.           b.  How the theology and practice of marriage have developed in the Reformed and broader Christian tradition.           c.  The relationship between civil union and Christian marriage.           d.  The effects of current laws on same-gender partners and their children.           e.  The place of covenanted same-gender partnerships in the Christian community. 3.   Support congregations, sessions, and ministers of Word and Sacrament who are seeking to extend pastoral care as well as outreach and evangelism to same-gender couples and their nontraditional families who are more and more our neighbors on our streets and our fellow members in our pews. [4. This overture seeks to renew and strengthen the commitment of the PCUSA to equal protection under the law, encourage steps to reinforce this commitment and to affirm the importance of pastoral care and outreach to non-traditional families, including those same-gender commitment partners. This overtures advocates for equal rights and does not seek to redefine the nature of Christian marriage.]