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The nation's largest Presbyterian denomination has voted to allow its pastors to perform same-sex marriages in states where such unions are legal.

 voted at its 221st General Assembly in Detroit to change the way it defines Christian marriage in its constitution from "a man and a woman" to "two people."


 says, "At the group's last biennial convention in Pittsburgh in 2012, a similar proposal was narrowly defeated."


Even so, according to The Associated Press, "In 2011, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) eliminated barriers to ordaining clergy with same-sex partners."


However, conservative Presbyterians "are concerned that approving same-sex marriage could further accelerate the decline of the Presbyterian Church, which has seen a 37 percent decrease in membership since 1992, a drop of more than 1 million, from 2.78 million to 1.76 million last year," 

Religion and Faith

The top legislative body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) voted at its 221 st General Assembly in Detroit to change the way it defines Christian marriage in its constitution from "a man and a woman," to "two people."

Largest U.S. Presbyterian denomination votes to allow marriage for gay couples

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