More Light Presbyterians invites PC(USA) teaching elders who have performed same gender weddings, or who are willing to perform them as the pastoral need arises, to join together and publicly proclaim that witness of pastoral care to the wider church. We also invite individual ruling elders and entire church sessions to affirm this witness. This call to action was inspired by several Commissioner testimonies at the 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Commissioner Testimonies

Testimonies from Rev. Mieke Vandersall and Rev. Ruth Hamilton.

For Teaching Elders (Clergy)

We invite you to add your name and presbytery to the statement below:

As a teaching elder in the PCUSA, I have married or am willing to publicly marry same gender couples in my pastoral role, in obedience to my ordination vow to “show the love and justice of Jesus Christ.” Respecting the conscience of fellow Presbyterians, I accept the consequences of this declaration, including the provisions of discipline in our Book of Order.

Add your name to this statement.

To see who has already signed the list, click here.

For Individual Ruling Elders (whether currently on session or not)

We invite you to add your name and presbytery to the statement below:

As a ruling elder, I publicly affirm the choice of teaching elders to perform same gender marriages, in accordance with their ordination vows.

Add your name to this statement.

To see who has signed the list, click here.

For Sessions

We invite you to add the name of your congregation and your presbytery to the statement below:

As the session of a congregation in the PCUSA, we affirm that our policy regarding who may marry in our church does not discriminate against same gender couples. We affirm Christian marriage for all, regardless of sexual orientation, and regardless of legal restrictions on same gender marriage in most jurisdictions. We affirm the choice of our clergy to marry same gender couples as a part of their pastoral ministries, in obedience to their ordination vow “to show the love and justice of Jesus Christ.” Respecting the conscience of fellow Presbyterians, we accept the consequences of this declaration, including the provisions of discipline in our Book of Order.

To add your congregation’s name to the session list, the clerk of session must send an official notice of the date and division of the vote to adopt this statement to session@mlp.org.