San Diego Gay and Lesbian News

"This is a positive step forward for a more equal society, and speaks to the progressive values of 21st century Scotland."

After decades of open struggle with the church's recalcitrant attitude and discrimination against its LGBTQ worshippers who wanted to serve as pastors, elders or deacons, the Presbyterian Church (USA) finally conducted its first openly gay ordination.

The Presbyterian Church (USA) on Sunday, July 10, will begin a new chapter in the faith lives of LGBT people when changes to the church’s constitution go into effect allowing the ordination of openly LGBT ministers, elders and deacons.

The general assembly, the church's law-making body, voted on Monday morning to lift that moratorium, officially allowing gay ministers to take on parishes for the first time since it was founded in 1560-1 by John Knox, a leading figure in the Scottish reformation.