The OGA's March 8 statement concludes that the Presbyterian Church (USA)
"has demonstrated a historic commitment both to the sanctity of marriage
between a man and a woman and to human and civil rights for all persons."

The full text of the OGA document:

1. Has the General Assembly defined marriage?

Yes. The Directory for Worship states, "Marriage is a civil contract
between a woman and a man. For Christians, marriage is a covenant
through which a man and a woman are called to live out together before
God their lives of discipleship." (Book of Order, W-4.9001).

2. Has the General Assembly taken action to support a federal marriage
amendment?

No. The 214th General Assembly (2002) declined to adopt a resolution
calling for support of the federal marriage amendment.

3. Has the General Assembly taken action in support of marriages for
same-sex couples?

No. (See answer to question #4.)

4. Has the General Assembly taken action to support contractual
relationships between same-sex couples with equal civil rights of
married couples?

Yes. The 208th General Assembly (1996) approved the following
resolution: "Affirming the Presbyterian church's historic definition of
marriage as a civil contract between a man and a woman, yet recognizing
that committed same-sex partners seek equal civil liberties in a
contractual relationship with all the civil rights of married couples,
we urge the Office of the Stated Clerk to explore the feasibility of
entering friend-of-the-court briefs and supporting legislation in favor
of giving civil rights to same-sex partners."

5. Is it appropriate for PC(USA) governing bodies to communicate these
actions to public officials and the media?

Yes. In fact, PC(USA) governing bodies have historically communicated
the denomination's position on public issues.

The text of Ivory's remarks during the March 3 press conference, which
took place prior to a U.S. Senate hearing on the Federal Marriage Amendment:

Good morning, my name is Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory and I am the
director of the Washington Office of the Presbyterian Church (USA). Our
General Assembly is the national decision-making body for this
215-year-old historic denomination with approximately 11,500
congregations all across in the United States and Puerto Rico.

In 2002, the 214th annual meeting of the General Assembly of the
Presbyterian Church (USA) voted disapproval for the resolution calling
for a Federal Marriage Amendment. At this same Assembly, the
commissioners voted to reaffirm decades of social-witness policy that
supports the civil rights and non discrimination for all persons,
regardless of sexual orientation.

Indeed, the Presbyterian Church's position on this issue dates back to
1996 when the General Assembly was asked to consider commenting on a
1995 pending decision by the Hawaii Supreme Court on the issue of equal
access to the civil rights of marriage for same sex couples. In response
to this resolution, the (1996) General Assembly commissioners voted to
affirm the "church's historic definition of marriage as a civil contract
between a man and a woman, yet recognizing that committed same sex
partners seek equal civil liberties in a contractual relationship with
all the civil rights of married couples 1/4 we urge supporting
legislation in favor of giving civil rights to same-sex couples".

We are mindful that a proposal to amend the Constitution should not be
taken lightly and that the Federal Marriage Amendment would restrict the
civil rights of millions of Americans. Civil rights are a fundamental
right under the constitutions of the United States and its constituent
states and territories. Because these constitutions guarantee equal
protection of the law, the states should permit gay and lesbian couples
access to the civil status of civil marriage and to share fully and
equally in the rights and responsibilities of that status. We urge
Congress to reject this Amendment.

Notably, while the Presbyterian Church General Assemblies have affirmed
the civil right of same sex couples to civil marriage, it retains its
religious practice and view that "Marriage is a gift God has given to
all humankind for the well being of the entire human family. For
Christians, marriage is a covenant through which a man and a woman are
called to live out together before God their lives of discipleship. In a
service of Christian marriage a lifelong commitment is made by a woman
and a man to each other, publicly witnessed and acknowledged by the
community of faith. [Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Order W 4.9001].

Few decisions by religious bodies are more central than who can take
part in important religious rituals or services, including marriage. The
Constitution bars any court or legislature from requiring any religious
institution or person to perform marriage ceremonies for anyone. Indeed,
the Constitution protects houses of worship in their freedom to limit
marriages on whatever theological grounds they choose. The First
Amendment already protects religious organizations from governmental
interference in such matters, and constitutional definitions of marriage
therefore are unnecessary. The Constitution should be reserved for
affirmation of democratic values of equal rights and not delineating
negative ones. Again, the Federal Marriage Amendment should be rejected.

END