Key facts
- A proposal requiring ordained clergy in the Presbyterian Church (USA) to be monogamous is on the docket for the upcoming General Assembly.
- The overture, CON-10, has not garnered broad support and faces opposition from advisory committees.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) will consider a proposal requiring ordained clergy to be monogamous. The overture, CON-10, faces opposition from advisory committees and has not gained broad support, though it highlights growing discussions around polyamory in progressive Christian denominations.
The debate over clergy monogamy within the Presbyterian Church (USA) reflects broader societal discussions about relationship structures and their intersection with religious doctrine, potentially impacting LGBTQ+ inclusion and the denomination's future direction.
The Presbyterian Church (USA) is set to consider a proposal, CON-10, that would mandate monogamy for its ordained clergy. This overture comes as polyamory gains visibility in broader society and presents a potential policy implication for theologically progressive Christian denominations.
The proposal argues that polyamory or polygamy can lead to power imbalances, emotional harm, and spiritual confusion. However, it has faced significant pushback. The board and staff of More Light Presbyterians, an LGBTQ-affirming nonprofit, released a statement asserting that the proposal unfairly targets queer communities and ignores the diversity of biblical witness and lived experiences.
Currently, the PCUSA's governing documents do not explicitly mention polyamory. In 2011, the denomination removed language that required clergy to be married or chaste, opening the door for LGBTQ individuals to seek ordination. The Book of Order now defines marriage as a commitment between two people.
For CON-10 to pass, it requires approval from the denomination's General Assembly delegates and ratification by more than half of its regional governing bodies, known as presbyteries. To date, only the Presbytery of Sierra Blanca, which submitted the overture, has endorsed it. Several advisory committees have recommended voting against the proposal, citing concerns that it attempts to legislate intimate lives and imposes a too-narrow definition of family.
Alongside CON-10, another overture seeks theological studies on gender, sexuality, and relationships to support the denomination's commitment to inclusion. This reflects ongoing conversations within the PCUSA about diverse familial realities and ministering to non-monogamous congregants, a topic that has also surfaced in other mainline denominations like the Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada.