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What did the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) 1997 constitutional amendment say about ordination and sexual activity outside marriage?
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Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
First Presbyterian Church, Johnstown, N.Y.
In 1997, the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) amended its constitution to prohibit the ordination of any member to the offices of clergy, elder, or deacon if they were sexually active outside of marriage. While the language of the amendment was general, it was widely understood to apply primarily to homosexuals.1