US Presbyterian Church OKs Same-Sex Marriage; Converts "a Man and a Woman" to "Two People"

A majority of the presbyteries of the Presbyterian Church (USA) was reached on March 17, approving an amendment to the church's constitution changing its definition of marriage from being between "a man and a woman" to "two people, traditionally a man and a woman," The New American website reports today (March 18, 2015).

The change was recommended last year by the church's General Assembly, but required approval by a majority of the church's 171 regional bodies -- known as presbyteries -- to become official.

The change was approved when the Presbytery of the Palisades in New Jersey became the 86th such body to approve the amendment. As of the evening of March 17, the count stood at 86 presbyteries in favor, 41 opposed, and one tied.

Following the completion of the voting, and the verification of the results by church leaders, the change will take effect on June 21, 2015.