Gender, Sexuality & Inclusion

Following decisions made during the 2021 General Assembly, The Presbyterian Church in Canada holds two parallel definitions of marriage and recognizes that faithful, Holy Spirit filled, Christ centered, God honouring people can understand marriage as a covenant relationship between a man and a woman or as a covenant relationship between two adult persons. Congregations, sessions, ruling and teaching elders are granted liberty of conscience and action on marriage. (A&P 2021, p. 583-584)

Congregations and presbyteries may call and ordain as ministers and elect and ordain as ruling elders LGBTQI persons (married or single) with the provision that liberty of conscience and action regarding participation in ordinations, inductions and installations be granted to ministers and ruling elders. (A&P 2021, p. 584)

These changes to The Presbyterian Church in Canada’s theology and practice are the result of reports and denominational discernment since the mid-1980s. The following reflects statements currently endorsed by The Presbyterian Church in Canada as well as a timeline of actions related to LGBTQI people and the church.

Principles that General Assembly has endorsed:

• The Presbyterian Church in Canada affirms that all people whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity are equally beloved by God. (A&P 2021, RCL No. 2)
• Homosexual orientation is not a sin. The weight of scientific evidence suggests that sexual orientation is innate, established early in life, and not a matter of choice. Studies have not revealed any scriptural, scientific or pastoral basis or justification for programs to change a person’s sexual orientation. (A&P 2003, pp. 526-547) This position was reaffirmed by the 2019 General Assembly. (A&P 2019, pp. 486, 46)
• The church does not limit the roles of its members on the basis of their sexual orientation. These roles include church school teachers, musicians, youth leaders, ruling elders, teaching elders and members of the Order of Diaconal Ministries. (A&P 2003, pp. 526-547)
• Identifying as LGBTQI and/or being in a same-sex marriage are not grounds for discipline and censure in The Presbyterian Church in Canada. (A&P 2021, p. 667)
• The church as a whole must repent of its homophobia and hypocrisy. The church is called to be a welcoming, nurturing, loving and supporting community, a true church family, where all are welcomed, nurtured, loved and supported. (A&P 1994, pp. 251-274, 56)
• We must oppose the form of hatred known as homophobia as vigorously as any other. (A&P 1985, pp. 238-241, 31) Anger, hatred, and acts of denigration towards gay and lesbian people should not be tolerated within a congregation or the greater community. (A&P 2003, pp. 526-547, 43-45)
• Committees and courts of the church should encourage the development of networks of support groups and formalized pastoral care relationships across The Presbyterian Church in Canada, to provide resources, guidance and care for people who identify as LGBTQI, and in particular for serving and retired clergy and for family members of LGBTQI people. (A&P 2021, p. 657)
• Congregations and other worshipping bodies are encouraged to be inclusive by providing opportunities for all to offer their gifts in worship and in the life and ministry of the church (A&P 2021, p. 668)
• Homosexual acts between consenting adults are a private matter and should not be criminalized. (A&P 1969, pp. 316-17)
• The Presbyterian Church in Canada rejects without qualification the false claim that those who identify as LGBTQI are any more likely to be involved in pedophilia or the molestation or abuse of children or vulnerable adults than any other persons. (A&P 2021, p. 658)

Select actions endorsed by General Assembly

2022: General Assembly adopted a Confession to God and LGBTQI People, confessing the harm caused by homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism and hypocrisy in The Presbyterian Church in Canada, and committing the church to a true change of heart and behaviour. (A&P 2022, p. 280-284, p. 19)

As directed by the 2019 General Assembly, the Clerks of Assembly prepared guidelines to ensure that calls to LGBTQI ministers and the election of LGBTQI elders are facilitated by presbyteries and congregations. Presbyteries and congregations were invited to comment on a provisional version of the guidelines which was reported to the 2021 General Assembly. The revised guidelines regarding marriage and ordination were commended to sessions, congregations and presbyteries. The guidelines outline relevant information related to human rights legislation, liberty of conscience, pastoral considerations, and session decisions about wedding policies. (A&P 2022, p. 126-129, p. 38)

General Assembly adopted two other recommendations related to the guidelines:

• It is the policy of The Presbyterian Church in Canada that ministers and congregations are free to set wedding policies that follow either of the accepted definitions of marriage (Book of Forms Appendix L). (A&P 2022, p. 128-129, p. 37)
• It is the policy of The Presbyterian Church in Canada that in the case of a same-sex couple requesting marriage by a minister or congregation that does not host same-sex weddings, the couple shall be referred to a minister or congregation willing to consider conducting the wedding. (A&P 2022, p. 128-129, p. 37)

The General Assembly Office will create and maintain a national registry of ministers and congregations that are willing to celebrate same-sex weddings. Names and contact information of ministers and congregations will be recorded in the registry on a voluntary basis. (A&P 2022, p. 73)

2021: General Assembly adopted the final report of the Rainbow Communion, including 23 recommendations which provide further steps toward addressing the harm that has been done, and continues to be done to LGBTQI people in the church due to homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism and hypocrisy. The recommendations included the following themes and actions:

• Expressions of gratitude for all who have told their stories and participated in the work of the Rainbow Communion. (A&P 2021, p. 593, 670-671)
• Affirming that all people whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity are equally beloved by God. (A&P 2021, p. 617)
• Clarity that identifying as LGBTQI and/or being in a same-sex marriage are not grounds for discipline and censure in The Presbyterian Church in Canada. (A&P 2021, p. 667)
• A special committee was appointed by General Assembly to prepare a public confession to all individuals and congregations that have been harmed by the church in excluding and marginalizing people who identify as LGBTQI. (A&P 2021, p. 654)
• Funding was made available to provide resources to support psychotherapy/counselling for those who have experienced harm done by homophobia, hypocrisy, transphobia and heterosexism in the denomination. (A&P 2021, p. 655)
• The Life and Mission Agency, together with synods, presbyteries, sessions and theological colleges encourages the development of support groups and formalized pastoral care relationships across the denomination to provide resources, guidance and care for people who identify as LGBTQI, and in particular for serving and retired clergy and for family members of LGBTQI people. (A&P 2021, p. 657)
• Courts of the church, agencies, colleges, and camps were instructed to review and update their policies, procedures and practices by June 2022 to ensure they reflect the full inclusion of all people. The Life and Mission Agency produced resources to support policy review, revisions and development. (A&P 2021, p. 661-664)
• Committees to Nominate at all levels and in all courts of the church, are encouraged to include LGBTQI representation in the membership of committees of the sessions, presbyteries, synods, colleges and the General Assembly. (A&P 2021, p. 665)
• Congregations and other worshipping bodies are encouraged to be inclusive by providing opportunities for all to offer their gifts in worship and in the life and ministry of the church. (A&P 2021, p. 668)

For a full list of the Rainbow Communion’s recommendations, download their final report

The 2021 General Assembly also voted to approve Remits B and C (see 2019). These decisions changed the Presbyterian Church in Canada’s theology and practice regarding marriage. People may choose to define marriage as either as a covenant relationship between a man and a woman or a covenant relationship between two adult people. Presbyterian ministers may choose to officiate at the marriages of same-sex couples. LGBTQI people (whether married or single) can be ordained and are welcome to serve as ministers and ruling elders. (A&P 2021, p. 583-584) Provisional guidelines to facilitate calls and elections of LGBTQI candidates were commended to Sessions, congregations and presbyteries for feedback, with a view to improving the guidelines and reporting to a future General Assembly. (A&P 2021, p. 306-308; see A&P 2022, p. 126-129 for the updated guidelines)

2019: The 2019 General Assembly adopted the recommendation that urged congregations, sessions, presbyteries, synods and other bodies of the church be urged to give public expression to the Moderator’s Letter of Repentance and to seek ways to live out that repentance for harm done and that continues to be done, to LGBTQI people and others as a result of homophobia, hypocrisy, transphobia and heterosexism in The Presbyterian Church in Canada. (A&P 2019, pp. 486, 19) General Assembly also adopted a recommendation that the Life and Mission Agency develop and gather resources to strengthen our ability to provide appropriate support to congregations, sessions, presbyteries, synods and other bodies of the church in developing models of pastoral care that recognize the gifts of all and encourage mutual support and care for those who have been harmed by homophobia, transphobia, heterosexism and hypocrisy. (A&P 2019, pp. 486, 46)

Additionally, after a process of prayerful discernment following the report of the Special Committee of Former Moderators, the following were remitted to presbyteries under the Barrier Act, the process through which official policies of the church may be changed (click here to read more ):

The Presbyterian Church in Canada holds two parallel definitions of marriage and recognizes that faithful, Holy Spirit filled, Christ centered, God honouring people can understand marriage as a covenant relationship between a man and a woman or as a covenant relationship between two adult persons. That congregations, sessions, ruling and teaching elders be granted liberty of conscience and action on marriage.

That congregations and presbyteries may call and ordain as ruling elders LGBTQI persons (married or single) with the provision that liberty of conscience and action regarding participation in ordinations, inductions and installations be granted to ministers and ruling elders. (A&P 2019, pp. 5, 47-52)

Additional recommendations were adopted by the 2019 General Assembly as follows:

That the Clerks of Assembly be instructed to provisionally prepare guidelines to ensure that calls to LGBTQI ministers and the election of LGBTQI elders are facilitated in presbyteries and congregations; that the Moderator write a pastoral letter to the church; that the Life and Mission Agency provide a means for those affected by this decision (regarding the remits) to express their concerns, views and pain in a safe environment, and that these concerns be reported back to the 2020 General Assembly before the report on remits is received and its recommendations considered. (A&P 2019, pp. 47-52)

2018: All overtures, reports, recommendations and petitions pertaining to sexuality, except for the Rainbow Communion’s work, were referred to the Special Committee of Former Moderators tasked with proposing a way forward in response to questions regarding same-sex marriage and the ordination of married same-sex clergy and elders. The Special Committee’s work was parallel with the Rainbow Communion. (A&P 2018, pp. 25-26) The Special Committee presented its final report to the 2019 General Assembly.

General Assembly agreed that those who are subject to the discipline of The Presbyterian Church in Canada who accepted the invitation to serve on the Special Committee re Listening (LGBTQI People) or who accept the invitation to tell their stories would have potential censure with respect to the denomination’s stance on same-sex relationships suspended indefinitely in order to allow them to participate freely and honestly in the work of the Special Committee. (A&P 2018, pp. 459-464, 29)

2017: The Committee on Church Doctrine and the Life and Mission Agency (Justice Ministries) jointly prepared a report with recommendations. Each group also prepared separate, individual reports. (A&P 2017, pp. 474-554) The joint report covers three topics: 1) How the overtures were referred by the General Assembly since 2015; 2) The history of the consultation between the Committee on Church Doctrine and the Life and Mission Agency; and 3) Repentance of Homophobia, recognizing that the church failed to fulfill the resolution “to listen to and share the very real pain of homosexuals and their families” that was adopted by General Assembly in 1994 and failed in its call “to be a welcoming, nurturing, loving and supportive community.” (A&P 1994, p. 267)

The 2017 General Assembly also adopted recommendations: that The Presbyterian Church in Canada and its agencies, colleges, congregations, sessions, presbyteries, synods, committees and groups seek unity under the guidance of the Holy Spirit as it discerns the mind of Christ in the matter of sexuality before the church. (A&P 2017, p. 479, 551, 14)

General Assembly commended the following reports to various groups of the church – such as sessions, presbyteries, theological colleges, etc. – for study, reflection and comment by January 31, 2018:

• “The Historic Argument Concerning Human Sexuality” by the Committee on Church Doctrine (A&P 2017, pp. 480-504)
• “What the Bible teaches on Covenanted Monogamous Same-Sex Relationships” by the Committee on Church Doctrine (A&P 2017, pp. 505-536)
• “Where from Here?” by the Committee on Church Doctrine (A&P 2017, pp. 536-539)
• The biblical reflection of the Life and Mission Agency’s report concerning the various overtures on human sexuality (A&P 2017, pp. 542-549)

General Assembly adopted a recommendation from the Committee on Church Doctrine and Life and Mission Agency’s joint report that The Presbyterian Church in Canada repent of homophobia and hypocrisy by establishing a special committee to: 1) create a safe and respectful environment in which LGBTQ people can tell stories of harm done to them, of God’s grace experienced by them, and of Christian ministry performed by them, even in the midst of the challenges that they have faced; 2) listen to the stories told by LGBTQ people; 3) draft an appropriate response regarding homophobia within the denomination; 4) name concrete actions that the General Assembly consider implementing; and 5) report to a future General Assembly within the next 3 years. (A&P 2017, pp. 477, 28) For more information about the Special Committee re Listening (also known as the Rainbow Communion), visit https://presbyterian.ca/listening.

General Assembly adopted an additional motion that the moderator prepare a letter of repentance addressed to the LGBTQ community. (A&P 2017, p. 46)

2016: General Assembly adopted a report from the Life and Mission Agency (Justice Ministries) summarizing responses to “Body, Mind and Soul”. (A&P 2016, pp.436-439)

General Assembly recommended that the Committee on Church Doctrine in consultation with the Life and Mission Agency: 1) continue to reflect on the nature of Christian marriage in relation to LGBTQ and intersex people; and 2) reflect theologically on the spiritual needs of transgender and intersex people. (A&P 2016, pp. 260-265, 28)

2015: The Life and Mission Agency and the Committee on Church Doctrine received twenty-three overtures regarding human sexuality in 2015. Commissioners participated in facilitated, small group discussions about human sexuality and sexual orientation. (A&P 2015, pp 20,30,35)

The 2015 General Assembly adopted a motion that the moderator write a pastoral letter to all congregations, presbyteries and synods inviting them to: 1) maintain unity in the bond of peace while debating and studying the full inclusion of LGBT people within The Presbyterian Church in Canada; 2) treat one another with profound and mutual respect and integrity despite differences in biblical interpretation and perspective; and 3) be particularly sensitive and gracious to all who are vulnerable and might despair as a result of such deliberations. (A&P 2015, pp. 46-47)

In response to recommendations adopted by General Assembly (A&P 2015, pp. 539-541, 46), the Committee on Church Doctrine and Life and Mission Agency (Justice Ministries) prepared a joint study guide called “Body, Mind and Soul” on the topics of human sexuality, sexual orientation, and other related matters raised in the overture. The study guide was posted on the church’s website by the end of October 2015 and congregations, sessions, presbyteries and synods were invited to share the result of their conversations with both the Committee on Church Doctrine and the Life and Mission Agency (Justice Ministries) prior to March 31, 2016.

1997-2003: The 1997 General Assembly appointed a committee to clarify the roles of homosexual and lesbian persons in the church. (A&P 1997, pp. 503, 19, 58) This committee’s work was expanded to include clarification of the term ‘sexual orientation’ by the 1998 General Assembly. (A&P 1998, p. 54) Interim reports were presented every year from 1998-2002. A study guide for congregations was prepared and distributed in the fall of 2002. The final report was received and adopted by the 2003 General Assembly. (A&P 2003, pp. 526-547, 26, 34, 37-41, 43-45)

1985 & 1994: The 1985 General Assembly adopted a statement on homosexual practice prepared by the Committee on Church Doctrine (A&P 1985, pp. 238-241, 31) and the 1994 General Assembly adopted a statement for ongoing thought and discussion on human sexuality prepared by the Committee on Church Doctrine, which included a section on homosexuality. (A&P 1994, pp. 251-274, 56)

1969: The Board of Evangelism and Social Action communicated approval of the Government of Canada’s proposed legislation to remove homosexual acts between consenting adults in private from the Criminal Code. This action took place in between two General Assemblies and the statement was included in the Board of Evangelism and Social Action’s report to the 1969 General Assembly (A&P 1969, pp. 316-317; report as a whole was adopted p. 109).

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