A closely divided Presbytery of Greater Atlanta on Saturday voted down an amendment to its denomination's constitution that would explicitly prohibit the blessing of same-sex unions, while its counterpart in northeast Georgia voted the other way.
The 256-225 Atlanta vote against the amendment came by paper ballot after an hour's discussion.
The Northeast Georgia Presbytery voted Saturday in favor of the amendment 65-61.
"We had a very spiritual, pastorally sensitive and open debate even though our vote was very close," said the Rev. Keyon Meeks Jr., executive of the presbytery.
A majority of the nation's 173 presbyteries must approve the amendment by this summer for it to become law in the 2.6-million-member Presbyterian Church (USA).
Currently, according to a ruling last year by the denomination's highest court, ministers in the denomination may perform same-sex blessing services as long as they are not considered the same as marriage ceremonies.
Shirley Guthrie, a retired professor from Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, urged his fellow Presbyterians in Atlanta to "say yes to the gospel by saying no to this amendment."
"The mission of the church is not to close doors and shut people out," Guthrie said.
The proposed amendment, passed by the national governing body of the denomination in 2000, would rule out invoking "God's blessing . . . on any relationship that is inconsistent with" the view that people should live "in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or in chastity in singleness."
As of last week, 37 presbyteries had voted in favor of the amendment and 67 against it. The Presbytery of Greater Atlanta represents 110 churches. The Cherokee presbytery, which covers much of the northwestern metro area, is scheduled to vote Tuesday.
Speaking for the amendment, Nancy Williams, an elder from Douglasville, said Saturday, "I believe if we do not support this amendment, we will be sending a very confusing message to our youth and our young people."
The Rev. Carl Smith, a retired minister, spoke in favor of the amendment, saying, "I do not dislike homosexuals. I have visited with many. I have prayed with many . . . I wish desperately this amendment were not before us. I wish it were not needed . . . Apparently it is."