Presbyterian Church

For nearly 23 years, Lisa Larges has sought to become a Presbyterian minister, but she has twice been formally rejected because of a long-standing ban on gay ordination by the Presbyterian Church USA. But in what appears to be the first national test of a 2006 policy change by the church, Larges, of San Francisco, has moved a step closer to joining the clergy.

Leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) overturned a long-standing ban on the ordination of gays and lesbians Friday, providing yet the latest example of a religious denomination struggling with how, and whether, to incorporate homosexuality into church life. At the same time, the church's national governing body, meeting in San Jose, refused to alter its definition of marriage, calling it a "covenant between a woman and a man."

The Rev. Louis H. Evans Jr., the organizing pastor of Bel Air Presbyterian Church who went on to lead the congregation of the National Presbyterian Church in Washington, D.C., where Ronald Reagan worshiped while he was president, has died. He was 82. Evans died Wednesday at his home in Fresno after being diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or Lou Gehrig's disease, his son Jamie said. Born June 20, 1926, Evans was one of four children of Marie and the Rev. Louis Hadley Evans Sr.

A veteran Presbyterian minister on trial for officiating the weddings of two lesbian couples was found not guilty Friday of violating her denomination's position on same-sex marriage. A regional panel of the Presbyterian Church (USA) ruled 6 to 1 for the Rev. Jane Spahr.

A Presbyterian minister under scrutiny by a religious judicial council for officiating at the unions of two lesbian couples was recently found not guilty of violating the constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The commission of the Presbytery of the Redwoods, whose jurisdiction covers the coastal region from north of San Francisco to the Oregon border, ruled this month that the Rev.

Episcopal church leaders on Tuesday rejected a temporary ban against gay bishops, while Presbyterians agreed to let local and regional governing bodies decide whether to ordain gay or lesbian ministers. The actions by the churches' governing assemblies could cause further rifts in denominations already coping with theological divisions over homosexuality and declining membership.

For delegates attending the national conventions of three mainline denominations, the last two weeks have been an intense period, a time to debate hot-button issues and make difficult choices over who can best lead their churches. Combined, the Southern Baptist, Presbyterian and Episcopal churches represent more than 20 million Americans. The three clergy elected to head the churches are all relatively unknown faces on the national religious scene -- and all are surprise choices.

When referring to the Trinity, most Christians are likely to say "Father, Son and the Holy Spirit." But leaders of the Presbyterian Church (USA) are suggesting some additional designations: "Compassionate Mother, Beloved Child and Life-giving Womb," or perhaps "Overflowing Font, Living Water, Flowing River." Then there's "Rock, Cornerstone and Temple" and "Rainbow of Promise, Ark of Salvation and Dove of Peace."

March was a busy month for courts weighing issues affecting churches and clergy in California and across the nation. Three rulings -- one from a church body, two from secular courts -- involved a California lesbian who hopes to become a priest, a dispute over church property in Colorado and whether children in Texas should observe a minute of silence before starting their school day.

Efforts to allow gays and lesbians to serve as clergy in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have been defeated again, sealed by votes tallied Saturday. But the margin of defeat -- the final tally has yet to be determined -- is guaranteed to be closer than in previous years. That is encouraging for supporters of gay clergy and cause for concern for opponents, with both sides expecting the issue to be revisited. Last summer, the General Assembly of the 2.