CINCINNATI — A Presbyterian pastor who defiantly married gay couples in violation of church policy was removed from his Cincinnati church and the Presbyterian Church (USA). The Rev. Stephen Van Kuiken, pastor of Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church, was ousted after a 119-45 vote by members of the regional Cincinnati Presbytery.
Van Kuiken refused to abide by a church policy allowing the blessing of same-sex unions as long as they are not equated with marriage. A Mount Auburn policy adopted in 2001 said “our policy of inclusion implies and requires equality in terms of consideration and entitlement in society, and that marriage between two persons, man and woman, man and a man, or woman and woman, is the same.”
Last April, Van Kuiken was found guilty and rebuked by a church court for marrying gay couples, but was acquitted on a technicality on charges that he ordained sexually active gay clergy.
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