In response to a national church decision that appears to allow local option on the ordination of sexually active gay clergy, Pittsburgh Presbytery declared yesterday that it will continue to accept only clergy who "live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness." It also reiterated a prohibition on its clergy conducting marriages for same-sex couples.

The 148-105 vote at Hamilton Presbyterian Church in Bethel Park was in keeping with the presbytery's history of supporting a traditional understanding of biblical teaching on sexual morality. The prohibition on gay ordination is in the Book of Order, or constitution of the Presbyterian Church (USA), but an interpretation of it approved at this summer's General Assembly appeared to create room for local presbyteries to approve actively gay candidates who otherwise met ordination standards.

Concern about reaction to the General Assembly's decision is deep enough that yesterday's meeting also included discussion of issues related to church property if a congregation votes to leave the denomination. Further discussion and presentations on that topic will take place Nov. 14 at 7 p.m. in the presbytery offices on the North Side. However, the Rev. James Mead, pastor to the presbytery, said that no congregation in Pittsburgh Presbytery had indicated it intended to leave and that some conservative churches that others have speculated about "are talking openly that they are not going to leave."

Yesterday's overture was sponsored by Union Presbyterian Church of Robinson, Lebanon Presbyterian Church in West Mifflin, Riverdale Presbyterian Church in Moon and the First Presbyterian Church of Bakerstown. It defined compliance with the ordination standards in the Book of Order, including the "fidelity and chastity" clause, as "an essential of Reformed polity."

The rationale for the overture stated that last summer's decision has caused confusion that "will contribute to our financial distress and membership decline as well as compromise our mission. It behooves Pittsburgh Presbytery to bring clarity to the application of the standards set forth in the Book of Order."

It noted that the fidelity and chastity clause also applies to heterosexual conduct. "The Bible asks no more of a homosexual person than it does a single heterosexual person and, that is, that he or she remain celibate," the document said.

Susan Rothenberg, an elder at Sixth Presbyterian Church in Squirrel Hill, opposed the overture, saying that last summer's decision was the result of years of theological dialogue that the entire church was still asked to engage in.

"It endorses a position that we in Pittsburgh Presbytery simply do not trust in the work of the Holy Spirit" within the church, she said.

The Rev. Jim Glatz, pastor of Union Presbyterian Church, compared clear standards on sexual behavior to the effort to keep fire in a fireplace, instead of allowing it to burn down the house. He alluded to ministries destroyed by clergy sexual misconduct.

"Sex is a good gift of a loving God that needs to be kept within the loving union of a man and a woman," he said.

Two commissioners filed formal protests, signaling that they believe the decision was irregular, but which do not affect its impact.

When nominations were made for moderator -- a key post -- of the presbytery for 2007, two names were put forth from the floor, indicating that theological conservatives want to make sure their views are shared by leadership. The nominating committee had chosen two retired corporate executives to be voted on at the December meeting. Nominations came from the floor for the Rev. Paul Roberts, pastor of Eastminster Presbyterian Church in East Liberty, considered a national leader among conservative Presbyterians, and the Rev. Lowell Meek, pastor of Round Hill Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth, a longtime activist against abortion in a denomination that endorses abortion rights.