CNP Positions on Gender and Sexuality Justice Overtures Before the 227th General Assembly
In the weeks leading up to the 227th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), June 22 – July 2, 2026 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, CNP is sharing recommendations on key items of business coming before the Assembly. This post addresses overtures and committee recommendations being considered by the Gender and Sexuality Justice Committee (GEN).
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Committee Item: GEN-01 Pre-file Reference: OVT-003
This overture from the Presbytery of Cascades calls the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) to confess and repent of its complicity in the devastation of the HIV/AIDS pandemic, acknowledging that harmful theological frameworks and heteronormative assumptions led the church to participate in the isolation and stigmatization of people living with HIV/AIDS through rejection, judgment, and abandonment. The overture further directs ACSWP and the Advocacy Committee for LGBTQIA+ Equity (ACQ+E) to develop a comprehensive theological framework on human sexuality and relationships — including the full spectrum of relational and family structures — in consultation with people living with HIV, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and theologians from historically marginalized communities, with a report to the 228th General Assembly.
CNP Recommendation: Support
The Covenant Network of Presbyterians affirms the intent and substance of this overture. We believe Recommendation #1 should be unequivocally approved. We believe Recommendation #2 would be well answered by the Assembly’s approval of GEN-09, which is the comprehensive study recommended by the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy.
▪ The overture rightly names a painful and largely unacknowledged chapter in the church’s history. The Covenant Network of Presbyterians urges any actions which strengthen the church’s witness, and prophetic confession and a commitment to repair are a faithful expression of generous hospitality and faithful justice.
▪ The theological framework work called for in this overture substantially overlaps with, and is best addressed by, GEN-09/COM-036, the comprehensive study already recommended by ACSWP. The Covenant Network of Presbyterians has long believed the PC(USA) would be well served by cultivating a theologically grounded conversation toward an authentically Reformed and contemporary sexual ethic. This is a critical need, and we support such an action.
▪ This overture reflects faithful theology offered in a pastoral spirit, and we support it.
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Committee Item: GEN-06 Pre-file Reference: COM-019
This recommendation from the Advocacy Committee for LGBTQIA+ Equity (ACQ+E) directs the Unified Agency to develop and implement an additional mechanism in the Ministry Discernment Profile (MDP) within the Church Leadership Connection (CLC). The mechanism would allow congregations to indicate their openness and readiness to call an LGBTQIA+ candidate and would allow LGBTQIA+ candidates to view and filter congregational responses about that openness. Development is to be undertaken in consultation with ACQ+E and with organizations that have demonstrated experience in LGBTQIA+ education and accompaniment in the call process.
CNP Recommendation: Support
▪ The Covenant Network of Presbyterians is explicitly named in the recommendation as a partner in implementation, recognizing our expertise and creating a concrete opportunity to deepen our congregational accompaniment work. We are honored to be included and would be very glad to use our experience across the denomination to help ensure this effort is effective.
▪ Creating voluntary transparency around congregational readiness is a practical, low-barrier step toward protecting LGBTQIA+ candidates from call processes that result in mismatches or harm to both pastor and congregation. This intentional and clear effort to speak honestly and avoid harm is consistent with the denomination’s commitment to non-discrimination while also upholding our historic value of freedom of conscience.
▪ We do offer the caution that a PNC’s perception of the congregation may not match the Session’s, which may not match the congregation’s. We also worry that a congregation may believe itself to be more inclusive than actual LGBTQIA+ visitors or pastoral leaders might experience it. It is incredibly important that education and thoughtful self-assessment become part of PNC’s work as this measure is implemented. The Covenant Network is well-positioned to support this work.
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Committee Item: GEN-07 Pre-file Reference: COM-020
This recommendation from ACQ+E directs the establishment of an annual National Queer Presbyterians Gathering, with mandatory funding of no less than $100,000 from the Unified Agency, to be organized and run by national office staff. The proposal envisions a recurring, funded space for LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians to gather for community, worship, discernment, and connection across the denomination.
CNP Recommendation: Support, with possible amendment
▪ CNP affirms the deep need for intentional LGBTQIA+ community-building across the denomination, and the vision behind this proposal resonates with our mission. We were privileged to be co-sponsors of the first National Queer Presbyterian Gathering.
▪ Questions remain about the proposed implementation model — specifically, the mandate that this be run by national staff rather than in partnership with existing LGBTQIA+ Presbyterian organizations. CNP has extensive experience organizing such gatherings and would want to ensure meaningful organizational collaboration.
▪ We also recognize that in this season of limited financial resources, the $100,000 price tag is a lot to ask, and we encourage the General Assembly to consider supporting this plan even if ultimately it must commit a smaller financial investment.
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Committee Item: GEN-08 Pre-file Reference: COM-021
This recommendation from ACQ+E directs the Unified Agency, in collaboration with ACQ+E and in explicit partnership with LGBTQIA+ Presbyterian organizations including the Covenant Network of Presbyterians and More Light Presbyterians, to develop and distribute a voluntary self-audit guide for use across the PC(USA). The guide would help congregations, mid councils, camps, conference centers, and other Presbyterian entities assess alignment between their stated commitments and their lived practices of welcome and belonging. It is specifically directed to include intersectional awareness, concrete institutional practices beyond welcome statements, and particular attention to transgender and gender-expansive safety, dignity, and full participation. Companion action-planning resources and a report to GA228 are also included.
CNP Recommendation: Support
▪ The Covenant Network of Presbyterians is honored to be explicitly named in this recommendation for partnership in developing materials and implementing this self-audit by congregations. This effort would be consistent with training we have been providing for congregations for many years, encouraging to be sure they have “done the work” before declaring their commitment to inclusion.
▪ A structured, voluntary self-audit tool would meaningfully amplify the reach and impact of existing educational resources provided by groups like CNP and MLP, would help motivate needed conversations even in the face of reluctance in certain congregations, and would help make for more authentic and accurate MDPs (especially if GEN-07 above is adopted).
▪ The explicit attention to transgender and gender-expansive inclusion addresses one of the most urgent areas in congregational accompaniment, reflecting the current cultural and political moment in which many trans and non-binary Presbyterians are living.
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Committee Item: GEN-09 Pre-file Reference: COM-036
This three-part recommendation from the Advisory Committee on Social Witness Policy (ACSWP) calls the General Assembly to fund and develop: (1) a comprehensive theological framework document and study guide addressing human sexuality and gender, continuing the work of the 223rd General Assembly’s 2018 action affirming the full dignity of people of all gender identities — an action that originated with CNP advocacy; (2) a theological, biblical, and ethical framework on the nature and purpose of flourishing human relationships, addressing consent, mutuality, dignity, and the dynamics of power; and (3) a policy and study guide on the Christian vocation of family, updating and broadening prior guidance on marriage to encompass multiple forms of family life and human calling into familial relationship.
CNP Recommendation: Support. This is our top priority at this General Assembly.
▪ This is the most significant theological initiative coming to this assembly on sexuality and gender. The Covenant Network of Presbyterians supports this because it aligns with our founding purpose of substantive theological engagement, which we are confident will result in a more inclusive church supported by a broader cross-section of our membership.
▪ This action builds on the resolutions adopted by the 223rd General Assembly (2018) which were also strongly supported by CNP, affirming the dignity and humanity of people of all gender identities and celebrating the gifts of LGBTQIA+ people for ministry. It is the next logical step for the church to take.
▪ In a season when many of the denomination’s past mechanisms for offering theological leadership have been quietly disappearing, this recommendation provides an opportunity for meaningful and critically needed guidance on one of our day’s most high-profile and complex issues. People are looking for the church to say something, and this provides an opportunity to say something with depth, practical relevance, and Reformed integrity.
▪ It is deeply important that the working group appointed fulfill this mandate include the experiences of LGBTQIA+ Presbyterians and those who have been engaging in work engaging congregations and councils over the past decade.