Presbyterians vote to ordain lesbian

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 11 (UPI) -- Leaders of the Presbyterian Church in San Francisco Tuesday voted to ordain the first openly homosexual minister in the denomination.

After several hours of debate, the San Francisco Presbytery voted 156 to 138 to ordain Lisa Larges, whose ordination had been blocked for more than 15 years because she is a lesbian, The San Francisco Chronicle reported.

"Change is happening in the churches," Larges said after the vote, the newspaper reported. "People are realizing that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people have long functioned as contributing members of their faith traditions. It is time to tell the truth -- we are all created in God's image."

Tuesday's vote still could be appealed. If it is not, the path is clear for Larges to be formally ordained as a minister.

The national Presbyterian church bans the ordination of homosexuals, though regional presbyteries may consider individual cases. The Presbyterian church has openly gay ministers, but they revealed their sexual orientation only after being ordained.