The Presbyterian Church (USA) Policy on Same-Sex Marriage: A Case Study on Religious Organizational Change

This thesis presents a case study of the Presbyterian Church (USA) policy on same-sex marriage. Using a Weberian model of bureaucracy and ideal types of authority, this study offers a holistic exploration of the multi-layered process leading up to the ratification of the same-sex marriage policy. In order to analyze this process, I conducted semi-structured in-depth interviews with 16 key informants who function in the national offices of the Presbyterian Church (USA). The findings from these interviews indicate the complex interaction between the bureaucratic rules and regulations that dictate policy change and the religious elements that are used to legitimize this legislative process. Moreover, this study indicates that the process of policy change in the Presbyterian Church (USA) is determined by the relationships, and tensions, between the hierarchical structure of the denomination, the external pressures of shifts toward acceptance of same-sex marriage in the surrounding socio-cultural, and legal, environment, as well as the role of individual actors who influence policy change by their subjective role in this process. The findings encourage continued research at the national level of Christian denominations while also calling for critical investigations of denominational policies that appear to foster inclusion and equality for marginalized groups.