By Denise Smith Amos
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Rev. Stephen Van Kuiken flies a rainbow flag outside his home, a symbol of inclusion and diversity. (Michael E. Keating photo)

A Presbyterian minister who married same-sex couples in his church won a major church court decision, which he said will ultimately allow Presbyterian Church USA ministers to perform same-sex weddings without fear of discipline.

Rev. Stephen Van Kuiken, who a year ago was rebuked and kicked out of the denomination for holding same-sex weddings at Mount Auburn Presbyterian, won an appeal on his conviction, he said this morning.

"A new era has dawned in the Presbyterian Church, a day for which we have waited and hoped," he said.

"We are making room at the table of Christ both for our gay brothers and lesbian sisters as well as for those with progressive Christian convictions. This is truly good news for the church."

The judicial commission of the Synod of the Covenant, which oversees Presbyterian churches in Ohio, Michigan, and parts of Kentucky and Indiana, reversed last year's finding by the Presbytery of Cincinnati that Van Kuiken violated church rules.

It is the second decision by the Synod in Van Kuiken's favor. In February, the commission restored Van Kuiken's status as a minister, though it was still considering his appeal.

Van Kuiken will not be returning to his old church, because a separation agreement he signed last year allowed the church to seek a new pastor while he continued his fight.

Van Kuiken instead plans to pastor a new church from a group of about 50 former members of Mount Auburn Presbyterian who call themselves The Gathering, he said Monday.

Despite the decision of the synod, Van Kuiken says he will have to leave the Presbyterian USA church. He said the Cincinnati Presbytery has told him to choose between serving as a leader of The Gathering or returning to minister at a Presbyterian church.