All parliamentary wrangling is done - redefining marriage is rejected by the GA

I'm still somewhat stunned by the General Assembly upholding the traditional definition of marriage. The GA spent all afternoon and the early evening discussing whether or not to redefine marriage as between two persons instead of between a man and a woman. The decision was to maintain the status quo in regard to marriage. What surprised me was that two minority reports which would have maintained the traditional definition of marriage, were defeated. My assumption was that the effort to redefine would pass. But this assembly chose to seek unity instead of another issue that would divide us as a denomination. Someone mentioned to me this evening that this was a "do nothing" assembly, but I think it is an assembly that really took seriously the admonition to live in the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. The decision to maintain the traditional definition of marriage plus the decision on divestment leads me to the conclusion that this is a Unifying Assembly.