The Presbyterian Church (PC) (U.S.A.) is now one step closer to joining the ranks of American mainline Protestant groups that ordain openly gay clergy, although the group has refrained from moving forward on the issue of same-sex marriage.

In a narrow 373-323 vote with four abstentions, PC(U.S.A.) delegates at the group's 219th General Assembly (GA) approved on Thursday an amendment to paragraph G-6.0106b in its Book of Order stating that clergy must "live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness."

The new language says that "standards for ordained service reflect the church's desire to submit joyfully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ in all aspects of life" and that "governing bodies shall be guided by Scripture and the confessions in applying standards to individual candidates."

The vote marks the fourth time since 1997 that a PC(U.S.A.) General Assembly has approved the modification, although each preceding time the denomination's presbyteries shot the measure down.

Pro-gay advocates are more optimistic that the presbyteries will vote in their favor this time around.

"I think the next time is our time," Deborah Block, co-moderator of Presbyterian LGBT group the Covenant Network told the Layman.

Conservative Presbyterians were grieved at the vote and called it a divergence from scriptural truth.

"We grieve the decision today by our General Assembly to recommend removing the moral standard for our ministers and officers that rightly requires fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or chastity in singleness," a statement from the Presbyterian Coalition reads.

"The action was adopted by a narrow margin. Nevertheless, it marks a separation from the teaching of the universal Church on holiness of life," the group continues. "The Holy Scripture teaches us to flee sexual immorality."

But while losing in the battle over ordination, PC(U.S.A.)'s conservative bloc gained victory on the issue of same-sex marriage, with the church denying proposals to amend its marriage definition from being between "a man and a woman."

The issue was voted on several times by the Assembly and was sealed by a 348-324 approval to allow the denomination's pro-marriage majority report to "answer all pending items" on the group's agenda, including the marriage definition amendment.

Assembly Moderator Cindy Bolbach said that the vote reflects that "the church was not yet ready to make a decision," adding that "this kind of thing happens at every assembly."

Meanwhile, PC(U.S.A.) congregations will be receiving both the majority and minority Assembly reports on same-sex marriage for study until the next Assembly, which will be in 2012.