The highest legislative body of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) rejected on Friday an attempt to reverse its ordination standards to once again ban partnered gay clergy.

The proposed measure would have reinstated a requirement that clergy live "a chaste and disciplined life, whether in holy marriage between a man and a woman or in single life."

It's been one year since the PC(USA) officially lifted the ban on openly gay clergy. Dozens of congregations have left the denomination since then, citing the liberal direction of the church body.

While some in the nearly 2 million-member body were wary of returning to a debate on ordination standards, others felt that adopting the ban would benefit the denomination.

"It would repair the biblical breach that has formed in our denomination," said Commissioner Bill Budrick, from John Calvin Presbytery, in support of the proposal, according to the Presbyterian News Service.

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