http://twitter.com/#!/jmcapellapratts/status/220984077640142848

It’s not often that religious issues trend, but as members of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) meet in Pittsburgh this week to hammer out policy at the church’s 220th General Assembly, attendees and online viewers are live-Tweeting their reactions and driving #GA220 into the trending topics.

Not all of the tweets seem to be related to church business, though.

Watch out for the new spammers. Careful clicking links with the #ga220 hashtag … some are, um, unsavory.

— Presbyterian Church (@Presbyterian) July 5, 2012

The assembly necessarily covers a wide range of social and religious issues in a short time span, including abortion, same-sex marriage and church investments. A quick sampling of tweets shows a wide range of individual opinions.

Oh goodness. And here I was hoping we would leave the abortion issue alone. #nosuchluck #ga220

— Lex. (@lex_tbh) July 5, 2012

I think this vote should fail; those who don't want to fund abortions shouldn't have to. I also think abortion should be legal. #ga220

— Margaret Aymer Oget (@mayog) July 5, 2012

Civil Union/Marriage cmte recommends change in definition of marriage from "a man and a woman" to "two people": 28-24-0. #ga220 #pcusa

— General Assembly (@presbyGA) July 4, 2012

@presbyGA And there's my exit cue…

— Jenna Kuykendall (@jennank) July 4, 2012

Caterpillar profits from destruction of Palestinian homes, olive groves, & infrastructure: http://t.co/GbB4stHr #GA220 #Divestforpeace

— CODEPINK (@codepink) July 5, 2012

#ga220 mentions community organizing expert Saul Alinsky who said "Tactics mean doing what you can with what you have." #divestforpeace

— Rae Abileah (@raeabileah) July 5, 2012

Mt 6:24 RT @UnboundJustice: Person at #ga220 just said that greed is good and necessary for economy. Wondering when he last read the Bible?

— Greg Woods (@diygreg) July 5, 2012

Other tweets, though, show that it’s not always easy to pay attention when church is involved.

#ga220 current speaker looks like George carlin…

— Philip W. Oehler, Sr (@VeloPastor) July 5, 2012

Wow he really does look like Patrick Duffy. #ga220

— MaryAnn McKibbenDana (@revmamd) July 5, 2012

Check it out, it's Obadiah from Iron Man! #GA220

— Nick McEntire (@Nick_Mc49) July 5, 2012

While there is plenty of policy to be knocked out, can we stop for a moment to agree that bow ties are awesome?

https://twitter.com/PreacherLady11/status/220983727147331584

#ga220 I want to rock a bowtie!

— Lynn Hargrove (@lynnharg) July 5, 2012

#ga220 I did not even know they still made bowties

— David Derus (@notashot) July 5, 2012

I would like to make a motion to speak out against for profit bow ties. I think it is wrong for anyone to profit from them. #ga220

— David Derus (@notashot) July 5, 2012

Read more: http://twitchy.com/2012/07/05/presbyterians-gather-to-discuss-same-sex-marriage-divestiture-and-bow-ties/