Since the California Supreme Court’s ruling on May 15 that legalized same-gender marriage in the state of California, the media and political machines have gone into high gear, as we all prepare for the anticipated stream of gay and lesbian couples lining up at county courthouses to become legally wed beginning on June 17. Other states are looking westward in anticipation of how wedding tourism to California might translate into litigation elsewhere. The Limit on Marriage initiative that will be on the November ballot is sure to get financial and volunteer support from around the country – just as surely as will the efforts to defeat it.
Coverage on this issue, as I have read it, often mentions religious groups and religious leaders who do not support same-sex marriage and who will be working to ban it by supporting the Limit on Marriage initiative. What I have not seen in the media is information about the strong support in favor of equal marriage rights that exists amongst religious groups and leaders.
If one were to read through the 172-page court opinion, one would find that 148 religious organizations within the state of California, including congregations, seminaries, ecumenical and interfaith organization and clergy alliances from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Unitarian Universalist and Native American traditions and more than 300 individual clergy and religious leaders are on file as “Friends of the Court” in support of equal marriage rights. To leave this religious voice out of the public dialogue misrepresents reality.
As an ordained clergyperson in the United Church of Christ, I stand in favor of full marriage equality. I am proud of my denomination, which has always taken a boldly prophetic stance on issues of social justice. The UCC was the first mainline Protestant denomination to ordain a woman, an African-American and an openly gay man. In 1985, we declared ourselves to be Open and Affirming of gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, welcoming folks of diverse sexual orientations into all areas of church life and leadership. In 2005, our General Synod adopted a resolution affirming equal marriage rights for all.
First Congregational Church in Long Beach, the congregation which I serve, has been performing marriages for both opposite- and same-sex couples for years. We are thrilled that we can now sign a marriage license for every couple whose wedding is performed in our sanctuary. We know that many gay and lesbian folks who want to be married will not able to have their ceremonies in their own churches; they will be welcomed by us.
Being congregational in nature, not all members, clergy or churches within the United Church of Christ feel the same way that I do about marriage equality. But as a covenant church, we agree to talk about it, even argue about, and remain connected. I hope that we as Californians can do the same thing. We may differ in our opinions, but my theological beliefs need not curtail your civil rights. Nor visa versa.
Coverage on this issue, as I have read it, often mentions religious groups and religious leaders who do not support same-sex marriage and who will be working to ban it by supporting the Limit on Marriage initiative. What I have not seen in the media is information about the strong support in favor of equal marriage rights that exists amongst religious groups and leaders.
If one were to read through the 172-page court opinion, one would find that 148 religious organizations within the state of California, including congregations, seminaries, ecumenical and interfaith organization and clergy alliances from Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Unitarian Universalist and Native American traditions and more than 300 individual clergy and religious leaders are on file as “Friends of the Court” in support of equal marriage rights. To leave this religious voice out of the public dialogue misrepresents reality.
As an ordained clergyperson in the United Church of Christ, I stand in favor of full marriage equality. I am proud of my denomination, which has always taken a boldly prophetic stance on issues of social justice. The UCC was the first mainline Protestant denomination to ordain a woman, an African-American and an openly gay man. In 1985, we declared ourselves to be Open and Affirming of gay, lesbian and bisexual persons, welcoming folks of diverse sexual orientations into all areas of church life and leadership. In 2005, our General Synod adopted a resolution affirming equal marriage rights for all.
First Congregational Church in Long Beach, the congregation which I serve, has been performing marriages for both opposite- and same-sex couples for years. We are thrilled that we can now sign a marriage license for every couple whose wedding is performed in our sanctuary. We know that many gay and lesbian folks who want to be married will not able to have their ceremonies in their own churches; they will be welcomed by us.
Being congregational in nature, not all members, clergy or churches within the United Church of Christ feel the same way that I do about marriage equality. But as a covenant church, we agree to talk about it, even argue about, and remain connected. I hope that we as Californians can do the same thing. We may differ in our opinions, but my theological beliefs need not curtail your civil rights. Nor visa versa.
Reverend Tigner- Thanks for this thoughtful piece, raising up the presence of all the powerful religious leaders and institutions that are not in most media coverage of this debate. Here's to a dialogue that works to creat understanding and sustain communities instead of polarizing us all and demonizing those that have different perspectives!
ReplyDeleteThere is a great sadness that there are millions of dollars and myriad manpower expended to keep the definition of marriage traditional and to prevent equality for same sex couples. What is missing from this conversation is the fact that defining marriage and its rights should not be societies focus; rather, the overwhelming lack of commitment to creating families should be the discussion. The acceptance of "baby daddies" and "baby mommas" and the acceptance of couples living together is more desireable than broadening the definition of marriage. There are many same sex couples that generously take black and hispanic children, the highest ethnic populations in foster care, into their homes through adoption and raise them as their own. These are child that would remain in the foster care system throughout their lives instead of being in loving homes. Further, there is tremendous dysfunction in the heterosexual community where adults are terrified to commit to a relationship and it is unfathomable that we are legislating against a population that is willing to do something heterosexuals are not willing to do; commit to each other. With great sadness, in the African American community, there is resistance to the black church ratifying same sex marriage or accepting same sex couples period. However, a committed couple is a committed couple and commitment to sharing your life with someone and caring for a child, born of you or adopted, should be the focus of societal discussions. It is clear that from a legal perspective, same sex couples should share the same legal rights as heterosexual couples on both the state and federal level. From a religious perspective, each person of faith must determine, based upon their own convictions, regarding how they feel about same sex marriage.
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