United Church Of Christ Committee Approves Gay Marriage ©

by: Betsy L. Angert

Mon Jul 04, 2005 at 17:05:00 PM EDT

The President of the United Sates does not approve of gay marriage.  He has repeatedly requested that the Constitution be amended to ensure that gay couples cannot legally unite.  We know, that God speaks through Mr. Bush, for he has mentioned this often.  Therefore, we can assume that God does not approve of gay unions. The current Pope, Benedict XVI is strongly opposed to the prospect; the past Pope, John Paul II was as well.  The Vice President and his family are conflicted.

In November 2004, eleven states referendums rejecting recognition of gay marriages, passed decisively.

Public polls show that people throughout this country are more in favor then opposed.

This Sunday, after much dialogue, a committee of 50 United Church of Christ representatives gave their blessings.  They believe the Church must sanction gay marriages.  They rejected the notion that marriage be defined as "a union between one man and one woman."  They are asking the General Synod to do the same in their Monday meeting.

Committee member Emily Jean Gilbert of Allentown, Pennsylvania stated, "There are churches and individuals who will be deeply, deeply wounded by this decision.  I ask you to treat these people with respect and honor their feelings."  Members of the commission believe that they are respecting and honoring the feeling of all parishioners, not only the few.

The United Church of Christ has long espoused philosophies that are forward thinking.  In the 17th century the UCC was known as an avant-garde organization.  Then, as now, the guiding principles were reflective of social change.  The church hierarchy has consistently acted on these standards.  The Church ordained its first Black minister in the 18th century.  Early in the 1970s, the UCC became the first major Christian church to ordain an openly gay minister.  In the 1980s a public declaration stated that the Church is "open and affirming" of gays and lesbians.  They still are, more actively now than ever.

However, other Churches are not.  Some are more engrained in dogma than they ever were.  Many, if not most oppose same-sex marriages.  Some still struggle with the idea of union ceremonies.  Many argue that the Bible forbids intimate relations between members of the same gender.  They state, men are meant to with women and women with men.  There are those that believe biology dictates this.  These individuals and organizations feel great outrage towards the United Church of Christ.

Monday, July 4, 2005

The day has come and the initiative passed.  It passed overwhelmingly.

At a news conference, President and Reverend John H. Thomas announced, "On this July Fourth the General Synod of the United Church of Christ has acted courageously to declare freedom, affirming marriage equality, affirming the civil rights of same gender couples to have their relationships recognized as marriages by the state, and encouraging our local churches to celebrate and bless those marriages."

Thomas informed the press, the resolution is not binding on local churches.  The Synod only asks churches to adopt the policy.  The Reverend affirms the United Church of Christ now joins the state of Massachusetts, the Netherlands, Canada, and Spain; all recognize same-sex marriages.

The annual meeting of the UCC will end on Tuesday, July 5, 2005.  Who knows what the public will hear before the close.  Who knows how they will react?  Will gays be more globally accepted or less?  God only knows.  Might we ask President Bush what God is thinking?

The United Church of Christ offers an interesting site.  You may find this exploration as fascinating as I did. The UCC says, "God is Still Speaking"