Why Marriage Matters
RUC asks General Assembly to broaden definition of marriage
Governor O'Malley signed the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Protection Act (commonly called the Marriage Equality Act) into law in March 2012. Despite the expected referendum on the November 6, 2012 ballot, members of the LGBTQ Outreach Group and the Council of Rockville United Church are optimistic that the law will go into effect in January 2013.
This law will permit same-gender couples to marry legally in the State of Maryland. As an Open and Affirming UCC/More Light Presbyterian Church, our congregation supports the enactment of this law. In order to clarify the law's effects on our congregation on hosting of and officiating at same-gender marriages; Pastor Scott, the LGBTQ Outreach Group, and the RUC Council consulted with our two denominations.
We find that the UCC has no prohibitions on same-gender marriage. They expect us to offer our space to host and permit our clergy to officiate at same-gender weddings. The Presbyterian Church allows us to host the weddings as we are a congregationally-organized congregation with a lay Council President and a congregation who owns its own property. However, under current Presbyterian law, Scott as an ordained clergy in the PC( USA) is not permitted to officiate at same-gender marriages.
The Commissioners to the June 2012 General Assembly of the PC(USA) are slated to consider and vote for overtures to expand the definition of marriage which would permit our minister to officiate at same-gender marriages. To advocate to the POICSA) our support for a change to the Presbyterian law, the LGEITQ Outreach Group drafted a letter for Council approval. The letter outlined the quandary posed by the current Presbyterian law on our congregation's commitment to justice and equality for all of God's people. The letter to the GA Commissioners was approved by the Council at their May 5th retreat with the recommendation that the letter be shared with our congregation.
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See http://www.ucc.org/lgbt/issues/marriage-equality/ for United Church of Christ materials.
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RUC has joined the Coalition - Marylanders for Marriage Equality...
Their website has helpful materials. http://marylandersformarriageequality.org
Why Vote For Marriage
On March 1, Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley signed into law the Civil Marriage Protection Act.
This law treats gays and lesbians with dignity and respect by allowing them to marry. It’s a matter of fairness under the law.
Why Marriage?
- People of all walks of life, including gay and lesbian couples, want their children to live in a loving, stable committed home and be protected under the law.
- Gay and lesbian couples want to stand before their family and friends to make a public promise of lifelong commitment and responsibility.
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A few other states have tried to create alternatives to marriage, like civil unions, but none provide the same meaning or security as civil marriage.
What will change?
- Religious marriage remains unchanged. Churches and other religious institutions don’t have to marry anyone they don’t want to.
- Committed, loving same-sex couples will be able to get a marriage license at the courthouse beginning in January 2013.
Who Supports Same-Sex Marriage in Maryland?
- People from all parts of Maryland, all backgrounds and faiths support marriage equality. In fact, a majority of Marylanders say they support the new law.
- Supporters include: President Obama, Governor O’Malley, the NAACP, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, Dr. Julian Bond, and hundreds of elected officials, clergy and community leaders.
- Moms, dads, sisters, brothers, friends, co-workers, and ministers are all standing up for their gay friends and family in Maryland.
A helpful speach from the Rev. Otis Moss III.
Otis Moss, III Challenges Fellow Black Clergy On Marriage Equality For Gays And Lesbians
The Rev. Dr. Otis Moss, III is the Pastor of Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago, Illinois. During an address to his church on May 13th, Pastor Moss read a letter he had sent to a fellow clergyman who took issue with the President’s recent support of Gay marriage.
Find the transcript below:
My Brother:
Tell your brethren who are part of your ministerial coalition to “live their faith and not legislate their faith” for the Constitution is designed to protect the rights of all. We must learn to be more than a one-issue community and seek the beloved community where we may not all agree, but we all recognize the fingerprint of the Divine upon all of humanity.
There is no doubt people who are same-gender-loving who occupy prominent places in the body of Christ. For the clergy to hide from true dialogue with quick dismissive claims devised from poor biblical scholarship is as sinful as unthoughtful acceptance of a theological position. When we make biblical claims without sound interpretation we run the risk of adopting a doctrinal position of deep conviction but devoid of love. Deep faith may resonate in our position, but it is the ethic of love that forces us to prayerfully reexamine our position.
The question I believe we should pose to our congregations is, “Should all Americans have the same civil rights?” This is a radically different question than the one you raised with the ministers, “Does the church have the right to perform or not perform certain religious rites.” There is difference between rights and rites. We should never misconstrue rights designed to protect diverse individuals in a pluralistic society versus religious rites designed by faith communities to communicate a theological or doctrinal perspective. These two questions are answered in two fundamentally different arenas. One is answered in the arena of civic debate where the Constitution is the document of authority. The other is answered in the realm of ecclesiastical councils where theology, conscience and biblical mandates are the guiding ethos. I do not believe ecclesiastical councils are equipped to shape civic legislation nor are civic representatives equipped to shape religious rituals and doctrine.
The institution of marriage is not under attack as a result of the President’s words. Marriage was under attack years ago by men who viewed women as property and children as trophies of sexual prowess. Marriage is under attack by low wages, high incarceration, unfair tax policy, unemployment, and lack of education. Marriage is under attack by clergy who proclaim monogamy yet think nothing of stepping outside the bonds of marriage to have multiple affairs with “preaching groupies.” Same-gender couples did not cause the high divorce rate, but our adolescent views of relationships and our inability as a community to come to grips with the ethic of love and commitment did. We still confuse sex with love and romance with commitment.
My father, who is a veteran of the civil rights movement and retired pastor, eloquently stated the critical nature of this election when speaking to ministers this past week who claim they will pull support from the President as a result of his position. He stated, “Our Ancestors prayed for 389 years to place a person of color in the White House. They led over 200 slave revolts, fought in 11 wars, one being a civil war where over 600,000 people died. Our mothers fought and were killed for women’s suffrage, our grandparents were lynched for the civil rights bill of 1964 and the voting rights act of 1965…my father never had the opportunity to vote and I believe it is my sacred duty to pull the lever for every member of my family who was denied the right to vote. I will not allow narrow-minded ministers or regressive politicians the satisfaction of keeping me from my sacred right to vote to shape the future for my grandchildren.”