United Church of
Christ head endorses
same-sex marriage
resolution
By AP from
AccessNorthGa.com on the Web, June 29, 2005
Atlanta, GA -- Days before the
United Church of Christ is set to cast a historic vote in support of same-sex
marriages, the head of the denomination publicly endorsed the measure for the
first time.
The Rev. John H. Thomas said Tuesday that the church's General Synod "should
affirm the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender persons to have their
covenanted relationships recognized by the state as marriages equal in name,
privileges and responsibilities to married heterosexual couples.
"I believe our local churches, as they are able, should move toward the
development of marriage equality policies so that the same liturgical and
pastoral blessing and discipline may be offered all entering into covenanted
relationships," Thomas said during a speech at Emory University.
That remark drew a lengthy standing ovation from the audience of about 200.
The same-sex marriage resolution is one of three expected to be voted on by the
General Synod at its annual meeting this weekend in Atlanta. If the
measure passes, the church would be the first mainstream Christian denomination
to officially support the marriages of gays and lesbians.
Church members could also choose to support a "one man, one woman" marriage
resolution or a resolution calling for prayer and study of the same-sex marriage
issue. Recently, backers of the third option endorsed the same-sex
resolution and condemned the "one man, one woman" resolution as discriminatory.
The 1.3 million-member United Church of Christ has a history of supporting gays
in its denomination, dating back to 1972, when it ordained the first openly gay
minister and established a gay caucus.
UCC churches are autonomous, meaning that the General Synod does not create
policy for its more than 5,700 congregations. Thomas said he was
disappointed that some congregations are considering leaving the church if the
same-sex resolution is approved.
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