28th Nov 2007
It’s Not What You Think
Here’s an interesting article about a so-far minor movement regarding gay marriage. A few churches have decided that, if they can’t perform legal marriages for gay couples, they won’t be doing it for straight ones either.
First Congregational Church, also of Minneapolis, became the third church to join the protest when it approved a ban on legal marriage in early 2007. David Anger, who had his union with longtime partner Jim Broberg blessed there in 1991, says the time has come to force the issue. “There can’t be a gay door and a straight door,” he argues.
Most churches seem to be taking an activist standpoint with the issue, but these three churches have an interesting take on the matter. Some traditionalists understandably have trouble giving up their privileges (and possibly fail to see the irony in that.) But I never really understood the preoccupation with having a “real” wedding.
Looks like churches are going to be the vanguard of the gay marriage movement in years to come. What a surprise, churches actually following the teachings of Christ* and promoting tolerance.
*Note that I am not trying to exclude non-Christian religions with this statement. But I think that with the majority of our country professing to be Christian, they are the ones who will have the most influence in years to come.
Do I need to send you Eck’s A New Religious America? I could make it a Christmas gift?
The United States is shockingly more religiously diverse than one would think. I mean, s h o c k i n g l y.
There are a bunch of UU ministers that don’t do weddings for the straights. Fred Small comes to mind, but here’s a bigger list. I’m pleased to see it as a trend and not a phenomenon.
Is it hypocritical to not do a (straight) wedding if one (meaning, the minister) is already married?
And … I really don’t mean this facetiously … should we be getting divorced, on the principle of giving up all the privileges not accorded to gay/lesbian couples?
I was going to let GhostGirl answer since it’s her post and I already threatened her with a book today….but it’s a thought-provoking question, LE.
Well, gays aren’t allowed to get divorced either. So by that measure, nope, we shouldn’t be getting divorces as that would be unsupportive!
As for the hypocriticality (is that a word?) on the minister’s part…That minister has been granted a privilege unasked for. I don’t think it’s hypocritical to want to take a stance on granting others that same privilege when they are asking for it. Not sure if I agree completely with the stance but it’s nice to see action.
Ms T-You forget I have a library…
but anyway, yeah, I know it’s diverse, even within the Christian community itself. They are still the loudest and most voluminous.
Interesting slant. A friend of mine and his girlfriend decided not to get married until gays and lesbians could marry. Perhaps if more people “lived in sin” as well.