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Blessing of same-sex unions in Christian churches

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The blessing of same-sex unions is currently an issue about which some Christian Churches are at present in disagreement with other Christian churches. These disagreements are primarily centered on the interpretation of various scripture passages related to homosexuality, and in some Churches on the varying understandings of homosexuality in psychology, genetics and other scientific data. While various Church bodies have widely varying practices and teachings, individual Christians of every major tradition are involved in practical (orthopraxy) discussions about how to respond to the issue.

See also: List of Christian denominational positions on homosexuality

Terminology

Theological differences between support and opposition

Those Christians and Churches which support blessing of same-sex unions do so from several perspectives:

  • Interpretations of the Bible that deemphasize Old and New Testament passages regarding homosexual practice. Appeals to APA statements regarding homosexuality may influence this belief.
  • Believes that "the inclusiveness of Baptism" requires equal access to having relationships "blessed" by the church.
  • Belief that "all love is from God and is a reflection of and participation in Divine Love". And therefore that love present in same sex relationships ought to be recognized/ceremonialized in a church setting.
  • It is a matter of justice. Desire to provide "equality" or "equal access" in marriage services so as not to "marginalize" LGBT people or relationships.
  • It is a "compassionate response" that improves gay-straight relations and reduces anti-gay hate speech.
  • It is an affirmative good that stands alongside straight marriage and committed monastic celibacy as a revelation of God's self in the world.[1]
  • The logical coherence of the core Christian doctrines such as the Trinity, the Incarnation, the Resurrection and the Ascension is improved through the integration of gay marriage into the Christian conception of marriage. [2]
  • Our understanding of marriage as a metaphor of Christ’s relationship with the Church is strengthened by assimilating gay marriage into that metaphor. [3]

Those Christians and Churches which oppose same-sex unions and same-sex marriage do so from some or all of the following reasons:

  • Marriage is a Sacrament ("Matrimony") defined first in the Book of Genesis, then later in the teachings of Christ as a union of man and woman.
  • The Roman Catholic Church, in particular, also appeals to the reasoning of the Natural Law Tradition. According to Natural Law the "natural order" of human sexuality is oriented toward the opposite sex for several reasons:
  • The natural physical complementarity between the sexes.
  • The biology of sexuality is oriented toward procreation; homosexuality from this perspective is without merit.
  • Many churches rely on the words of the Bible as Divine Revelation (Sacred Scripture and Sacred Tradition).
  • Traditional or literal interpretations of Old and New Testament passages opposing homosexual activity.
  • Moral condemnations against rectal intercourse that transcend biblical interpretation and that some say derive from homophobia.

Controversy between same-sex union and marriage

Some people feel that same-sex unions are middle ground between same sex marriage and condemnation of same sex relationships. Unions as a 'legal status' between individuals does not by itself conflict with Church teachings about the sacredness of "Marriage".

The Episcopal Church USA, many dioceses of which permit the blessing of same-sex unions, nevertheless rejected at their 2006 General Convention a resolution allowing the solemnization of same-sex marriages in Massachusetts, where same sex marriage is recognized by civil law.

Churches unfavorable to same-sex unions and marriage

Same sex marriage is forbidden in a majority of Christian denominations, including Roman Catholics, Protestants (mainline, evangelical, non-denominational, and fundamentalist churches), Orthodox (the Eastern Orthodox Churches, and the Oriental Orthodox Churches) Churches, and the LDS Church. According to a 2002 study by the Marriage Law Project, which opposes same-sex marriage, denominations claiming 97.6% of US Christians and 99.97% of Christians worldwide presently declare that marriage is between a man and a woman. [4] A recent Pew research forum[5] indicated that same-sex marriage is opposed by 55% of U.S. Catholics, 54% of U.S. Protestants, and 80% of U.S. Evangelicals. The Pew study also showed that while 59% of Americans oppose same-sex marriage, a smaller amount (51%) oppose granting some legal rights to same-sex couples.

By nature of this religious understanding of marriage, when churches use the term "Union" in a same sex blessing ceremony, they may or may not be blessing this union in an equivalent way as they would bless a "marriage" as opposed to blessing the commitment between the two indviduals. Some Christian bodies are exploring the manner in which same sex couples could or should be blessed (or not) by the church.[6] Because same sex religious unions are not widespread and because civil unions do not require religious officiation, documentation of the incidence of church blessing of same sex couples is difficult.

Churches favorable to same-sex marriage

Due to its "local option", a number of congregations and ministers of the United Church of Canada (a merger of Congregationalist, Presbyterian and Methodist congregations in Canada following presbyterian polity) officiate at same-sex marriages, which are fully legal in Canada.

In the Anglican Communion, Integrity Toronto has been divided over whether to continue pressing for same-sex blessings, or to revise their goals to seek full marriage rights [7].

The predominantly gay Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches performs same-sex marriages.

The Mennonite Church in the Netherlands offers marriage to both heterosexual and same-gender couples [citation needed].

The Unitarian Universalists perform same-sex marriages.[8]

The Swedenborgian Church of North America allows ministers to choose whether to perform same-sex marriages [9].

Same sex couples can be married under the care of many "unprogrammed" Quaker meetings[citation needed]. British Quaker meetings celebrate same sex commitments by a special act of worship but none have yet called this marriage. In Australia, Canberra Quaker meeting celebrated the marriage of two gay men on 15 April 2007. [10]

Many smaller denominations, such as the Eucharistic Catholic Church also solemnize same-sex marriages.

Churches favorable to Same-sex union

Anglicanism

Report of the Lambeth Commission

The Archbishop of Canterbury requested the Lambeth Commission on Communion to report to him by September, 2004. The Commission was asked to consider the legal and theological implications flowing from decisions related to homosexuality that were apparently threatening the communion. In addition to decisions relating to the blessing of same sex unions, the Commission was asked to examine the decision of the Episcopal Church (USA) to appoint a priest, Gene Robinson, in a committed same sex relationship as one of its bishops. The Commission was charged with specifically considering the effects on communion: "impaired and broken communion," between provinces of the Anglican Communion over the above decisions.

In its report, known as the Windsor Report, the Commission put forward the following general findings”[11]

The Commission regrets that without attaching sufficient importance to the interests of the wider Communion:
  • The Episcopal Church (USA) proceeded with the consecration of Gene Robinson
  • The 74th General Convention of the Episcopal Church (USA) declared that 'local faith communities are operating within the bounds of our common life as they explore and experience liturgies celebrating and blessing same-sex unions'[80]
  • The Diocese of New Westminster approved the use of public Rites for the Blessing of same sex unions.
  • The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada issued a statement affirming the integrity and sanctity of committed same sex relationships.
  • A number of primates and other bishops have taken it upon themselves to intervene in the affairs of other provinces of the Communion.

The Commission called for a moratorium on the blessing of same sex unions, and recommended that bishops who have authorised such rites in the United States and Canada "be invited to express regret that the proper constraints of the bonds of affection were breached by such authorisation." The report was roundly condemned by the gay community and progressive theologians for its partiality. (For example, while it calls for both liberals and conservatives to express regret for actions contributing to disunity, it acknowledges that conservatives may have committees such actions out of a sense of duty, but extends no such understanding to the Dioceses of New Westminster or New Hampshire).

Anglican Church of Canada

The General Synod of the Anglican Church of Canada in 2004 voted to defer a decision of same-sex blessings until 2007, but also to "Affirm the integrity and sanctity of committed adult same-sex relationships".[12]

Diocese of New Westminster

Blessing of same sex unions became a subject of media attention in the Vancouver area in May, 2003 when Bishop Michael Ingham of the Diocese of New Westminster announced that he had given priests in some parishes the authority to bless gay and lesbian unions.[12]

Bishop Ingham issued a rite of blessing of people in committed same sex unions on May 23, 2003.[13]

This was done in response to requests by three consecutive Diocesan Synods, culminating in June, 2002. The diocese considers that the blessing of same sex couples is one part of their work of community outreach and care for parishioners. The blessing is a way that some priests use to ensure that homosexual people who seek to be included in the Anglican Communion feel safe and respected.[14]

The blessing is a “pastoral tool”.[14] Some priests in some parishes (six out of 80) bless permanent faithful relationships. Permission is granted by the bishop only when a priest requests it, and a parish has decided by majority vote, that they want to be a place of blessing. Ingham says of the practice:

I insist only that those on all sides of the issue respect one another and that everyone should maintain the order of the church. Our goal in the Anglican Church in the Greater Vancouver area is to be a church that accommodates differences.[14]

Episcopal Church of the USA

The issue of blessing of same-sex unions was the subject of a resolution at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church of the USA held in Minneapolis, Minnesota, July 30 - August 8, 2003. After debate, the following resolution was concurred in and became an Act of the Convention:[15]

Resolved, That the 74th General Convention affirm the following:

1. That our life together as a community of faith is grounded in the saving work of Jesus Christ and expressed in the principles of the Chicago-Lambeth Quadrilateral: Holy Scripture, the historic Creeds of the Church, the two dominical Sacraments, and the Historic Episcopate.

2. That we reaffirm Resolution A069 of the 65th General Convention (1976) that "homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church."

3. That, in our understanding of homosexual persons, differences exist among us about how best to care pastorally for those who intend to live in monogamous, non-celibate unions; and what is, or should be, required, permitted, or prohibited by the doctrine, discipline, and worship of The Episcopal Church concerning the blessing of the same.

4. That we reaffirm Resolution D039 of the 73rd General Convention (2000), that "We expect such relationships will be characterized by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect, careful, honest communication, and the holy love which enables those in such relationships to see in each other the image of God," and that such relationships exist throughout the church.

5. That we recognize that local faith communities are operating within the bounds of our common life as they explore and experience liturgies celebrating and blessing same-sex unions.

6. That we commit ourselves, and call our church, in the spirit of Resolution A104 of the 70th General Convention (1991), to continued prayer, study, and discernment on the pastoral care for gay and lesbian persons, to include the compilation and development by a special commission organized and appointed by the Presiding Bishop, of resources to facilitate as wide a conversation of discernment as possible throughout the church.

7. That our baptism into Jesus Christ is inseparable from our communion with one another, and we commit ourselves to that communion despite our diversity of opinion and, among dioceses, a diversity of pastoral practice with the gay men and lesbians among us.

8. That it is a matter of faith that our Lord longs for our unity as his disciples, and for us this entails living within the boundaries of the Constitution and Canons of The Episcopal Church. We believe this discipline expresses faithfulness to our polity and that it will facilitate the conversation we seek, not only in The Episcopal Church, but also in the wider Anglican Communion and beyond.

The ordination of openly gay bishops and the blessing of same sex unions within the Episcopal Church USA has led to some tension with the worldwide Anglican Communion.[16]

Old Catholic Churches (Utrecht Union)

Four churches of the Utrecht Union, which shares full communion with the Anglican Churches through the Bonn Agreement, also permit such blessings: namely, Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands (the mother church) permits blessings of gay civil marriages, and the Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland[17], and Catholic Diocese of the Old Catholics in Germany permit blessings of gay civil unions. The Old Catholic Church of Austria also permits such blessings (no civil unions there). Because of this (as well as the ordination of women), the Old Catholic Church in Slovakia and Polish National Catholic Church (USA) seceded from the Union in 2004.

Baptist Churches

The Alliance of Baptists has supported the legal right to marry [18]; its position on corollary church services is unclear.

Church of Scotland

The 2006 General Assembly of the Church of Scotland voted that blessing civil partnerships should be a matter of conscience for individual ministers. Conservatives in the Kirk argued that the reform would have to be ratified by local presbyteries [19].

Lutheran and Reformed Churches

Canada

In 2006, the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, the Anglican Church of Canada's full communion partner through the Waterloo Declaration, voted to allow a "local option" provision similar to that in New Westminster, precipitating a dispute between the synod and the national church (which had previously rejected the proposal) as to where the authority to make that decision lay. In September of that year, the ELCIC's national church council ruled that authority to permit the local option lay with the National Convention [20]. The Council agreed to intiate further study on the issue and to bring forward another motion permitting the local option to the 2007 National Convention.

Sweden and Denmark

The Church of Sweden and the Church of Denmark (in full communion with the Anglican Churches of the British Isles through the Porvoo Communion) allow blessings of same-sex couples.[21]

Austria, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria

In addition, some Lutheran, United and Reformed churches within the Protestant Church in Germany[22] (Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau, Protestant Church of Bremen, Protestant Lutheran State Church of Brunswick, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Hanover, North Elbian Evangelical Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg, Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg-Silesian Upper Lusatia, Protestant Church of Westphalia, Protestant Church of the Palatinate...), in Switzerland, in the Netherlands (Protestant Church in the Netherlands) and Austria bless same-gender unions.

Presbyterian Church (USA)

The Presbyterian Church USA has a limited allowance for such blessings, but does not officially endorse that the unions be consummated.

The General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission (PJC) has ruled that same-sex ceremonies are not forbidden, as long as they are not considered to be the same as marriage services. [23]

Methodism

The Methodist Church of Great Britain voted in 2005 to allow a local option for ministers who wishes to perform same-sex blessings. However, a year later, the Church voted not to allow formal blessings for same-sex partnerships in its churches after all. Ministers may now instead offer informal, private prayers for couples.

The United Methodist Church prohibits celebrations of same-sex unions by its elders and in its churches.[24]

Moravian Church (North America)

The Moravian Church in North America's Northern Province has passed several liberal resolutions on homosexuality, but has not yet been able to "address the issue of a marriage covenant between homosexual persons" [25].

Protestant Church in the Netherlands

The Protestant Church in the Netherlands has chosen not to address marriage in its post-merger canon law; however, the by-laws of the church allow for the blessing of relationships outside of marriage.[26]

Unity Church

Some ministers of the Unity School of Christianity officiate at commitment ceremonies. The Church prints certificates to recognise these occasions.

Churches with no policy on the unions

The United Church of Christ has no formal rules requiring or prohibiting solemnization of wedding vows, but owing to its Congregational polity and constitution [27], each Local Church is "autonomous in the management of its own affairs" and has the "right to operate in the way customary to it"; it cannot be "abridge[d] or impair[ed]" by other UCC agencies, and so each congregation has the freedom to bless or prohibit any kind of marriage or relationship in whatever way they discern appropriate. Thus a congregation may choose at their discretion to solemnise same-sex marriages, to bless same-sex unions, or refuse to perform any ceremony for same-sex couples, or refuse to perform any kind of marriage for anyone. There are no available statistics on how many UCC congregations solemnize same sex relationships, but there are documented cases where this happens [28] and documented cases where congregations have taken stands against marriage between same gender couples.[29]

See also

References

  1. ^ http://instituteforprogressivechristianity.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=36 [dead link]
  2. ^ http://instituteforprogressivechristianity.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=36 [dead link]
  3. ^ http://instituteforprogressivechristianity.org/joomla/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=37&Itemid=36 [dead link]
  4. ^ "World religions and same-sex marriage" (pdf). Catholic University of America - marriage Law Project. 2002. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
  5. ^ http://pewforum.org/docs/index.php?DocID=39
  6. ^ http://www.integrityusa.org/samesexblessings/slc97.htm
  7. ^ Toronto.integritycanada.org
  8. ^ UUA:Support of the Right to Marry for Same-Sex Couples - 1996 Resolution of Immediate of Witness
  9. ^ Swedenborg.org
  10. ^ Canberra Quakers: Newsletter of the Religious Society of Friends Canberra Region, May 2007, p2
  11. ^ "The Lambeth commission on Communion". The Anglican communion Official Website. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
  12. ^ a b Colin Coward (11 June 2004). "Canadian Church defers blessing decision and affirms adult same-sex relationships". Changing Attitude -- Anglican Communion News. Retrieved 2007-05-13. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  13. ^ "Chronology of Actions taken by the Anglican Church Of Canada & the Diocese of New Westminster in regard to the Issue of Same Sex Unions". Diocese of New Westminister. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
  14. ^ a b c Michael Ingham, Bishop. "Welcome from the Bishop". Diocese of New Westminister. Retrieved 2007-05-13.
  15. ^ "Consider Blessing Committed, Same-Gender Relationships". The Archives of the Episcopal church, citing General Convention, Journal of the General Convention of...The Episcopal Church, Minneapolis, 2003 (New York: General Convention, 2004), p. 615f. {{cite web}}: Text "accessdate:2007-05-13" ignored (help)
  16. ^ The Ongoing Struggle within the Episcopal Church USA
  17. ^ Christkatholiken: Segnung für homosexuelle Paare (german)
  18. ^ http://www.allianceofbaptists.org/sssm-2004.htm
  19. ^ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2090-2198359,00.html
  20. ^ http://www.elcic.ca/WebSite/ELCICInfo.nsf/infoview/E56B87F38DE646FA862571EE007077EB?OpenDocument
  21. ^ queer:Homoehen in schwedischen Kirchen (german)
  22. ^ http://huk.org/aktuell/segnung-uebersicht.htm
  23. ^ http://www.wfn.org/2006/01/msg00291.html
  24. ^ "What is the denomination's position on homosexuality?". The United Methodist Church. Retrieved 2007-06-24.
  25. ^ http://www.mcnp.org/Documents/Resolution_6_booklet.pdf
  26. ^ See http://www.protestantchurch.nl/default.asp?rIntNavMotherNavId=938&inc=info&rIntNavId=938&rIntId=1649
  27. ^ See http://www.ucc.org/aboutus/constitution.htm#LOCAL
  28. ^ http://www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/gsrev25-7.pdf
  29. ^ See http://www.southernconrenew.org/lex%20confession.html

Sources

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