United Church of Christ backs same-sex marriage
Pastor Dale Morgan
United Church of Christ backs same-sex marriage*
Synod passes resolution affirming 'equal rights for couples regardless
of gender'
--BBC News
Hillary and Julie Goodridge - lead plaintiffs in the landmark
Massachusetts gay marriage lawsuit - are married in Boston
Massachusetts is currently the only state to allow same-sex marriages
The million-strong United Church of Christ (UCC) has become the first
major US Christian denomination to come out in support of gay marriage.
The UCC's general synod passed a resolution affirming "equal rights for
couples regardless of gender".
The decision is not binding and will not require pastors to marry
same-sex couples, though some already do.
Several other Churches have endorsed gay civil partnerships but have not
given them the status of marriage.
The Episcopal Church (the US branch of the Anglican Communion) and the
Evangelical Lutheran Church permit same-sex unions, while the
Presbyterian Church is seeking to resolve severe disagreements over the
issue.
US conservatives are seeking to amend the country's constitution to ban
same-sex marriage, which is currently legal only in the state of
Massachusetts.
Vermont allows same-sex civil unions, giving gay couples the same
benefits as married couples on matters such as life insurance, health
care and child custody.
Neighbouring Canada's lower house of parliament passed a law allowing
gay marriages last week, which is expected to come into force in July.
'Courageous'
Around 80% of the UCC's 884-member synod voted in favour of the
resolution on Monday.
Rev John Thomas, the UCC president and general minister, noted the
significance of passing the resolution on US Independence Day.
"On this July 4, the United Church of Christ has courageously acted to
declare freedom, affirming marriage equality, affirming the civil rights
of gay... couples to have their relationships recognised as marriages by
the state, and encouraging our local churches celebrate those
marriages," he said at a news conference after the vote.
UCC churches are autonomous, and the synod cannot dictate policy to
individual congregations.
Nevertheless, opponents of the resolution said it could cause a split.
"I would like to see us stay in the denomination and network for
positive change, said Rev Brett Brecker, who represents a conservative
group in the Church.
"However, many of my members have expressed very clearly that this
decision would cause great consternation and that, if this happened,
they would want to see us leave."
The UCC, which is strong in New England, an area traditionally more
tolerant of same-sex unions than other parts of the country, became the
first major denomination to ordain an openly gay minister in the early
1970s.
It declared itself to be "open and affirming" of gays and lesbians 20
years ago.
The Church has almost 6,000 congregations and 1.3 million members.