ATLANTA -- The Executive Council of the United Church of Christ, meeting in Atlanta, yesterday (April 26) released a statement calling for the defeat of any federal or state "Defense of Marriage"-type legislation and inviting continued "serious, respectful, responsible discussions about … marriage, including diverse understandings of marriage."
Earlier, the Boards of Directors of the denomination's four covenanted ministries -- Justice and Witness Ministries, Local Church Ministries, Office of General Ministries and Wider Church Ministries -- passed similar resolutions, with much common text, in their joint board meetings, held April 22-25 in Atlanta.
In calling for the defeat of the Federal Marriage Amendment, the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996, and the defeat or repeal of any similar State legislation, UCC leaders affirmed "equal rights for all couples who seek to have their relationships recognized by the State."
They also said, "We hold that, as a child of God, every person is endowed with worth and dignity that human judgment cannot set aside. We believe that recognition of the sacred joining of individuals is deserving of serious, faithful discussion by people of faith."
The UCC Executive Council released the statement and the four Boards passed their resolutions "because there is a need to end the rhetoric which fuels hostility, misunderstanding, fear and hatred expressed toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, and the denial of their equality under law." The approved texts cite the UCC's historic stance with disenfranchised persons, including persons of color and women.
The 1.3-million-member United Church of Christ, with national offices in Cleveland, has some 6,000 local congregations in the United States and Puerto Rico. The UCC's national setting, General Synod and regional and national bodies speak to, but not for, its local churches.
Excerpts from the texts of the "Call to Action and Invitation to Dialogue on Marriage" resolutions of the Boards of Directors of the United Church of Christ's Covenanted Ministries, and the statement released by the UCC's Executive Council April 26, 2004.
"The United Church of Christ has historically stood with the disenfranchised. From support by our predecessor denominations for abolition of slavery to the recognition of women as equal partners in religious leadership, we have consistently honored the biblical injunction to support 'the least of these.' We hold that, as a child of God, every person is endowed with worth and dignity that human judgment cannot set aside. We believe that recognition of the sacred joining of individuals is deserving of serious, faithful discussion by people of faith, taking into consideration the long, complex history of marriage and family life, layered as it is by cultural practices, economic realities, political dynamics, religious history, and biblical interpretation.
"Because there is a need to end the rhetoric which fuels hostility, misunderstanding, fear and hatred expressed toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons, and the denial of their equality under the law we:
Call for the defeat of the Federal Marriage Amendment and the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 (DOMA);
Call for the defeat or repeal of any similar Amendments to the Constitution of any State and the defeat or repeal of any State's Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) or similar legislation …
Encourage and support the continued collaborative efforts of the UCC to develop educational resources, study guides and social policy analyses for use by UCC members and congregations in addressing the issues of marriage;
Urge all settings of the UCC and individual church members to engage in serious, respectful, responsible discussions about the study of marriage, including diverse understandings of marriage;
Commend the resources now available to our churches called "God Is Still Speaking, About Marriage." This resource is a discussion guide for congregations to engage in healthy conversations and study about marriage, biblical and theological reflections on covenant and marriage, legal and economic aspects of marriage, and the role of the church in making marriages official and legal (see UCC website); and
Affirm equal rights for all couples who seek to have their relationships recognized by the State.
The national setting of the United Church of Christ is committed to being in ministry in ways that are multiracial, multicultural, open and affirming, accessible to all, and advocate for peace with justice.
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Updated: 04/27/05
