Same sex union

December 10, 2002 3:29 PM

DC church approves same sex union. From the article: The unanimous decision on Saturday by its board of elders places the 159-year-old congregation, where U.S. presidents James A. Garfield and Lyndon B. Johnson once worshiped, among a small number of D.C. area churches that permit such services, often called "covenant ceremonies." No leading questions this time, (see saturday's "gun post") just curious if this is happening elsewhere in the U.S.
posted by buz46 (9 comments total)

This topic has already been discussed fairly heavily on MeFi: Scotland, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, and most recently, Canada.
posted by fuzz at 3:53 PM on December 10, 2002

I was actually referring to individual churches allowing "symbolic ceremonies", not so much the legislation of legal unions.
posted by buz46 at 3:58 PM on December 10, 2002

Why would someone want to have a symbolic ceremony under the blessing or allowance of a general religous establishment (Christianity) that historically, and biblically defines their sexuality as sinful?
posted by cinderful at 4:24 PM on December 10, 2002

Why would someone want to have a symbolic ceremony under the blessing or allowance of a general religious establishment (Christianity) that historically, and biblically defines their sexuality as sinful?

I don't know. I guess that's one of the things I'm curious about. Apparently there are people who see some value in it, and in having Gay friendly churches in general. What is their motivation? how do others in the Gay community feel about this? etc, etc....
posted by buz46 at 4:34 PM on December 10, 2002

Two pedantic points, offered in a friendly spirit: It's "gay," not "Gay." And the phrase "the gay community" bothers a lot of people, because it's a lot like saying "the straight community" or "the white community" - i.e., it's not a very helpful or accurate descriptive category, because it encompasses so many diverse subcategories with little else in common.

Why do some homosexuals see value in church recognition? For many of the same reasons straight people do: a sense of being approved, accepted, legitimated, and welcomed by a community/deity/authority that, in some sense, one respects or values.

Some people advocate these ceremonies because they are a way to tweak the delicate sensibilities of the churchgoing establishment, and to advance a political position. Fair game, I say.

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious...
posted by stonerose at 5:35 PM on December 10, 2002

It's "gay," not "Gay."

Sorry, I have a habit of capitalizing everything.

Sorry if I'm stating the obvious...

No, I don't think you are. However, I probably should have given this post more thought, b/c, with the exception of your observations, there doesn't seem to be much to say that has not been said before. Matt, feel free to delete.
Sorry....
posted by buz46 at 7:05 PM on December 10, 2002

My old United Methodist church in Wichita, Kansas (yes, Kansas!) performed same sex covenant ceremonies all the time. Of course, it was all very hush-hush because if the higher-ups caught word of it, we'd be in hot water.

Of course, it's probably the most liberal church in Wichita, by far.
posted by katieinshoes at 7:13 PM on December 10, 2002

Several (all?) of the Unitarian Universalist churches in the DC area do same-sex ceremonies on a regular basis. The Unitarian Universalist Association officially supports it, although it doesn't mandate that its member congregations do. But that's not news worthy I suppose, since they've been doing them for quite awhile.
posted by skynxnex at 7:31 PM on December 10, 2002

Why do some homosexuals see value in church recognition? You missed one thing stonerose - because they believe. Being gay doesn't automatically turn off religious feeling, quite possibly the sense of struggle it involves intensifies it.
posted by grahamwell at 4:10 AM on December 11, 2002