It's a start. Or maybe a Start.

[captainsblog]

I really didn't want to go to a church meeting tonight. I'd been out all afternoon on assorted errands-slash-workout and could've used the family time around here.  But because I'd been out most of the day, I wanted to check in on what the reaction was to the first day of arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court on gay marriage related issues. Today, they heard from a bunch of bigots saying it's okey dokey for states to deny their LGBT citizens equal protection of the law when it comes to getting married. Tomorrow, those same bigots will spin on the head of a pin and argue that Congress can prevent those same states from granting full recognition of same-sex marriages when it comes to matters of federal law. 

Somehow, in the midst of all of that coverage, I found a reference to a recent act taken by a small and brave congregation in my own United Methodist denomination. One far closer to the buckle of the Bible Belt than us Northeast liberals. And one that was faced, as all UMC members are, with continued prohibitions for the next four years on openly gay clergy, solemnization of same-sex marriages in any way, and a continued doctrinal statement declaring 10 percent of its potential membership to be living a life “incompatible with Christian teaching.”

Their response? Fine. If they can't marry, nobody can:

Leaders of a United Methodist congregation in Winston-Salem, N.C., have decided not to hold weddings in the church building until the denomination lifts its ban on same-sex marriage.

Green Street Church announced publicly March 17 that its 18-member leadership council also has asked its pastors to refrain from signing marriage licenses until the State of North Carolina recognizes same-sex marriage.

“I do not see it as an act of exclusion for straight couples, but an invitation for all people to be in solidarity with those who are excluded,” said the Rev. Kelly P. Carpenter, the church’s senior pastor, in a pastoral letter. “Some may think it to be a sacrifice made by straight couples, but I think a better way to see it is the creation of a level playing field in one sacred space.”

In its public statement on weddings, the church said its pastors still will offer premarital counseling for “all couples, regardless of orientation.” Pastors, at their discretion, also will perform a service of relationship blessing for couples. Such a service would not include vows, exchange of rings, a pronouncement of marriage or covenant-making language.

“We’ve taken the legalese out of marriage,” says Tim Sturgis, a leadership council member, “and brought it back to a holy place where it's two people professing their blessing to each other and making that relationship a blessing to this church regardless of whether they are gay or straight.”

Carpenter is quick to point out that Green Street Church, which has an average weekly attendance of 200, is not the first United Methodist congregation to forego weddings in protest of the denomination’s position on same-sex unions.

No United Methodist group has an exact tally, but Green Street leadership examined similar policies adopted by United Methodist churches in California, Illinois and New York before making its decision.

I've yet to learn which church of our brand within New York State has taken this brave step, although I did learn tonight that none within Western New York have committed to a process and proclamation of their inclusiveness known as the Reconciling Ministries Network.  So, having seen this within an hour of our bimonthly Lay Leader Council meeting beginning, I vowed to attend, to inform, and to advocate for our ragtag little band of Methodists to take up this cross during this holiest of weeks.

And?

So far so good.  I wasn't laughed away from the table.  I learned about the RMN process that other congregations in the country have gone through to come to this decision, which they encourage to be discussed, voted on and then publicly proclaimed and reaffirmed annually.  Not all of them go as far as wedding bans (see what I did there?), but all of them profess the doctrine to be wrong in the face of the greater good of reaching out to ALL of God's children, regardless of the wiring He installed within them.

It came after a long plate of prior business, including the usual BS spirited discussions of whether we could discontinue our paper monthly newsletter in favor of a digital one. Still, I'm glad I got the discussion started. And I won't stop until it ends, which will, we all agreed, likely end with some of the losers choosing to leave.  Including, if I'm one of them, me.

Comments

[thediva-laments.livejournal.com]

*Applause*

I left the Methodist church entirely and this was part of the reason. You can always come over to the dark (Episcopal) side. We have cookies...

[captainsblog.livejournal.com]

Not to mention the 25-proof Blood of Christ;)