Religions Mixed on GLBT Inclusion

by Doug Ebeling

Several religious denominations spent considerable time discussing gay marriage at their conventions this past spring and summer. The results of those discussions varied from resolutions to completely include gay and lesbians in all aspects of spiritual life to declarations that GLBT people are “objectively disordered.”

Three large Christian denominational conventions were greeted with large protests by Soulforce, a group of gay Christians led by Reverend Mel White, a former associate of Rev. Jerry Falwell of Moral Majority fame. The protesters demanded full inclusion of gays and lesbians within the churches, but saw little response for their labours.

The Episcopal Church dealt directly with the issue of marriage for gays and lesbians at its convention. At its last meeting, it had voted to allow local churches to make their own determination about whether to offer services to sanctify gay and lesbian marriages, partnerships, or unions.

This summer, a resolution was introduced that would make way for church leaders to prepare a specific rite to bless the committed relationships of gay and lesbian couples. The measure did not pass a vote of the bishops.

The assembly did pass a somewhat lesser measure, promising to support and respect the relationships of gay and lesbian couples, and stating that these relationships deserve the same support and pastoral care as heterosexual relationships.

Vermont Episcopal Bishop Mary Adelia McLeod has been vocal and active in support of the GLBT community in Vermont, testifying in front of the legislature this winter in support of gay marriage. In a statement released by her office at that time, she wrote: “The union of two human beings in mind, body, and heart is one of God’s greatest gifts. Heterosexual and homosexual people are equally capable of entering into life-long unions of love, mutual support and fidelity.”

McLeod acknowledges that the Episcopal Church is not of one mind about gay marriage. St. Paul’s Cathedral in Burlington has been welcoming to couples seeking to sanctify their civil unions, with Bishop McLeod presiding over the ceremonies.

At their own annual meetings this summer, both the Presbyterian and the United Methodist churches soundly rejected any efforts at recognition of gay and lesbian couples: both groups enacted a ban on the blessing of same-sex relationships.

The Methodist vote was a reaffirmation of a four-year old policy forbidding Methodist clergy from performing ceremonies recognizing gay couples. Clergy violating the ban could find themselves losing their credentials, as has already happened to a Methodist minister in Nebraska.

United Methodist Rev. Barbara Lemell of Montpelier, a vocal supporter of civil unions, said that despite this, congregation members and clergy find ways to get around the ban. Earlier this summer, a group of United Methodist clergy issued the New England Declaration stating their support for gay and lesbian relationships. More than 30 retired clergy also signed a statement last year indicating their willingness to perform same-sex union ceremonies despite the church’s ban.

The warm-to-lukewarm measures by these Christian denominations came in the wake of – and contrasted starkly with – a spring vote at the Jewish Reform Movement’s Central Conference of American Rabbis to support same-sex union ceremonies in their synagogues.

Rabbi Joshua Chasan of the Ohavi Zedek synagogue in Burlington said that the synagogue’s board of directors passed a resolution to make all their rites and ceremonies available to gay and lesbian members. Chasan has officiated at ceremonies and signed licenses for gay couples seeking civil unions. “There are a lot of people still struggling with the issue,” said Chasan, but “it is important for us to do what is right and to help others grow in their understanding of the issue.”

At the other extreme, the Roman Catholic Church’s opposition to recognition of GLBT relationships has been made clear locally through Vermont Bishop Kenneth Angell’s testimony and campaigns against any such legislationg.

Pope John Paul made evident the Church’s position by opposing gay pride events in Rome. The 80-year-old Pope stated that Rome’s pride parade was an offense to Christian values. His words describing gays as “objectively disordered” were met with loud cheering in St. Peter’s Square.