Say “I Do” To Marriage Equality

By Michael Adee, Executive Director, More Light Presbyterians

This summer, the Presbyterian Church (USA) will vote on whether to affirm marriage equality. More Light Presbyterians, which advocates for LGBT justice, invites you to register your support for two policy changes that promote marriage equality within the church.

Believe Out Loud encourages you to support the Presbyterian Church in this effort. Whether you are Presbyterian or not, all may sign the petition. So spread the word!

Following is a letter from More Light Presbyterians Director Michael Adee, endorsing both proposed policy changes.

Dear Friends,

Grace and peace to you. It is time to declare, “I Do!” It is time to stand on the side of love. It is time to be on the right side of history.
 
Yes, this is about public support for marriage equality. This is about pastoral care for all persons, couples and families in our local congregations, not just some. This is about a witness for social justice by the Presbyterian Church (USA). As Dr. King said, this is about being a head light, not a tail light. You can choose today to provide spiritual leadership to what Bishop John S. Spong declares is the “great moral issue of our time.”
 
After President Obama’s public statement of support for marriage equality, Bishop Spong wrote a blog that included this: “The attitude of uninformed Christian people on this subject and the unwillingness of the Christian Church and most of its leaders to stand up for justice and against the oppression of gay people has been and remains the source of my deepest shame as a Christian. It was a political leader, we need to note, not the Pope nor an Archbishop nor a spiritual leader who took the proper stand on this great moral issue of our time.”
 
We’re grateful for and wholeheartedly support both kinds of marriage equality overtures that will be considered by the 220th General Assembly, June 30 to July 7, in Pittsburgh, PA. One seeks to amend W-4.9000 from marriage as a covenant between “a woman and a man” to a covenant between two people. The other asks the Assembly to issue an Authoritative Interpretation of W-4.9000 to ensure pastoral discretion with regard to same-sex marriages officiated by clergy and use of church space approved by a local session in states where same-sex marriage is legal.
 
You can show your support now for marriage equality at the 220th General Assembly with this online petition. Please go to the petition and say “I Do!” in any or all of the ways available there. You can sign as a pastor, elder, or church member with your name or anonymously. We hope you will prayerfully consider helping us demonstrate to the Presbyterian Church (USA) that we are ready to move forward in faith in service to the whole church.
 
Together we are building a Church that reflects God’s heart.
 
with hope,

Michael Adee

Learn more about More Light Presbyterians

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Image Lisa Nail Photography