Rabbi Martin Lawson is ready. "I'm
really strongly an advocate of treating
(same-gender) couples as being made in God's
image," said the longtime spiritual leader of
Temple Emanu-El, a Reform Jewish congregation in
San Diego.The Rev. Glenn Wade is not. "I
personally believe homosexuality is incompatible
with Scripture," said the senior pastor of San
Diego's North Park Baptist Church.
Bishop Mary Ann Swenson is not certain what she
will tell ministers. "The honest truth is I
haven't figured it out yet," said the United
Methodist leader.
While the impact of the California Supreme
Court decision in May to allow same-gender
marriages isn't completely clear, the pressure is
building. Barring a court-ordered postponement,
California county clerks could begin issuing
same-gender marriage licenses as early as June 17.
Where do religious groups stand on the issue of
same-sex marriage? Here's a snapshot of several of
them, based on research from the Pew Forum on
Religion & Public Life and local voices:
American Baptist Churches USA: Homosexuality is
incompatible with Christian teaching. However,
several churches in the Southwest have broken away
from the denomination because they don't feel that
stand is being enforced strictly enough. North
Park Baptist is affiliated both with the American
Baptist denomination and the breakaway
Transformation Ministries.
Buddhism: No official position. "I can't think
of anything in the literature that says it's wrong
to partner with someone of the same sex," said
Anne Seisen Saunders, abbot and head teacher of
Sweetwater Zen Center in National City, Calif. "If
anyone wants it, I will perform same-sex
weddings." Some countries with large Buddhist
populations, however, disapprove of homosexuality.
Catholicism: U.S. Conference of Catholic
Bishops and the Vatican have made it clear that
marriage is between one man and one woman.
California bishops group roundly condemned the
state court ruling.
Church of God in Christ: Adopted a proclamation
in 2004 in support of marriage being between a man
and a woman. It said "the homosexual practices of
same-sex couples are in violation of religious and
social norms and are aberrant and deviant
behavior."
Episcopal Church: Some bishops allow priests to
conduct same-sex commitment ceremonies. But
others, like San Diego Bishop James Mathes, have
asked clergy here not to do them because the
national body hasn't collectively resolved the
issue. He said the state court's decision does not
change the situation here.
"This diocese and our churches will wait for
the wider Episcopal Church to work through that
decision-making process," Mathes said.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America: Defines
marriage as a "lifelong and committed relationship
between a man and a woman." The church's
legislative body is expected to take up the issues
of ordaining openly gay ministers and same-sex
marriage in 2009.
Hinduism: No official position, although a 2004
report in the magazine Hinduism Today found that
most leaders interviewed were opposed. Same-sex
marriages "do not fit with our culture and
heritage," one swami said.
Islam: Denounces homosexuality and prohibits
same-sex marriage.
Judaism: Of the four branches of Judaism,
Reform and Reconstructionist movements are the
most accepting of same-sex marriages.
Rabbi Lawson, of Emanu-El, said he uses the
same criteria for both straight and gay couples:
They need to be Jewish and go through prenuptial
counseling.
Rabbi Michael Berk of Congregation Beth Israel,
another local Reform congregation, also conducts
ceremonies for interfaith couples. The
Conservative movement allows rabbis to do
same-gender commitment ceremonies, but they aren't
technically marriages, according to Rabbi Leonard
Rosenthal of Tifereth Israel in San Diego.
Rosenthal said if same-gender marriage licenses
are issued, he would have the couple get a civil
marriage and then come to him for a religious
commitment ceremony. Orthodox Judaism opposes
same-sex marriages.
Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod: Same-sex
marriage is "contrary to the will of the Creator."
Mormon: The Church of Jesus Christ of
Latter-day Saints opposes same-sex marriage.
National Association of Evangelicals:
Homosexuality is condemned by the Bible, and they
do not support same-sex marriage.
Presbyterian Church (USA): The equivalent of
its supreme court recently reversed a censure of a
pastor, saying the same-sex ceremonies she
conducted were not technically marriages.
The Rev. Clark Cowden, executive presbyter of
the San Diego region, admits the ruling was
confusing. "The bottom line of what they were
saying is that, by definition, a marriage can only
be between a man and a woman, and if you do a
ceremony for two people of the same sex, you can't
call it a marriage," he said. "It has to be called
something else."
Southern Baptist Convention: In a 2003
statement, the denomination reiterated its
opposition to same-sex marriage and called on
church members to stand against it.
Unitarian Universalist Association: Longtime
supporter of same-gender marriages.
United Church of Christ: Voted in 2005 to
support "equal marriage rights for couples
regardless of gender."
United Methodist Church: The denomination's
governing body last month reaffirmed its position
that homosexuality is "incompatible with Christian
teaching."
Bishop Swenson said the state court ruling has
created a difficult situation.
"Our Book of Discipline says that United
Methodist pastors are not allowed to perform the
wedding ceremony, and yet the court says, 'Yes,
these ceremonies can happen,'" she said.
Swenson said she hopes to offer guidance to
clergy before licenses are issued.
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