wfn.org | UCC/Summary of same-sex union debate available

["Barb Powell"<powellb@ucc.org>]

May 12, 1998
Office of Communication
United Church of Christ                      
Hans Holznagel, press contact                          
(216) 736-2214
holznagh@ucc.org
On the Web: http://www.ucc.org

Detailed summary available 
of Acton, Mass., debate on same-sex unions

     ACTON, Mass. -- More than 100 clergy and lay members
of the United Church of Christ heard opposing arguments on same-
sex marriage at a colloquy May 6 sponsored by the "centrist"
Confessing Christ movement.
     Observers described the exchange as a "contrast" to the
normal "culture-war" polemics on an issue that has divided all
mainline Protestant churches.
     In the debate between lay theologian Andrew Lang and
ethics professor Max Stackhouse, both speakers agreed that the
Bible and Christian tradition must be the framework for resolving
the controversy on same-sex relationships.
     UCC theologian the Rev. Gabriel Fackre has written a
detailed summary of the debate.  Copies can be obtained by calling
the UCC's Office of Communication at (216) 736-2215.  In
addition, the two papers presented at the debate can be downloaded
from the UCC Web site at <www.ucc.org>.
     The event was hosted by Acton Congregational Church,
United Church of Christ.  It was in response to a call by UCC
Conference Ministers and a request from delegates to General
Synod 21, held last summer in Columbus, Ohio, for churchwide
dialogue on marriage and same-sex relationships.
     The United Church of Christ, with national offices in
Cleveland, has more than 1.5 million members and 6,100 local
congregations in the United States and Puerto Rico.  It was formed
by the 1957 union of Congregational Christian Churches and the
Evangelical and Reformed Church.
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