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For Immediate Release: March 16, 2004

Metropolitan Community Churches To
Challenge New York Clergy Marriage Law
____________________________________

-- MCC Clergy To Hold Public Weddings Without Civil Marriage Licenses
-- Church Moderator Calls For Civil Disobedience Actions Across New York

New York City -- The Rev. Pat Bumgardner, the openly lesbian senior pastor of

Metropolitan Community Church of New York City, will publicly challenge New 
York's clergy marriage statutes on Thursday, March 18 at 9:30 AM.

Rev. Bumgardner will perform public marriage ceremonies on the steps of the 
New York City Municipal Building (1 Center Street, adjacent to City Hall) for

two same-sex couples who have been denied civil marriage licenses. New York
law 
prohibits clergy from solemnizing marriages without a civil marriage license.
"If you really believe it is wrong to marry people without benefit of a civil

marriage license, then arrest me -- arrest all of us, too," said Rev. 
Bumgardner. 

The New York law was highlighted nationally this week when two Unitarian 
Universalist ministers, Rev. Kay Greenleaf and Rev. Dawn Sangrey, were
charged 
with criminal offenses for marrying 13 same-sex couples in New Paltz, New
York. 
Ulster County District Attorney Donald Williams said gay marriage laws make
no 
distinction between public officials and the clergy who preside over wedding 
ceremonies. Critics said the action was unprecedented and accused prosecutors

of violating religious freedom. 

Greenleaf and Sangrey were charged with solemnizing a marriage without a 
license (NY Domestic Relation Law, Article 3, Paragraph 17), the same charges

leveled against New Paltz Mayor Jason West. Each charge carries a fine of $25
to 
$500 or up to a year in jail. 

The Reverend Dr. Troy D. Perry, Founder and Moderator of the 43,000 member 
Metropolitan Community Churches denomination, endorsed the civil disobedience

event and encouraged other clergy across New York State to challenge the law.

"The clergy of Metropolitan Community Churches have been performing same-sex 
weddings without civil marriage licenses for 35 years," said Perry, the first

openly gay member of the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission. "It's time
to 
challenge New York's unjust law -- a law that violates the First Amendment 
rights of all New York clergy. I call upon religious leaders across New York
to 
follow Rev. Bumgardner's courageous example by conducting civil disobedience 
actions and public same-sex weddings without the benefit of civil marriage 
licenses to draw attention to this injustice."

According to denominational officials, Metropolitan Community Churches 
perform more than 6000 same-sex weddings annually. "These are weddings that
are 
blessed by God, but for which the government still denies recognition, said
Perry."

Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) have a long history of activism on 
behalf of marriage equality. In 1969, MCC performed the first public same-sex

wedding in the U.S. In 1970, the church filed the first-ever lawsuit seeking
legal 
recognition of same-sex marriages. In 2001, Metropolitan Community Church of 
Toronto filed the lawsuit that led to the legalization of same-sex marriages 
in Canada. And in February 2004, Perry filed suit against the County of Los 
Angeles seeking legal recognition of his Canadian same-sex marriage.

In announcing the civil disobedience actions, Rev. Bumgardner said, "I am 
calling the Attorney Generals, the prosecuting District Attorneys, the 
interpreters of the laws and those enforcing those interpretations to
accountability. If 
you really believe it is wrong to marry people without benefit of a civil 
marriage license, then arrest me -- arrest all of us, too. Otherwise, stop 
selectively harassing people, like the Mayor of New Paltz or the clergy
conducting 
same-sex marriages there, for your own political gain."

Joining Rev. Bumgardner on Thursday will be Ellen Lippmann, founder and rabbi

of Kolot Chayeinu/Voices of Our Lives, a progressive congregation in 
Brooklyn, NY,

Additional information on MCC's commitment to marriage equality may be found 
on-line at www.MCCchurch.org.

(END)

For Press Interviews, Contact:
The Rev. Pat Bumgardner
Senior Pastor, Metropolitan Community Church of New York City
446 West 36th Street, NY, NY  10018
212-62-7440

The Reverend Dr. Troy D. Perry, Founder and Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches, Los Angeles
310-360-8640, Ext. 226

For Additional Information, Contact:
Jim Birkitt
MCC Communications Department
8704 Santa Monica Boulevard, Second Floor
West Hollywood, CA  90069
Tel. (310) 360-8640, Ext. 226
E-Mail: info@MCCchurch.org
Website: www.MCCchurch.org