wfn.org | Gay Church To Challenge NY Clergy Marriage Law

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

NEWS  RELEASE
 From Metropolitan Community Churches

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