Northern California -- Nevada Conference affirms California marriage ruling
Written by J. Bennett Guess May 17, 2008
Northern California Nevada Conference United Church of ChristWith its annual meeting coinciding with a landmark California Supreme Court ruling in favor of same-gender marrage equality, the UCC's Northern California - Nevada Conference (NCNC) voted to express its affirmation of the court's ruling.
"The 2008 Annual Meeting of the Northern California -- Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ affirms the May 15, 2008 action of the California Supreme Court recognizing the right of all Californians to marry," the Conference action read.
The UCC's NCNC includes the city of San Francisco, which was a legal party to the case.
Below is the full text of the statement:
ADMINISTRATIVE AFFIRMATION OF THE STATE SUPREME COURT RULING ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY MAY 15, 2008
This morning, the leaders of the Northern California Nevada Conference United Church of Christ, preparing to gather at its Annual Meeting, received with joy the word of the California State Supreme Court ruling that "our state now recognizes that an individual's capacity to establish a loving and long-term committed relationship with another person and responsibly to care for and raise children does not depend upon the individual's sexual orientation, and, more generally, that an individual's sexual orientation - like a person's race or gender - does not constitute a legitimate basis upon which to deny or withhold legal rights."
In 1972 the Golden Gate Association of our UCC Conference was the first body of a mainline denomination to ordain an openly gay man. We see the Court's decision as an affirmation of the Biblical truth we hold so dear--that ALL people are created in the image and likeness of God. [Genesis 1:27]
In 2005 this Conference co-sponsored the General Synod resolution "Equal Marriage Rights for All." This resolution "urges the congregations and individuals of the United Church of Christ to prayerfully consider and support local, state, and national legislation to grant equal marriage rights to couples regardless of gender."
The 2008 Annual Meeting of the Northern California Nevada Conference extends its deep appreciation and prayerful blessing on all who worked for this day, including clergy, lay people, couples, attorneys, judges, political leaders and all who worked on the petitions and amicus briefs pro bono.
By vote of the Annual Meeting, May 15, 2008: The 2008 Annual Meeting of the Northern California Nevada Conference of the United Church of Christ affirms the May 15th, 2008 action of the California Supreme Court recognizing the right of all Californians to marry.