wfn.org | UCC officials applaud Senate vote against Federal Marriage

[powellb@ucc.org]

United Church of Christ
Barb Powell, press contact
216-736-2175
powellb@ucc.org
On the web: http://www.ucc.org

For immediate release
July 14, 2004

Church officials applaud Senate vote against marriage amendment

CLEVELAND ? Church leaders of the 1.3-million-member United Church of
Christ today (July 14) applauded the defeat of the Federal Marriage
Amendment in the U.S. Senate.

"Historically, amendments to the U.S. Constitution have expanded the rights
of citizens, not limited them," said the Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer, executive
of the UCC's health and wholeness advocacy office. "The Senate has done the
right thing by choosing not to write discrimination into the world's most
enduring democratic document."

The procedural vote was 48-50, 12 short of the 60 needed to keep the
measure alive and bring it to the Senate floor.

"As the vote reflects, a constitutional amendment on same-sex marriage is
not the way to address this issue," said the Rev. Ron Stief, head of the
UCC's Justice and Witness Ministries Washington, D.C., office. "Now, with
so many pressing national concerns before us, and little time left on the
legislative calendar, it is time for the Senate to get back to helping
people who are hurting."

The General Synod of the United Church of Christ has repeatedly called
people of faith to work for civil rights and equality under the law for all
children of God, including persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or
transgender. Among these General Synod actions is a declaration that all
persons, as children of God, are endowed with worth and dignity that human
judgment cannot set aside.

In April 2004, the UCC's Executive Council adopted a "Call to Action and
Invitation to Dialogue." It not only called for the defeat of the Federal
Marriage Amendment, but also for the repeal of the Defense of Marriage Act
of 1996, and the defeat or repeal of any similar state legislation. The
action also affirmed equal rights for all couples who seek to have their
relationships recognized by the state.

"The UCC's Executive Council's invitation to dialogue recognizes that 'the
sacred joining of individuals is deserving of serious, faithful discussion
by people of faith,'" said Schuenemeyer. "We have an excellent opportunity
to engage in study and dialogue about marriage, and I encourage all people
of faith to do so."

The 1.3-million-member United Church of Christ, with national offices in
Cleveland, has some 6,000 local congregations in the United States and
Puerto Rico. It was formed by the 1957 union of the Congregational
Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church.

Additional resources on marriage can be found on the UCC website at
<http://www.ucc.org/justice/marriage.htm>.

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