wfn.org | United Church of Christ Leaders Affirm California Marriage Ruling

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

> FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
> Contact: The Rev. J. Bennett Guess
> Director of Communications
> United Church of Christ
> Phone: (216) 736-2173
> E-Mail: newsroom@ucc.org, www.ucc.org

> Thursday, May 15, 2008

UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST LEADERS AFFIRM CALIFORNIA RULING ON MARRIAGE

In 2005, 1.2-million-member UCC became first, largest mainline 
denomination to support same-gender marriage equality

Cleveland, OH- United Church of Christ leaders are affirming today's 
decision by the California Supreme Court to overturn the state's 
same-gender marriage ban.

The Rev. John H. Thomas, the United Church of Christ's general 
minister and president, based in Cleveland, said he is pleased by the 
court's decision.

"I am gratified by the decision of the courts in California to reject 
discrimination and affirm the dignity of same gender couples," Thomas 
said. "As recent decisions in other states makes clear, until all 
couples are able to marry, their separate status will never be equal status."

Five UCC congregations in California -- Community UCC of Atascadero, 
Mt. Hollywood Congregational UCC, Parkside Community UCC in 
Sacramento, Pilgrim UCC in Carlsbad and United Church of Christ in 
Simi Valley - as well as UCC-related Pacific School of Religion, 
joined an interfaith amicus brief filed earlier this year in support 
of the ban's overturn.

After the court decision was announced, several UCC members in 
California responded positively to the news.

"As both a gay man and a Christian church professional, I am thrilled 
that the California Supreme Court has had the wisdom to recognize 
that we all should have the rights and responsibilities that go along 
with being married," said Phil Porter, minister of art and 
communication at First Congregational UCC in Berkeley, Calif. "My 
church would conduct a ceremony for my partner and I any time I might 
choose, but how glorious that it might now even stand up in court!"

The Rev. Kevin A. Johnson, pastor of Bloom in the Desert Ministries 
(UCC/United Methodist) in Palm Springs, Calif., emphasized that 
today's ruling is a continuation of the ways in which marriage has 
been redefined for the better over the centuries.

"Because of the positive ruling today in California, progress 
continues," Johnson said. "Marriage equality for all continues our 
historical progress toward recognizing that love and responsibility 
are the keys to quality marriages, not unfair laws based on racial 
integrity, which were struck down in 1967 but remained in some states 
until 2000, and sexual orientation, like we have now."

In 2005, the UCC General Synod, meeting in Atlanta, overwhelmingly 
affirmed a resolution in support of same-gender marriage equality, 
urging its 5,700 congregations "to prayerfully consider and support 
local, station and national legislation to grant equal marriage 
rights to couples regardless of gender." As a result of the Synod's 
2005 action, it also became a signatory in the brief before the 
California court.

The 1.2-million-member UCC has 244 churches and 36,000 members in California.

"This is great news," said the Rev. Ruth Garwood, executive director 
of the UCC Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender 
Concerns. "Relationships need all the support that they can get. This 
is why it's important to have the state's recognition of the blessing 
that God has already given."

The Rev. Michael Schuenemeyer, the UCC's minister for LGBT concerns 
in Cleveland, said, "Marriage is about relationships, and the 
movement toward marriage equality has come in large measure because 
same-gender, loving relationships have been made increasingly real 
and visible."

> Learn more at ucc.org/lgbt/marriage.

> ###