| Send Us Your
Photos |
 |
If you can't come
to the "Let Us Eat Cake!" marriage celebration on Saturday,
June 12th, you can still show your support by contributing to
our online photo album. Send a jpeg
photo of your wedding, holy union, or commitment ceremony to:
mailbox@CelebrateMarriage.us
Please include the year the photo was taken.
• Watch the
photo album as it grows. |
| Bishop Shamana
Calls for Respect and Care |
Bishop Beverly
J. Shamana reminds United Methodists that "each local congregation
needs the gifts and graces of all persons.... It would be a sin
to drive persons away from our churches where they have found
a spiritual home because of the way we conduct our debate."
• Read the
full text of her pastoral letter. |
| Epworth
United Methodist Church Makes a Statement |
An Epworth member
asks, "What do I do as a Christian regarding unjust laws
and authorities? For me, the answer lies in the example of Jesus,
who consistently, firmly, and assertively confronted the religious
authorities of his day."
• Read Epworth UMC's
Statement
on Same-Sex Marriage. |
| District Superintendent
Says Church Can't Have It Both Ways |
In the March 2004
Bay View District Newsletter, Rev. Jim Lockwood-Stewart writes,
"We cannot say 'we welcome you,' and at the same time say
'but take your love somewhere else.' Where so many have been
wounded by past contacts with the church, services of affirmation
and blessing truly are an evangelistic opportunity for lives
to be awakened by the loving touch of the Holy Spirit."
• Read
the full text of his letter. |
|
|
An Invitation to "Let Us Eat Cake!"
Saturday, June 12, 2004, 1:00-4:00 PM |
| On Saturday, June 12th,
Epworth United Methodist Church of Berkeley, California will
Celebrate Marriage by opening its Sanctuary to
couples who wish to renew their commitments. We're calling this
celebration "Let Us Eat Cake!" |
| Epworth invites both heterosexual
and same-sex partners – and everyone who believes that God's
love extends to all couples who are committed to loving each
other. |
The "Let Us Eat Cake!"
marriage celebration will include:
| clergy
to hear and bless your commitment |
| a variety
of music to grace the event |
| a wedding
reception on the lawn with a giant "cakes of cakes" |
| an opportunity
to make a gift to
help defend the rights of all |
|
| How to
Take Part |
| Please register by June
9th if you wish to reaffirm your vows or celebrate your committed
relationship. E-mail the Epworth registrar at mailbox@CelebrateMarriage.us. |
| You can also donate a cake
for our giant community wedding cake, volunteer your artistic
or musical talents, help serve and clean up, or simply witness
and support the celebration. |
|
| Reasons to Celebrate
Marriage |
|
There are many reasons to take part in
the "Let Us Eat Cake!" marriage celebration:
- Reaffirm the vows you made with your
partner in a beautiful Christian ceremony (with all the arrangements
made).
- Join in a community celebration and
witness for social justice.
- Show support for clergy facing judicial
charges for ministering to their congregations.
|
| Pro
Marriage. Pro Family. |
|
 Demonstrations
and rallies make headlines. But there are thousands of everyday
news stories about Christian couples in all walks of life. Read
just a few on our couples page, and see if you can recognize
the diverse faces of family values.
[under construction]
|
| We Are the Church Together |
| Households in Biblical
times included slaves, multiple partners, and concubines. As
marriage and family life has changed over the centuries, Christians
have continued to seek guidance from their faith. |
| In fact, Christians have
disagreed on beliefs and practices since the earliest days. Yet
Jesus tells us that, as children of God, we can live together
and love each other, even when we disagree. |
| The United Methodist tradition
comprises an umbrella of faith and a practice of inclusiveness
that supports growth of the church and growth of the Spirit.
Some would break this tradition by outlawing faithful United
Methodist members, pastors, and congregations. |
| On March 25, 2004, the Executive Committee of
the United Methodist Council of Bishops affirmed that, "our
unity in Christ does not depend on unanimity of opinion. Rather,
in Jesus Christ we are bound together by love that transcends
our differences and calls us to stay at the table with one another." |
|
| Myths About Gay Marriage |
| As we continue to seek God's
message for us, our dialogue will benefit by addressing several
assertions that cause needless fear and confusion. |
| Myth: "Gays
are attacking the institution of marriage." |
| Same-sex couples
are embracing the institution of marriage. Their desire for a
long-denied status affirms the traditional values of commitment,
stability, and economic responsibility. |
| Myth: "The
Bible condemns same-sex relationships." |
| Some claim that
following The Bible means we are bound by every ancient directive.
Yet, Biblical passages condemn many contemporary customs, while
appearing to sanction practices we find abhorrent today. |
| The Bible does not
support the statement that marriage has always been between one
man and one woman. The Bible does portray loving relationships
between people of the same gender. |
| As Christians we
seek guidance from the Word of God. And we pay special attention
to the words of Jesus, who advises us to reject legalistic arguments
in favor of the Great Commandments: to love God and each
other. |
| Myth: "Same-sex
marriage undermines church and society." |
| The United Methodist
Church has long provided pastoral services to same-sex couples,
including those who wish to affirm committed relationships in
the eyes of God. This being done more openly today, and many
view this openness as a sign of strength. Persons of all sexual
orientations have made, and will continue to make, great contributions
to sacred and secular institutions. |
| Myth: "Same-sex
marriage endangers children." |
| Married or not,
same-sex couples are bringing up more than one million children,
who benefit from caring, stable two-parent families. All parents
can teach the values of compassion, responsibility, independence,
and good citizenship. |
| Children of gay
parents are disadvantaged by laws that restrict access to health
care, tax benefits, and property rights. Pastoral care and a
place in our congregations could soon be added to this list of
restrictions. |
| Ironically, while
gay parents seek affirmation of conservative values, the epidemic
of heterosexual divorces and out-of-wedlock births causes
nearly half our children to spend at least part of their lives
in single-parent homes. |
| Myth: "Recognizing
gay marriage promotes 'the gay agenda.'" |
| The scare tactic
that there is some sort of conspiracy to "convert"
people to homosexuality has pretty much run its course. In any
case, scientific consensus agrees that sexual orientation is
most often an innate quality rather than a "lifestyle choice." |
| A critical agenda
for gay United Methodists is defending the churches, clergy,
and institutional ministries that have been targeted for attack.
A productive agenda for the church-at-large would be gaining
back hundreds of thousands of lost members who ask only that
they and their families be welcomed as equals. |
|
| Media Address the Issues |
| The Case for Gay Marriage, The Economist,
2/26/04. |
| No Time to Celebrate, The Village Voice,
11/26-12/2/03. |
| Gay Marriage is Risky. But Banning It is Riskier,
The Atlantic, 5/19/04. |
| Marriage's lineage a bit convoluted, SF Chronicle
/ SFGate.com, 2/25/04. |
| Religious groups urge opposition to federal marriage
amendment, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/4/04 |
FROM THE UNITED
METHODIST NEWS SERVICE:
Legalized Gay Marriages Underscore United Methodist
Differences, 5/20/04.
Commentary: What do Bible, tradition say about
gay marriage? 8/12/03.
Commentary: Why do we play with words? 5/25/04.
Commentary: Church should examine the reason
for its differences, 5/21/04. |
| A Common Missed Conception: Why religious people
are against gay marriage, Slate / msn.com, 11/19/03. |
| The Battle Over Same-Sex Marriage, SF Chronicle
/ SFGate.com [digest]. |
|
|
