WHAT IS IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO ADD? On the overtures requesting authoritative interpretation of the Book of Order on marriage, from an elder at a congregation in Minnesota – an excerpt from a speech on the floor of the presbytery: Our session had been discussing how we can and should respond to same-gender marriage before the law changed in Minnesota. Our Session voted unanimously to send this overture to the presbytery. Here’s why: We want, above all, to be welcoming and inclusive of all our members and those who find our church to be a community of faith. We have also long had a policy of allowing non-member weddings in our sanctuary when our pastor is available. When someone calls asking if they can get married at Central, we do NOT want to have our office manager ask as she takes in basic information “and what is the gender of your fiancée?” And then have our office manager’s response have to be, “Oh sorry, not for you. You’re not welcome.” Other churches may take a different stance, or may not find this as pressing an issue as we do. And I would remind us that our pastor, and yours as well, does not have to officiate at any wedding. But from the first part of our contacts with people, we hope we express the welcome Jesus offered and not quick rejections based upon gender. What might be attractive to some here today is that this overture requesting an Authoritative Interpretation, if approved by the Assembly, provides some freedom for pastors and sessions to act within their conscience regardless of whether the amendment changing the description of marriage is approved.
Posted on: Tue, 27 May 2014 21:40:32 +0000
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