Church endorses gay marriage

The United Church of Christ's rulemaking body voted overwhelmingly Monday to approve a resolution endorsing same-sex marriage, making it the largest Christian denomination to do so. The vote is not binding on individual churches, but it could cause some congregations to leave the fold. Roughly 80 percent of the representatives on the UCC's 884-member General Synod voted to approve the resolution Monday, a day after a smaller committee recommended it.

Church endorses gay marriage

"What a joy it brought me," said the Rev. Kim Wells of Lakewood United Church of Christ in St. Petersburg of the vote.

By Associated Press
Published July 5, 2005

ATLANTA - The United Church of Christ's rulemaking body voted overwhelmingly Monday to approve a resolution endorsing same-sex marriage, making it the largest Christian denomination to do so.

The vote is not binding on individual churches, but it could cause some congregations to leave the fold.

Roughly 80 percent of the representatives on the UCC's 884-member General Synod voted to approve the resolution Monday, a day after a smaller committee recommended it.

"What a joy it brought me to be part of making the church and the world more welcoming to some of my dearest friends who are gay and lesbian," said the Rev. Kim Wells, delegate to the synod and pastor of Lakewood United Church of Christ in St. Petersburg.

The resolution calls on member churches of the liberal denomination of 1.3-million to consider wedding policies "that do not discriminate against couples based on gender."

It also asks churches to consider supporting legislation granting equal marriage rights to gay and lesbian couples and to work against laws banning gay marriage.

The Rev. John H. Thomas, president of the UCC, said that with the vote on Independence Day, the rulemaking body "acted courageously to declare freedom."

A small group of conservative congregations had proposed an alternative resolution defining marriage as between a man and a woman and suggested that supporting gay marriage could lead to the UCC's collapse.

The Rev. Brett Becker, who represents a group of the UCC's more conservative churches, said it's possible his congregation at St. Paul United Church of Christ in Cibolo, Texas, will leave the UCC over the resolution.

"I would like to see us stay in the denomination and network for positive change," said Becker. "However, many of my members have expressed very clearly that this decision would cause great consternation and that, if this happened, they would want to see us leave."

UCC leaders said individual churches have not been polled about their views.

Formed in 1957 and traditionally strong in New England, the UCC has a tradition of support for gays and lesbians. It is distinct from the more conservative Churches of Christ, which has some 2-million members in the United States.

The UCC was criticized last year for its TV advertising campaign featuring a gay couple, among others, being excluded from a church. CBS and NBC rejected the 30-second ads.

In the early 1970s, the UCC became the first major Christian church to ordain an openly gay minister. The UCC declared itself to be "open and affirming" of gays and lesbians 20 years ago.

"This is a significant moment," said the Rev. Rebecca Voelkel of Cleveland, coordinator of a church coalition addressing gay and lesbian issues. She said the decision emphasizes that lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are "spiritual people who love and are loved by God."

Local UCC members who made the trek to Atlanta also expressed support.

"As one who just a few years ago was a hospice chaplain for people who were living and dying from HIV/AIDS, and cared for gay couples who have endured injustices, today I am proud more than ever of the church," said Angel Toro, senior pastor of Chapel on the Hill United Church of Christ in Seminole.

But Becker said he doesn't think Monday's vote was representative of the wishes of most UCC members.

"If we had put it to a vote of the people in the pews, it would have failed overwhelmingly," he said. "This is truly Independence Day for the UCC: We have declared ourselves independent from the teachings of Jesus and the clear teachings of Scripture."

UCC churches are autonomous, meaning the General Synod does not create policy for its more than 5,700 congregations.
Woman takes a top Adventist leadership post for first time

ST. LOUIS - The Seventh-day Adventist Church elevated a woman Monday to a top leadership post for the first time in its history.

Ella Louise Smith Simmons, 57, will serve as one of nine vice presidents.

"The church as an organization cannot be efficient until it allows all people to contribute in ways that God calls them to contribute," she said. "The church is taking a step in the right direction."

The Christian denomination has grown from more than 3-million members in 1980 to about 14-million baptized members in more than 200 countries, according to church statistics.

--Times staff writer Sandra Gadsden contributed to this report.
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