On March 1, 2008 retired Presbyterian Church (USA) minister Rev. Jean Southard officiated at the marriage ceremony of two of her parishoners, Jen and Sara.  The ceremony was conducted at First Presbyterian Church in Waltham, Massachusetts. Marriage equality was already the law of the land in Massachusetts in 2008, but PC(USA)’s ecclesiastical law remains unsettled [...]

With about 8 million members in the United States and 3.5 million more in Africa, Asia and Europe, the United Methodist Church is the second largest Protestant denomination in the United States. Like many denominations, UMC continues to experience painful internal conflict with respect to its treatment of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) members [...]

Over the holidays I had the opportunity to speak with an old friend who is on staff in a Presbyterian church (PCUSA) in northern New Jersey.  She’s been a straight ally for over 30 years, so I was curious to know how her allyship might play out in her church and if it doesn’t, what [...]

In his latest email to supporters, Tony Perkins cited his “frequent conversations over the last several months” with Senator John McCain about DADT repeal and related this exchange: Senator McCain…asked me several times: “Where are all the religious leaders, where are the pastors?”. Tony Perkins heads up the anti-gay hate group Family Research Council. Senator [...]

Operating under the banner of “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice and to love kindness and to walk humbly with your God?” (Micah 6:8), the United Church of Christ is mobilizing their members to take action for DADT repeal through their Justice and Witness Ministries.  Perhaps UCC members on the [...]

Who can forget New York gubernatorial candidate Carl Paladino’s recent homophobic screed delivered to an Orthodox Jewish congregation: “I just think my children and your children would be much better off and much more successful getting married and raising a family, and I don’t want them brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid [...]

African-Americans, clergy, and African-American clergy have been some of the real powerhouse groups that have been instrumental in making marriage equality a reality in the District of Columbia.   “Love has won out over fear,” said Rev. Dennis Wiley, co-pastor at Covenant Baptist Church and a co-chair of DC Clergy United for Marriage Equality. “Equality [...]

H/T Rosi Efthim.  Although the conservative variety get all the press, the truth is that nationwide, clergy and leaders from a broad spectrum of faith traditions support marriage equality.  To name but a few, we’ve seen similar statements from faith leaders in Massachusetts, in Washington, in Maine and perhaps most spectacularly in the District of [...]

Referendum 71 activities in Washington State have kept me so busy that I’ve had little time to watch marriage equality events unfolding in the other Washington.  But when I saw this delicious article by Tim Craig in today’s Washington Post, called “Pastors unite to support same-sex marriage in D.C.”, I just had to stop and [...]

Reverend Joan Montagnes and about 50 members and friends of the East Shore Unitarian Church took it to the streets of Bellevue, Washington Sunday.  Rev. Joan said she put out the call for lay leadership, Chris Conkling answered, and the event happened in short order.   Their message: Vote APPROVED on Referendum 71! Their philosophy: [...]