The New York State Legislature is now poised to legalize marriage of same-gendered partners. The Assembly has once more approved the legislation, and the vote tally in the State Senate stands at 31 of 62, with only one more vote needed to approve the law.
My Facebook friend Winnie Varghese, the Priest in Charge of St. Mark’s Church in the Bowery, has written an article, picked up by the Huffington Post, in support of the legislation. Rev. Winnie focuses on the fact that marriage equality is a matter of civil rights, not religious exclusivity. Marriage, a civil matter, must be open to all if it is to be a meaningful right for anyone. But sufficient provisions are also included to protect the rights of religious institutions. As she reassures us, "For religious leaders who are afraid, you will not be required to marry someone of the same sex."
To those of us who believe that our faith demands we support justice, pray that our legislature choses the path of inclusion and passes the law, this time around.
As Rev. Winnie writes:
We are one vote away from same sex marriage in New York.
I am an Episcopal Priest in New York, watching, more than a little excited. The Episcopal Church is one of the churches that has come out in full support of the civil rights of gay and lesbian persons, including the right to constitute family with a same sex partner.
I am writing to make only one point. State recognition of same sex marriage is about freedom, an all-American value, more libertarian than liberal. It is about removing a state imposed barrier in the construction of family.
As human beings, and specifically as persons of faith, we organize ourselves as families based upon values much more profound than simply the code of law of the country we happen to inhabit. As followers of Jesus our standards for relationship are quite high and often distinct from any legal requirements. The law does not require fidelity, love, skill in communication, or signs of a healthy relationship. The church increasingly requires articulation and signs of those kinds of qualities in relationship before blessing a marriage or relationship.
As a church we hold quite a diversity of opinions on this subject, but as a church we have not allowed those who hold one opinion to restrict the freedoms of other people. That is quite the opposite of what those who oppose gay marriage are trying to do. They are trying to maintain a level of discrimination, historic and traditional discrimination, but discrimination, a restriction on freedom enshrined in law that now also violates our common understanding of human sexual identity as diversely ordered in the human experience.
Episcopalians are often quite traditional and deliberate in our approach. We often do not make change quickly, and when we do, we do so informed by our tradition. We are proud of our tradition of holding human dignity and reason, our capacity to take in new information and respond faithfully, as foundational values undergirded by the teachings of Jesus as known to us in the Bible.
Marriage between members of the same sex reflects a new understanding of human beings and human sexuality. The law must change to reflect new truths, which should inform how we approach our scripture and tradition. In light of our newly formed understanding and respect for the experience of gay and lesbian persons, same sex marriage is a matter of civil rights, an increase in a fundamental freedom for a group oppressed by outdated, biased legislation.
For those religious leaders who are afraid, you will not be required to marry someone of the same sex. For those of you who have waited too long, our church hopes and prays with you.
The core of Winnie Varghese’s article is the paragraph where she says, “Marriage between members of the same sex reflects a new understanding of human beings and human sexuality. The law must change to reflect new truths…”
Not all are convinced by this “new understanding of human beings and human sexuality” -- and not simply because of bigotry or “fear.” I certainly agree that it is a good thing that people with same sex attraction no longer face the same degree of guilt and isolation and lack of compassion from others to which homosexuals were once routinely subject.
Whether or not it is a “new truth,” it is clear that a new consensus is emerging within society – even if not all share it – and it is reasonable that the law reflect this new consensus. Civil rights are based on a broad civil consensus.
If orthodox biblically-minded Christians – Roman Catholic, Easter Orthodox, Evangelical, Pentecostal, even Mainline Protestant – don’t share this consensus, it is not the first time Christians have been in a counter cultural situation. Hence, the fact that the NY Senate has “stepped out far ahead of some religious organizations,” does not mean that the church need or should follow.
Posted by: Fr. Christopher Brown | June 29, 2011 at 01:52 PM
On Friday night, against expectation, the state Senate voted to legalize same-sex marriage in New York. In doing so, it stepped out far ahead of some religious organizations, including the Episcopal Diocese of Albany.
Praise is due the Senate and, in particular, four Republican senators who crossed the aisle to make this triumph for justice possible. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, for making New Yorkers proud!
Posted by: Robert T Dodd | June 27, 2011 at 11:09 AM