Marriage Bells for Joseph and Ralph

As reported in the Albany Times Union, Dr. Joseph Eppink, choir director and organist at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church and his partner, Ralph Panelli, who is also the sexton at St. Andrew’s, are planning their wedding on September 17.

Joseph and Ralph have been together  for eight years, now.  Their union was blessed by an Episcopal priest, but the new Marriage Equality law in the State of New York allows them to finally have the wedding ceremony that they wanted.  Their ceremony will be conducted by a Lutheran minister at First Lutheran Church in Albany.  They would have preferred to be married at St. Andrew’s, but the discriminatory policy of Bishop Love and punishing canons of the diocese prevent not only an Episcopal priest from presiding, but for any clergy in the diocese from even attending the wedding.

This has not prevented the congregation of St. Andrews from supporting the joyful couple in their decision to wed.  As Joseph recounted to the Times Union reporter, on the Sunday after Marriage Equality became law “We had a coffee hour in front of the church, and there was this huge cheer from people. The church, the parish, they're all very excited."  Ralph sees their step together as not only a blessing for them, as a celebration to be shared.  "We can give this to the world now," he says.

Episcopalians in attendance at the wedding will have the opportunity to join in a congregational blessing of the marriage taken from Scripture and the Episcopal prayer book.

Please join me in wishing Joseph and Ralph a perfect wedding and a long and happy life together!

Comments

[Carolyn D'Agostino]

The position of the Albany diocese hierarchy is an outrage and the Bishop is out of step with the ECUSA and state law. Though I reside within the diocese, I drive to VT on Sunday rather than lend support to this travesty.

[Judy McGee]

Besides, this is America......NOT Nazi Germany for crying out loud. He needs to be deposed!!!!!!!

[Robert Meyers]

Amen!!!

[Judy McGee]

How can your Bishop FORBID people from attending a wedding. I think he needs to get a grip!!

[Richard Angelo]

Congratulatiosn to Ralph and Joseph! We at St Andrew's DO support your marriage. I am proud to be part of a parish where God's Love is made real and where we take the commandment to Love one another as meaning what it says!
Richard C. Angelo
Albany

[Robert T Dodd]

We congratulate Joseph and Ralph and hope many couples will follow their example. Praise to the people of St. Andrew's as well for showing that Christian love makes a far more joyful noise than discriminatory canons.

Bob and Marya Dodd