POLICY ON EQUAL MARRIAGE

 FEBRUARY 24, 2008

 PREAMBLE

Since the early eighties human sexuality and the rights of people to live alternative lifestyles have been to the forefront in Canadian society.  Much debate and prayerful consideration have taken place in the Parliament of Canada, Provincial Legislatures, and within the mainline churches across the country.  The end result of these debates is Equal Marriage is now legalized in most provinces in Canada.  Same-sex couples now enjoy the benefits of marriage life once afforded only to people of heterosexual orientations.  However, the Government of Canada and the Province of Newfoundland and Labrador have clearly stated that churches will not be forced to accept equal marriages as part of their marriage policies even though the right for people of all orientations to marry is seen as a basic human right in Canada.

The United Church of Canada has studied this issue in light of other church policies on human sexuality and the rights of alternative lifestyles within our church and society.  The result being that the General Council of the United Church of Canada has affirmed the right of same-sex people to marry and encourages congregations across the country to treat same-sex people couples equally with persons of alternative lifestyles seeking Christian Marriage.  However, the General Council recognizes the Session, in each congregation, as the Court of the church responsible for the decision for all marriages within its congregation.  The General Council also stated that the Minister’s role in conducting marriage is clearly within the Pastoral Covenant and therefore must be governed by the decision of the Session. In cases where congregations have refused to permit equal marriage within its pastoral charge or refused the Minister to perform such marriages, the Minister of that pastoral charge must try and find a congregation and a Minister that will honour the request of the couple seeking to be married.

First United Church seeks as its Mission to be an inclusive church community accepting of all; no matter of race, gender, or sexual orientation and that First United Church would be a community where all might be cared for and an opportunity to live out their faith with a sense of compassion, justice, and in loving service to one another.  As we may grow closer to God and as we draw closer to one another let us adopt the words of a moral theologian by the name of Daniel Maguire who offers us this definition of marriage (Same-Sex Marriage)

“Marriage is the highest form of interpersonal commitment and friendship
achievable between sexually attracted persons”. This definition of marriage
requires neither heterosexual coupling nor procreative possibility.

He goes on to say,

“that offspring may and often do enhance marital life, but children are not
essential for fulfillment in the marriage covenant. What makes for a marriage are-
companionship, mutual trust, and caring. None is a function of gender or sexual
orientation. Maguire also maintains that the goods of marriage include “total
acceptance of all aspects of the self, the experience of creative loving, and the opportunity to be nurtured in a school of holiness where persons may grow closer
to God as they grew closer to one another and where their conjugal love may fuel
their passion for justice and love for all people.”

For most United Church people Jesus and his witness of inclusiveness is surely the bedrock upon which we are called to this kind of inclusiveness. Scripture references are Luke 2:29-32, Luke 4:16-19, John 1:10-13.

Let us further maintain that it shall be included in the policy governing marriages at First
United Church that all persons requesting to be married within the sanctuary, or otherwise, of First United Church would be treated equally:

• That there should be no discrimination on the bases of gender or sexual orientation;

• That all couples should be considered for marriage based on meeting the legal requirements of the province of Newfoundland and Labrador;

• That all couples demonstrate a commitment to a loving caring relationship, compatible in lifestyles and goals in life.

Elaine Brown
Wayne Cole
Roberta Graham