A resolution passed unanimously last night by the vestry of All Saints Church, Pasadena making me VERY proud to work where I do!
MARRIAGE RESOLUTION -- June 2, 2009
WHEREAS, on November 4, 2008, a majority of the California electorate voted to approve Proposition 8, which amended the California Constitution to state “[o]nly marriage between a man and a woman is valid or recognized in California;”
WHEREAS, on May 26, 2009, the California Supreme Court voted to uphold the constitutionality of Proposition 8, a decision which not only deprives same-sex couples of the fundamental right to marry, but, in the words of dissenting Justice Carlos Moreno, “places at risk the state constitutional rights of all disfavored minorities”;
WHEREAS, the institution of civil marriage in the State of California is, as a result of Proposition 8 and the Court’s decision, a constitutionally-mandated instrument of discrimination, which furthers injustice and denies same-sex couples the fundamental dignities to which each human being is entitled;
WHEREAS, our active participation in the discriminatory system of civil marriage is inconsistent with Jesus’ call to strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being; and
WHEREAS, All Saints Church is called to make the sacrament of marriage equally available to all couples, regardless of their sexual orientation;
NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Rector, Wardens and Vestry do declare that the sacramental right of marriage is available to all couples, but that the clergy of All Saints Church will not sign civil marriage certificates so long as the right to marry is denied to same-sex couples.
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More info on the All Saints Church website
10 comments:
Interesting that you'll hold fast to the Canons and condemn opponents when it's to your advantage (e.g., the Dennis Canon) but will ignore their existence entirely otherwise.
Canon 18
...
Sec. 2. Before solemnizing a marriage the Member of the Clergy shall have ascertained:
(a) That both parties have the right to contract a marriage according to the laws of the State.
(b) That both parties understand that Holy Matrimony is a physical
and spiritual union of a man and a woman, ....
Is it that the acts of General Convention are only inspired by the Holy Spirit when you agree with them? Or is it that only you and those you agree with have the right or calling to defy it?
Thanks for taking time to comment, Ron. Actually, we've been offering saramental equality here for over 16 years ... roof's still standing; Spirit's still moving ... and so is the church. (Thankfully!)
Dear Rev. Russell,
Every time I hear anything about All Saints Pasadena, I feel proud to be a Christian (which can be hard sometimes considering some of what goes on in the name of Christ). This resolution is one more of those things. I don't know how it is possible that I can feel so connected to a church when I haven't even been in the building, but I imagine it might have something to do with the Holy Spirit. Thank you, thank all of you, so much. I hope that you wonderful people at All Saints know what a blessing you are to so many.
Bravo! Perhaps more churches will put their civil disobedience where their mouth is.
Thanks, Ron, for pointing out a Canon that is in need of a rewrite in order to excise the bigotry that, sadly, infected the Church for so many years.
Well, there is the fact that the Dennis Canon involves matters of Civil Law as well as ecclesiastical, while marriage canons are purely internal (we can bless what we will, and they can give out their deeds without our blessings). But (the new Cabal notwithstanding) didn't GC03 already approve (albeit only implicitly)a resolution to the effect that all committed life-long caring (etc. etc) relationships are equal in God's sight and thus that being in one is no bar to any role in the Church and that right should be established to proclaim and bless all such relationships. Why are we still waiting to make this explicit? And why should we wait til 2012 or beyond? But nothing seems to be happening along these lines for GC09
Way to go All Saints!! You guys set a wonderful standard.
Excellent! Excellent! Excellent! All Saints is a beacon of hope to many. May others follow your lead!
Interesting that you'll hold fast to the Canons and condemn opponents when it's to your advantage (e.g., the Dennis Canon) but will ignore their existence entirely otherwise.
Sort of like that bloody hippie who talked about fulfilling the law while healing and technically threshing grain on the Sabbath!
For shaaaaaaame, Susan!
(not really, just ridiculing a ridiculous complaint)
ronf, we have information that the writers of the canons, creeds doctrine, etc. didn't have. There are times when reality trumps doctrine (see: Galileo). This is one of those times.
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