Disciples D.C. church OKs same-sex unions

The national church for the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), which is also home to the denomination's moderator, has voted to allow same-sex unions.

The board of elders at National City Christian Church voted December 7 to allow the ceremonies after a gay couple asked the church's pastor, Alvin O. Jackson, to bless their relationship. "There was no heated discussion," Jackson told the Washington Post.

Jackson is moderator of the Indianapolis-based denomination, and the Washington church is owned and supported by the denomination. Disciples founder Alexander Campbell in 1851 wanted the denomination to "have the largest meeting house in Washington and there ... stand up in the presence of kings and Earth's nobility and proclaim the unknown gospel."

The denomination does not have an official policy on same-sex unions but generally supports civil rights for gays and lesbians. Jackson, formerly the pastor of one of the denomination's largest congregations--in Memphis, Tennessee--said he does not anticipate negative reaction from Indianapolis.

"It's a very traditional, mainline denomination, so there are some people who will be upset and denounce me and denounce the church," he told the Post. "But there won't be any repercussions from the hierarchy."--RNS

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