Clergy's open letter on same-sex unions

Although the Federal Marriage Amendment already has been defeated in both the Senate and House, the debate continues. As such, a coalition of faith leaders has released an Open Letter in support of marriage equality. Functioning under the umbrella of the New York-based nonprofit organization Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing, the authors publicly affirmed a broad, faith-based rationale for supporting marriage equality for same-sex couples.

"We were called to join the public discussion on marriage equality," declares Rev. Debra W. Haffner, director of the Religious Institute. "America needs to know that many faith leaders and theologians from diverse religious traditions strongly believe that all people have a God-given right to lead lives which fully express love, mutuality, and commitment--including the right to marry."

With more than 10 denominations now permitting their clergy to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies, the Religious Institute's letter represents what it maintains is a growing consensus of faith-based support for full inclusion of gay and lesbian couples in civil and religious marriage.

"We refute those who would use selected verses of scripture to condemn the marriage of gay and lesbian people," stresses Rev. Marvin Ellison, who teaches Christian social ethics at Bangor (Me.) Theological Seminary. "Contrary to this distortion of religious tradition, the overall message of the Bible neither commends a single marriage model nor commands all to marry, but rather calls for love and justice in all relationships."

The letter also challenges those who use their religion to justify discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Stating that the civil and religious values of marriage should be available to all people, the authors ask religious and civic leaders to promote good marriages based on responsibility, equity, and love, without restrictions based on the biological sex, procreative potential, or sexual orientation of the partners.

"Throughout our nation's history, faith leaders have been found on both sides of civil rights debates, some calling our nation to equality and healing while others preach fear and division and appeal to the worst in their fellow human beings," notes Bran Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry. "The clergy signing this Open Letter affirm that it is immoral to discriminate in the right to marry, unjust to deny committed couples a legal commitment to protect their families, and uncharitable to remain silent in the face of assaults on gay people's common humanity."

Signing authors represent theologians and ordained clergy from a broad range of religious perspectives, including Jewish, Baptist, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Brethren, Roman Catholic, United Church of Christ, United Methodist, and Unitarian Universalist.

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