Among the many legal challenges to gay marriage bans now being filed in a series of US states, one just filed in North Carolina on behalf of the United Church of Christ and a group of clergy argues that the ban interferes with their freedom of religion.
From Washington Blade
United Church of Christ files lawsuit against N.C. marriage ban
The United Church of Christ and a group of clergy and same-sex couples on Monday filed a federal lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s constitutional amendment that defines marriage as between a man and a woman.
The lawsuit — which was filed in U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina — argues the marriage amendment violates the religious beliefs of denominations and congregants who support the recognition of gay nuptials and clergy who want to perform them. Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, president of the United Church of Christ, and Rev. Nancy Kraft of Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Charlotte are among the plaintiffs who attended a Charlotte press conference.
“As a senior minister, I am often asked to perform marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples in my congregation,” said Rev. Joe Hoffman of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Asheville, who is a plaintiff along with Diane Ansley and Cathy McGaughey, two of his congregants who have been together for 14 years. “My denomination — the United Church of Christ — authorizes me to perform these ceremonies, but Amendment One denies my religious freedom by prohibiting me from exercising this right.”
The United Church of Christ, which has nearly a million members, in 2005 approved a resolution endorsing marriage rights for same-sex couples.
- more at Washington Blade
Related articles
- Same-sex couples prepare for religious wedding ceremonies (dailyherald.com)
- Religious Freedom: Indiana Clergy Oppose Amendment (bilerico.com)
Well, this is news that delights the soul and what a logical tact to take!
There’s more about this that could be said, Jayden - it’s part of a much wider move to inclusion BY some churches and church people - and one of the reasons, I think, that Matthew Vines’ book on “God and the Gay Christian” has some conservative Evangelicals so obviously running scared. They know they’re on the losing side, and that the day will come, when bigotry and prejudice will no longer be able to hide under a cloak of religious respectability.