Our Christian Allies in the Battle for Gay Marriage

Often it is difficult for me and I suspect many LGBT individuals to remember that not all Christians are our enemies. We have suffered so much harm and what I call "spiritual murder" at the hands of those who purport to be Christians. With the battles over Proposition 8 in California and similar measures in Arizona and Florida, one hears a constant stream of anti-gay lies and rants from Christianists - who in my view are NOT true Christians - and in the process the efforts of true gay affirming Christians is lost in the noise. In fact, I have a number of clergy who read this blog on a regular basis. One e-mailed me last night as asked "Is there any way you can lift up the good work that's being done in the faith communities you see?"

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While as best I can determine, my own ELCA at the national level has not taken a formal position on Proposition 8, the ELCA and a number of other denominations went formally on record as opposing the Federal Marriage Amendment and any changes to the U. S. Constitution. Other religious groups that also signed the statement with the ELCA include the Alliance of Baptists, American Friends Service Committee (Quaker), American Jewish Committee, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), the Episcopal Church, Guru Gobind Singh Foundation (Sikh), National Conference of Community and Justice, Metropolitan Community Churches, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Washington office, The Interfaith Alliance, Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, and United Church of Christ Justice and Witness Ministries.

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As Equality for Marriage points out, in the California battle before the California Supreme Court, a brief was submitted to the California State Supreme Court, this time bearing the signatures of more than 400 religious leaders and organizations. Among the list of signatories are; The California Council of Churches, California Faith for Equality, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ, the Union for Reform Judaism, the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations, Soka Gakki International – USA (Buddhism), Al Fatiha (Islam), Dignity USA (Catholicism) and Affirmation (Mormonism). As I have previously mentioned in a prior post the leading Episcopal bishops in California have also public urged their church members to vote no on Proposition 8. The views of gay affirming Christian organizations can be found in this open letter.

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On a more localized scale, here are some examples of what one reader who is rostered clergy said that they and their allies are doing in California:

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Many of us here in CA are trying to inject some sanity into the Prop. 8 debate. Last week I participated w/ 25 clergy from several different denominations in a clergy press conference and phone bank in sponsored by the local Council of Churches.

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Our Church joined other churches and the Council of Churches for 1/2 page ads in the local news papaer urging a NO vote. One of my pastor's columns was about marriage equality for all. Moreover, the majority of our clergy in our Church Conference (and some others) are working for full inclusion in the church for all.

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My concern: Some of our church members and those in other churches that I know of are freaking out. They find difficulty in finding hope in the work we're trying to do. . . . Michael, is there any way you can lift up the good work that's being done in the faith communities you see? I hope so. I don't blame you one minute for speaking of Christianists and wingnuts, but can you find a story of hope, and encouragement to hang on?

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I thank this reader and all true committed Christians who support equality for LGBT citizens for their efforts and will try to highlight their work more in the future.