Gay Marriage Watch » religious exemption

Defrocked Minister Shares Experiences and Offers Insight on Road to LGBT Equality

melnathan — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 20:16:06 +0000

Foundry United Methodist Church Welcomes Equal Rights Author and Speaker Jimmy Creech

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This Sunday, Sept. 25, Foundry United Methodist Church proudly hosts former United Methodist minister and lifelong equal rights advocate Jimmy Creech to celebrate the 16^th anniversary of Foundry’s induction as a Reconciling Congregation and the church’s one-year anniversary of voting to practice marriage equality.

An inspiring advocate for full equal rights, Creech, now retired, was defrocked for officiating same-sex marriage ceremonies and now works with social action organizations like Soulforce – an interfaith movement confronting spiritual violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people – and Faith in America – an organization working to end religion-based intolerance.

When his ministerial credentials were removed for “disobedience to the Order and Discipline of The United Methodist Church,” Creech channeled his energy and passion into advocacy and has traveled the country speaking at churches, on college campuses, and to various community and national organizations about LGBT human and civil rights.

Creech will speak at each of Foundry’s services this Sunday at 9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. In addition to a book signing for Creech’s recent release Adam’s Gift: A Memoir of a Pastor’s Calling to Defy the Church’s Persecution of Lesbians and Gays at Foundry after the 11 a.m. service, Busboys and Poets (5th and K Street) will host a discussion and book signing with Creech the following day, Monday, Sept. 26 at 7 p.m.

For more information on Jimmy Creech and other upcoming events at Foundry United Methodist Church, visit www.foundryumc.org.

Foundry United Methodist Church continues to remain a beacon on light for the Methodist community in Washington, D.C. In 1995, Foundry became one of the first larger United Methodist Churches to publicly affirm its commitment to the full inclusion of all persons when it joined the Reconciling Congregation Movement. For additional information, visit Foundry on the Web at http://www.foundryumc.org.

Posted by Melanie Nathan.
melanie@gayusathemovie.com
www.visualcv.com/melnathan

CA: Proposed Law Would Take Away One of Prop 8's Main Arguments

scott — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 15:20:00 +0000

San Francisco state Sen. Mark Leno supports gay marriage – but he doesn’t think clergy should have to perform the ceremonies. Leno, who is gay, is introducing legislation that says no religious leader would be forced to perform a marriage that goes against their own beliefs or that of their faith. The bill would also re-emphasize the tax-exempt status of churches, and states that they would not lose this status by refusing to perform same-sex marriages.

Leno, a Democrat, contends the bill would not actually change the law because the First Amendment already offers these protections.

Instead, Leno said, it is a clarification aimed right at the ongoing debate over Proposition 8, the 2008 initiative that ended California’s brief experiment with same sex marriage. The measure won by six points after a campaign in which proponents sought to mislead voters, Leno contends.

Full Story from Capitol Weekly
Click here for gay marriage resources in California.
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DC: Gay Marriage Bill to Include Religious Exemption

scott — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:55:00 +0000

A D.C. Council committee is expected to approve major changes Tuesday to the bill to legalize same-sex marriage in the District, including adopting a provision that will make it easier for church officials to avoid participation in gay weddings and receptions.

As currently drafted, the legislation states that religious officials would have to offer wedding-related services to same-sex couples if those services are available to the public. But the Archdiocese of Washington and other religious organizations oppose that language, arguing that it would force them to restrict charitable and other services.

Bowing to that pressure, a council committee is expected to revise the bill to state that a church or religious official can deny services related to the “solemnization, celebration, or promotion” of a same-sex wedding without fear of running afoul of the city’s anti-discrimination laws.

Full Story from the Washington Post: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/09/AR2009110903246.html?hpid=sec-religion

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources.

To subscribe to this blog, use the rss feed on the right, or use the form at right to join our email list. You can also email us at info@purpleunions.com. Or find us on Facebook – just search for Gay Marriage Watch (you’ll see our b/w wedding pic overlooking the Ferry Building and Bay Bridge in SF). We’re also tweeting daily at http://www.twitter.com/gaymarriagewatc.

Saskatchewan Debating Bill to Exempt Religious Officiants from Gay Weddings

scott — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 17:56:00 +0000

The Saskatchewan Court of Appeals is seeking interveners in a case that will rule on proposed legislation that would let religious marriage commissioners refuse to marry gay couples.

In June the Saskatchewan Party government asked the court to rule on the constitutionality of two proposed changes to the province’s Marriage Act. The amendments would exempt marriage commissioners from performing a same-sex marriage “if to do so would be contrary to the marriage commissioner’s religious beliefs.”

One amendment would exempt those marriage commissioners appointed before gay marriage was legalized in the province in 2004. The other would exempt any marriage commissioner, no matter when they received their appointment from the province.

Full Story from Xtra.ca: http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/Saskatchewan_samesex_marriage_case_heats_up-7744.aspx

Planning to marry your partner? Click here for gay marriage resources in Canada.