Marriage Equality Creeds

My mother, a UCC minister, has been on sabbatical for the last month and a half. Over that time, she has been studying the concept and meaning of covenant. Each week, she shares some of her thoughts from her studies on her blog, and each week I have to fight the temptation to share her blog with you. I especially wanted to share with you her post on the covenant of marriage, and the things she happened upon when researching that particular subject. I resisted the temptation, because I didn't want to be nepotistic.

This week, I just can’t resist drawing from her writings to start a conversation with you. Here’s an excerpt:

I don’t think I made it clear that while I understand our churches to be non-creedal, I recognize each Christian’s creed as essential to the health of their faith. Creeds in this sense are central to the life of covenant churches because part of what we covenant to do in loving each other in the way of faith, is to honor each other’s journey of faith and our creeds are the markers of where we have come on our journey.... Just because we don’t share the same confession doesn’t mean it isn’t important for us to share our own creeds with each other. Our UCC description of creeds as “testimonies not tests” of faith clearly implies that we are to be sharing our testimonies of faith with each other.

Now, many of your may be asking, “what does this have to do with marriage equality” or “hey, is this Faithful Voices post only directed to Christians?”
The answer is that her discussion on testimonies of faith, and her subsequent sharing of her own personal creed, got me thinking about how important it is that we each have our own personal creed when it comes to Marriage Equality. When I was interviewing for my position here, our Executive Director Connie asked me “if you were in an elevator with someone and had one minute to describe your support for same-gender marriage, what would you say?” I have to say, at the time I was totally at a loss for an answer. As an organizer I am always telling stories, listening to stories, seeking out stories. Stories by their nature are longer than an elevator ride. I still think they have a very important role in the movement we are creating, but I realize now how important that short answer is as well. Boiling something down doesn’t dilute, it makes it stronger! I realize now that what Connie was asking me for was my testimony, my creed. I have spent a lot of time thinking about it and I want to share my creed with you. I would then like to hear your creeds on why you support and defend Marriage Equality. Please share them here in the comments. I’m looking forward to seeing the variety of responses!

My Marriage Equality Creed:
I believe in God, who created me and loves every person unconditionally, as a parent loves a child. I believe in Christ, who redeems me, and every person, with a grace that surpasses our understanding. I trust that God intended for us to read the scriptures with not only our hearts, but our minds as well. I do not believe same gender affection is a choice, just as it is not my choice to have opposite gender attraction. We are all perfect, as God has created us.
I believe also that the United States Constitution grants equal protection to every citizen. I know that the right to marry gives couples the opportunity to provide for each other, care for each other, and create families together. I know that what happens in the court house is separate from what happens at the altar. I know that I will fight to protect the rights of others, as we are none of us safe until we are all safe.

Aloha Civil Rights?

Yesterday, the governor of Hawaii vetoed that state’s civil union bill. You can see the article on The Advocate for more details, but one line from her statement really got me thinking. Explaining her reasons for the veto, Gov. Lingle said, “The subject of this legislation has touched the hearts and minds of our citizens as no other social issue of our day. It would be a mistake to allow a decision of this magnitude to be made by one individual or a small group of elected officials.”

The Iowa Family Policy Center has titled their anti-equality campaign “Let Us Vote.” Their website says that it “is your right to vote on the definition of marriage.” It is interesting to me that this group has decided to headline their argument with a pronouncement of a “right.” What that quote translates to me is “it is your right to vote on other people’s rights”, or “it is a Conservative Christian’s right to vote on the religious views and practices of other Iowans” or “it is OUR right to vote on THEIR life.”
Does it bother me that a gay teenager has to sit through a church sermon telling him God hates him? Yes, it does. On a theological and moral level it bothers me deeply. Do I want the Iowa government to legislate that a minister can’t do that? No. What I want is for the Iowa Constitution to be upheld, both in its guarantee of equal rights and its protection of religious freedom.

My church and denomination affirm the value of all people, regardless of affectional orientation. My church performs same gender marriages. We believe that marriages, like the other covenant relationships we enter into as people of faith, are open to all people. The Iowa Family Policy Center can tell us we are wrong; the government of the state of Iowa cannot. The churches and ministers who support the IFPC can choose to not perform same gender marriages in their churches. For that matter, so can the churches and ministers who support the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa. Churches get to control what goes on at the altar. What the churches cannot and should not control is what goes on at the courthouse. The Supreme Court did their job; they interpreted the Constitution and now the equal protection that has always been the law of the land is recognized and is being upheld.

What do you think is a good argument to NOT vote on equality? When opponents of civil marriage confront you on the issue, how do you respond? Many of us have religious reasons for our support. What are your civil reasons?

Keep on Keeping On

Isn’t it funny how quickly time passes? I feel like I just began my work with Faithful Voices, but the truth is I have been here for nearly 10 months. Before we know it, a year will have passed.
The program has evolved and changed as I have settled into my role here. We had a really excellent conference shortly after I arrived, and I have already begun work to make this year’s even better. I have traveled across the state to meet with old and new friends of Interfaith Alliance of Iowa and started genuine, caring conversations with many people. I have strengthened ties of friendship and mutual caring between Faithful Voices and One Iowa and attended or organized events, forums and film showings to continue our work together.
Yet, I feel there is still so much to do.
Despite the fact that I become more confident every day that Marriage Equality is secure legally in Iowa, I still feel that there are far too many Iowans who need to hear progressive voices of faith speak up on the issue. Despite the warm welcome I received when I moved to this state, I feel that there is still much work to be done to make this state more welcoming, not only to LGBTQ people, but to all people. Despite the fact that I have met countless faith leaders who are willing to engage in conversation on difficult issues and to open up their arms and their places of worship to all, I still feel there are too many members of the clergy who are closing doors.
Where do we go from here?
I think the thing to do is to “keep on keeping on.” A large part of the power of community organizing is the ripple effect, the idea that one conversation you have can turn into four other conversations, which turns into sixteen, and so on. For me, this is the difficult part, because it is the part that I don’t get to see. I have faith and trust, however, that all the people I have met with have been sincere in their intentions to open up conversations in their communities. What I need to do now is to continue building relationships with those of you I’ve met and to work on creating new connections.
Have I met with YOU yet? Call me, email me, or write something on the Faithful Voices Facebook page and we will get together and talk about strengthening the movement for protection of Faith and Freedom in your community.