Episcopal bishops on gay marriage: Discrimination is not the Lord's way

[UrbScotty]

As bishops of the Episcopal Church in Michigan, we are compelled by our office and our conscience to present a perspective on marriage equality that differs substantively from the positions of our state’s top elected leaders and the religious leaders whose voices have dominated the public square. We offer a message of hope to those alienated by the traditional teachings of the church and the constitutional denial of civil rights.

When asked what is the greatest commandment, Jesus said, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind,” and “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-38 NRSV). Condemning love and condemning those seeking to make a faithful, committed, and covenantal relationship to one another under God is not a message built on the teachings of Christ, but is rather a fear-laden response to one’s neighbor.

Our faith is in a loving and compassionate God who does not condemn love, and in our experience, there is holy goodness in the love of gay and lesbian couples and their families.

As the case of DeBoer v. Snyder continues to work its way through our judicial system, we hope that judges will find that the denial of marriage to those whose expression of love is same-gendered is both a denial of human dignity and a denial of rights under the law. We pray that Michigan will finally be able to proudly stand on the right side of history and join the 17 other states whose laws affirm the equality of all faithful, committed and covenantal relationships.

http://www.freep.com/article/20140325/OPINION05/303250133

[TreasonousBastard]

1. They get it.

[wryter2000]

2. This is one of the reasons I decided to go back to church

And I'm so glad I did.