First
Unitarian Society of Westchester
Views on Same Sex Marriage
First
Unitarian Society of Westchester
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| Statement on Same Sex Marriage
by Rev. David Bryce, FUSW Letter to Congregants and Friends from Rev. Debra Haffner Letter from Members of the Board of the First Unitarian Society of Westchester Other Links of Interest on the topic of Same Sex Marriage |
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Statement On Same Sex Marriage by Rev. David Bryce, FUSW
Marriage is a
human right.
Marriage is not
a mere union of the flesh. It is a union of hearts, a union of minds, a
union of souls. It is that union, a union of love, which makes marriage
sacred. Whenever that union comes into being, it deserves to be honored and
raised up and publicly celebrated. It deserves full legal recognition and
full legal rights; nothing less is just, nothing less is acceptable.
Our Unitarian
Universalist history is one of serving individual spiritual needs while
naming the brokenness of the world, seeking to heal that brokenness and
participating in the struggle for fundamental human and civil rights.
For nearly
thirty-five years, our Unitarian Universalist movement has called for equal
rights for gays and lesbians, both in our congregations and in the broader
community.
I am immensely
proud that it is two Unitarian Universalist ministers who are now leading
the way in challenging the denial of marriage rights to same sex partners.
As their court case progresses, I will be seeking for ways that this
congregation can provide them with financial and other forms of support. In the meantime, I give my full moral support to them and to the struggle they are now so fully a part of.
Rev. David M. Bryce |
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Letter to Congregants and Friends from Rev. Debra Haffner (Rev. Haffner was an intern minister at FUSW during 2002-2003) As many of you know, I joined five other Unitarian Universalist colleagues yesterday to marry same sex couples in New Paltz, NY.
First, thank you to all of you who sent me supportive messages. I indeed
felt that I went to New Paltz with a huge number of people behind me.
It was a remarkable day. There were six ministers, 25 couples ranging in
age from 24 to 70, from 2 1/2 years together to 36 years as a family,
several couples with children, and more than 200 family members and
friends as witnesses. We signed affidavits for each couple in lieu of
county marriage licenses, they were notarized, and then each couple had an
individual wedding ceremony officiated by one of the ministers. Couples
exchanged vows, rings, we offered them a blessing, and they kissed.
Although each ceremony was only 3 - 4 minutes long, they still felt
personal. Most of the couples I married had tears in their eyes as they
stood in front of me.
What I am most struck by is how both ordinary and extraordinary today
was. Extraordinary in what we and the people of New Paltz are doing,
extraordinary in the lives of these couples, some of whom told us stories
of having had to hide their relationships from everyone for many
years...but completely ordinary in terms of wht it felt like as a minister
to perform the marriage ceremony. These were couples in love, surrounded
by family and friends, who wanted to celebrate their commitment in public
-- it's what we do as ministers, helping people recognize and celebrate
their love and desire to live their lives together. The goal, of course,
is to indeed have this be ordinary for all, regardless of sexual or
gender orientation.
So, the bottom line for those of you who may have been worried -- the
ministers weren't arrested, we weren't charged, we didn't receive
warnings. The two policemen there paroled the perimeter, mostly I think
to keep the small group of protesters from entering the property. My two
colleagues who began this two weeks ago will be arraigned on Monday; I'll
let you know what happens. Our attorneys today told us that they think
the DA will wait to take action against us until they know what the judge
does on Monday. I will certainly let you know if I am charged.
So, far, 8 clergy have married almost 100 couples in New Paltz. There
will be more every weekend until all 1400 couples have been married. I
plan to go back, but right now, they have a waiting list of UU clergy who
want to participate.
Today was a blessed day. I have no doubt that the God that goes by many
names who created us in all our diversity is smiling. I also have no
doubt that in the not too distant future this indeed will be an ordinary
day. I am grateful to be in ministry. And I am grateful that you are
part of my life.
Debra
The Reverend Debra W. Haffner
Religious Institute on Sexual Morality, Justice, and Healing 304 Main Avenue, # 335 Norwalk, CT 06851 203-840-1148 www.religiousinstitute.org |
Letter from
Members of the Board of the
(sent to the Ulster County District Attorney, Local Officials, Newspapers,
etc.)
Two Unitarian Universalist ministers, Kay Greenleaf and Dawn
Sangrey, recently solemnized same sex marriages in New Paltz, NY, and have
since been charged with doing so illegally. Charges are being considered
against a third Unitarian Universalist minister, Marion Visel.
We, the undersigned members of the Board of Trustees of the First Unitarian
Society of Westchester, write to let you know that we affirm what they have
done, admire their courage and take pride in their act of love and justice.
We urge you to recognize that homosexuals have a constitutional and moral
right to marry those whom they love and that we have a religious right to
celebrate and solemnize those marriages. As a religious movement we believe in the inherent worth and dignity of every person; in justice, equity and compassion in human relationships; and in liberty and justice for all.
Kathy Alden McGowan, President Robert Carroll, Vice President Susan Greenberg, Treasurer Cynthia Reynolds, Secretary Arnie Adler, Trustee Eileen Culhane, Trustee Adelaide DiGiorgi, Trustee Rashid Shaikh, Trustee Jane Sisk, Trustee Barbara Thompson, Trustee
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Other Links of Interest on the topic of Same Sex Marriage Unitarian Universalist Association Home Page Unitarian Universalist District of Metropolitan New York Home Page Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Poughkeepsie, New York Same Sex Marriage and the Unitarian Universalists Churches - a collection of Internet resources supporting the freedom to marry from all dimensions of the Unitarian Universalist Movement |
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This page was updated May 19, 2004