The UCC and Gay Marriage; Jesus and Adulterers

Church Clarifies Stance on Gay Marriage
By Rev. Dr. Diane Prosser

In recent days, [...] newspapers have reported on the proceedings of the United Church of Christ General Synod in regard to a resolution that was before it. This resolution supports full legal and religious marriage equality for same-sex couples.

This was voted on by the delegates of the synod, and it passed.

As pastor of a local United Church of Christ church, I would like to clarify what this vote means for us as church members and what it does not mean.

First, the United Church of Christ is a Christian denomination firmly grounded in the teaching and example of Jesus. Included in our statement of faith is the acknowledgment of Jesus Christ as our crucified and risen savior.

As believers we are called "to accept the cost and joy of discipleship" and "to proclaim the gospel to all the world." So no one should be confused about this.

Statements made to the press indicating that the United Church of Christ is not true to the teaching of Jesus are simply irresponsible and wrong.

Second, there are different ways to interpret Jesus' teaching, and this takes prayerful study on the part of people in all Christian churches.

There is no record in the Bible of Jesus speaking about homosexuality. We don't know his views on this or even if he had any views on it.

In that respect, this issue may fall in the same category as nuclear energy, global warming or women in ministry. Jesus' teaching certainly gives guidance on these things. It helps us evaluate and decide on these matters. But they were not the major issues of Jesus' culture and day.

Third, Jesus did teach about marriage. In the gospel of Mark, Jesus is remembered to have said that if a man "divorces his wife and marries another, he commits adultery against her." There are no exceptions noted.

But in the gospel of Matthew, he is remembered to have said "whoever divorces his wife, except for unchastity, and marries another, commits adultery."

So which is it? Which of these did Jesus say?

And if biblical literalists insist that he said both, then the question is, "Well, which one did he mean?" Obviously, he was talking about faithfulness in relationship.

Some Christians today say that it is a sin for a married person to divorce his or her spouse. But other Christians point out that some marriages are so abusive or dysfunctional that it is more of a sin to stay married than to divorce.

Likewise, some Christians today say that only a man and a woman can be married. Others know of faithful loving relationships between same-sex couples and ask why it wouldn't be consistent with the teaching of Jesus to grant these relationships the sanctity of marriage.

At the very least, there should be genuine, respectful conversation on these issues among Christians, with some leeway for differences of interpretation.

Finally, in regard to the polity of the United Church of Christ, I want to emphasize that the United Church of Christ is not a hierarchy. There is no person or group at the national level who tells local churches what to believe.

Churches are encouraged to study these issues and the denomination provides excellent resources for study. But it is the local United Church of Christ church that ultimately decides which interpretation seems faithful to them and abides by that.

(The Rev. Dr. Diane Prosser is pastor of Faith United Church of Christ in State College, Pennsylvania.)