Fr, Johnathan Grieser, a priest in Wisconsin, has been noting the progress made towards marriage equality on his blog.
He also notes, however, the sad lack of a unified response to the events of this past week, when the US District court struck down the same-sex marriage ban as unconstitutional. He points out that as these bans fell all across the country, it should have become evident that it was going to happen in Wisconsin, and the local church would need to respond. Yet, there was no proactive conversation.
He writes:
As Episcopal clergy and as a church, we have painted ourselves into a very small corner. It’s going to be increasingly difficult for our congregations to claim to be open and welcoming to LGBT Christians when we refuse to extend the sacrament of marriage to them. As clergy, we are no longer going to be able to use the excuse that same sex marriage is forbidden in the state constitution when couples approach us to solemnize their vows. In retrospect, it would have been helpful to have had frank conversations about this in the past months. Instead, we dithered and kept our mouths shut.
Read the full post here.
How about where you are? Is your local church being proactive in advance of the laws changing?
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Megan, the Wisconsin State Supreme Court is not who ruled the marriage ban unconstitutional, it was U.S. District Judge Barbara Crabb. She also refused to stay her decision today and so the marriages continue at this point unless a higher court calls a halt until the ruling can be appealed.
Bro David
FWIW, my choice location for marrying in Wisconsin!
http://www.dekovencenter.org/weddings
JC Fisher
I would think that *some dioceses* in Wisconsin would be far more affirmative of their clergy&parishes blessing/presiding at same-sex marriages than others? [If my memory of TEC in Wisconsin holds…]
JC Fisher
LGBT Episcopalians who organize and work together with church leaders can sometimes achieve a more coordinated response. In Oregon, local Integrity leaders had been campaigning in congregations for months to help people prepare. The day the ruling occurred there was a public event with the diocesan bishop and Gene Robinson in attendance.
We found out about Wisconsin on the news, not from anybody within the church in that state. I know every diocese is different, but we are a lean, membership-driven organization and we can only help where we have local people willing to work with us.
We would love to work with more LGBT people and their allies and loved ones in places like Wisconsin. If this issue is important to you, please be in conversation with us.
Christian Paolino
Stakeholders’ Council Chair
IntegrityUSA
We were married by an Episcopal priest here in Maryland. It was a wonderful affirmation of our beliefs as well as a recognition of the validity of our relationship! Our parish accepts us totally!