Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC)

An exploration of different models and meanings of marriage in the Bible, history and Christian tradition, and a discussion of contemporary theological understandings of marriage.

On October 1, 46 people gathered to participate in Part 2 of the forum series on the Marriage Equality Resolution adopted in July 2006. (See www.ucc.org/synod/resolutions/gsrev25-7.pdf for the text). Dwight Rodgers opened the session with “Marriage and Family in the Bible,” asking the participants to read 24 passages in the Bible related to marriage and report back their observations. The participants talked about changing understandings and practices of marriage and family over the centuries covered in the Bible. Dwight next summarized nine cultural areas from Western civilization, ranging from the Old Testament (where marriage was more about an economic and social binding of families together than about love between two people), through the Pauline view of marriage as a secondary state to be avoided if possible, to progressive Protestant traditions.

Janet Parker, in “Theological Reflections on Marriage Equality,” began by asking us to consider how our social location shapes the way we respond to the Synod Resolution. She presented common theological arguments that are made for defining marriage only as a union of one man with one woman. Among them were “procreative possibility” as an essential requirement for marriage, and complementarity of two genders as fundamental to human nature, thereby requiring that marriage be between a man and a woman. Janet also posed questions that the proponents of these arguments need to wrestle with, and concluded by presenting a theological case for the Synod Resolution. Scripture contains multiple models for marriage and family, and proponents of marriage equality highlight the importance of looking to the overarching themes of Scripture and applying them to the modern question of same-gender marriage. They argue that the message of Scripture evolves through the Old and New Testaments toward increasing inclusiveness, and we should consider who is the “excluded other” today. The great commandment calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves. This requires that we do justice to our neighbor. What does justice require in the realm of marriage, if we believe that gay and lesbian people are created in the image of God and gifted with sexuality and the capacity for love and commitment?

A lively discussion followed. Should we not separate out the question of seeking complete equality before the law for all couples regardless of gender from that of what we call the relationships? Or, if marriage is the gold standard in our society and in the church, would creating a separate category at this point in time in the U.S. attach a stigma to same-gender couples?

RELATED INFORMATION & DOCUMENTS:

Marriage and Family in the Bible

Complex Marriage Traditions

Theological Reflections on Marriage