Calvin Synod Herald, 2005 (106. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2005-09-01 / 9-10. szám
CALVIN SYNOD HERALD 5 General Synod of the United Church of Christ affirms equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender and declares that the government should not interfere with couples regardless of gender who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities and commitment of legally recognized marriage; and LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Twenty-fifth General Synod of the United Church of Christ affirms equal access to the basic rights, institutional protections and quality of life conferred by the recognition of marriage; and LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Twenty-fifth General Synod calls for an end to rhetoric that fuels hostility, misunderstanding, fear and hatred expressed toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons; and LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Officers of the United Church of Christ are called upon to communicate this resolution to local, state and national legislators, urging them to support equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender. In recognition that these resolutions may not reflect the views or current understanding of all bodies, and acknowledging the pain and struggle their passage will engender within the gathered church, the General Synod encourages the following: LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Twenty-fifth General Synod calls upon all settings of the United Church of Christ to engage in serious, respectful, and prayerful discussion of the covenantal relationship of marriage and equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender, using the “God is still speaking, about Marriage” study and discussion guide produced by Wider Church Ministries of the United Church of Christ (available online at UCC.org); and LET IT BE FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Twenty-fifth General Synod calls upon congregations, after prayerful biblical, theological, and historical study, to consider adopting Wedding Policies that do not discriminate against couples based on gender; and LET IT BE FINALLY RESOLVED, that the Twenty-fifth General Synod urges the congregations and individuals of the United Church of Christ to prayerfully consider and support local, state and national legislation to grant equal marriage rights to couples regardless of gender, and to work against legislation, including constitutional amendments, which denies civil marriage rights to couples based on gender. Funding for the implementation of this Resolution will be made in accordance with the overall mandates of the affected agencies and the funds available. A Time to Act We go to war when the possibility - the ability - of our people to worship God is hindered by an outside force. Revolution is mandated when those who are entrusted by God to be our leaders do not fulfill their mandate - to allow the worship of God. John Calvin tells us we should first approach our higher authorities, and only then go over their heads if they don’t respond. In 1991 Calvin Synod made its protest to the United Church of Christ in a resolution addressed to GS XVIII, stating our disagreement with the UCC direction at that time. The UCC took note, as was evidenced at our 1992 Calvin Synod Annual Meeting. We had as a guest UCC President Paul Sherry, who came to warn us that we jeopardized our standing in the UCC as a Conference should we offer “safe harbor” to three UCC congregations who wanted to affiliate with Calvin Synod, congregations whose own UCC Conferences had left the mainstream of orthodox Christianity, following the lead of the UCC. (In Calvin’s terminology, this is the equivalent to the “king” telling the complaining “princes” that he would remove them unless they saw it his way!) So the UCC has been aware of our objections to their current direction, objections which were reiterated by our delegates at every UCC General Synod since that time.Persuasion and objection have NOT swayed those who are leading the UCC. John Calvin stated that in such an instance, we do not just have the RIGHT, we have the OBLIGATION to revolt! We as leaders MUST act to protect those under our leadership. This includes ministers and lay leaders. And in every congregation in which the leaders do NOT speak out for the welfare of the congregation, it is the responsibility of the members to call the leaders to accountability. This is not something which is “optional”: this is a responsibility of every Christian. For in the congregations, every person is taught what comes from “the leaders.” What the “church” teaches to be “normal” is what the next generation will learn. If it is a perversion of Christ’s teachings, then we teach a perversion. Each of us is a teacher both with our words and in actions - and our inactions! I always tremble when I think of the gravity of James 3:1, “...we who teach shall be judged with greater strictness.” Taking a stand at this time has become very important. President John F. Kennedy once remarked: “The hottest place in hell is reserved for those who, in the time of crises, remain on the fence.” In Revelation 3:16 the Lord God speaks concerning those who □□□ (Continued on page 6)
