Atlanta, USA - Days before the United Church of Christ is set to cast a historic vote on a resolution in support of same-sex marriages, the head of the denomination publicly endorsed the measure for the first time.
The Rev. John H. Thomas said Tuesday that the church's General Synod "should affirm the rights of gay, lesbian and transgender persons to have their covenanted relationships recognized by the state as marriages equal in name, privileges and responsibilities to married heterosexual couples.
"I believe our local churches, as they are able, should move toward the development of marriage equality policies so that the same liturgical and pastoral blessing and discipline may be offered all entering into covenanted relationships," Thomas said during a speech at Emory University.
That remark drew a lengthy standing ovation from the audience of about 200. After the speech, Bishop Yvette A. Flunder, senior pastor of City of Refuge United Church of Christ in San Francisco, expressed her support.
"I would consider this to be compared to about the same as the abolitionist movement. The anti-slavery movement and this movement are pretty much the same. This has been a great step in the direction in being accepted for what we believe in," she said.
The same-sex marriage resolution is one of three expected to be voted on by the General Synod at its annual meeting this weekend in Atlanta. If the measure passes, the church would be the first mainstream Christian denomination to officially support the marriages of gays and lesbians.
Church members could also choose to support a "one man, one woman" marriage resolution or a resolution calling for prayer and study of the same-sex marriage issue. Recently, backers of the third option endorsed the same-sex resolution and condemned the "one man, one woman" resolution as discriminatory.
The 1.3 million-member United Church of Christ has a history of supporting gays in its denomination, dating back to 1972, when it ordained the first openly gay minister and established a gay caucus.
UCC churches are autonomous, meaing that the General Synod does not create policy for its more than 5,700 congregations. Thomas said he was disappointed that some congregations are considering leaving the church if the same-sex resolution is approved.