Associational

An eNewsletter of

The Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists

The National Voice for LGBT Baptists

Issue 44 ~ June 1, 2008

From the Executive Director
Edited by AWAB Council Member Barbara Hulsing

Available in PDF

From the Executive Director
New W&A Congregations
California Supreme Court Affirms Same-Sex Marriage Rights
Call for Metro D.C. Participants
Bits 'n' Bites
Upcoming Events

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

On May 4, 2008, Dr. Roy Medley, the General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches USA, visited my home congregation, First Baptist Church, Madison, WI (W&A). Our pastor, Rev. Mark Clinger, wrote the following reflection on Roy's visit:

"Dear Friends:

Yesterday’s visit by the General Secretary of the American Baptist Churches, the Rev. Dr. A. Roy Medley, was a very positive, inspiring and reassuring experience. In his sermon, Dr. Medley encouraged us to serve as the hands and feet of Christ, by strengthening our Christian practices of gratitude, generosity, and engagement in the wider world. He called us to live in a 'new ecology of relationships' begun by the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

“During the luncheon following worship, Dr. Medley spoke to a number of issues within our denomination, beginning with the 'recent unpleasantness' on matters surrounding the issue of sexual orientation. He upheld the twin historic Baptist emphases upon the 'authority of scripture' as well as the final role of the 'local congregation' in scripture’s interpretation. He recognized that standing for these principles cost the denomination the loss of one region but added that we could not surrender these convictions of conscience. Dr. Medley’s assertion of the primacy of these principles in the ongoing life of our denomination was deeply reassuring.

“Dr. Medley went on to share some other observations about our life together. He spoke of the 'catholicity' of the American Baptist family, recognizing we are the broadest and most inclusive band of Baptists in the country, spanning a greater diversity of theological belief, race and culture than any other national gathering of Baptists. He encouraged us to reclaim the joy of living together, out of this diversity, as we simply share in the work of God. He also celebrated the many relationships that are growing between us and other Baptists as seen in both the Alliance of Baptists and the New Baptist Covenant. He added, 'Excluding different views is not how we conduct our life.'

“Finally, I was keenly impressed by the leadership and initiative Dr. Medley is taking in building an 'ecology of relationship' between our denomination and the Islamic Society of America. He is particularly emphasizing dialogue on how we can work together to insure peace and dignity for all, a prophetic stance in this time of growing anti-Islamic prejudice.

“In all, I found in Dr. Medley, as I so often do, a genuine Christian spirit deeply committed to the principles of conscience that ground our denomination in the best of times. His visit, his presence, and his honest addressing of the issues at hand were deeply reassuring to me and should serve to strengthen our continuing relationship with our American Baptist family."

Lovingly,
Ken Pennings

608-255-2155

ken@wabaptists.org

(2) New W&A Congregations

A warm welcome to three new member congregations (and four new pastors):

Cumberland First Baptist Church

            (ABC, Alliance)

            116 S. Muessing Street

            Indianapolis, IN 46229

            317-894-2645

            Fax: 317-894-2645

            www.cumberlandfbc.org

            Rev. T. Wyatt Watkins

            Rev. Kevin D. Rose

Fairview Community Church

            (UCC, ABC, Evergreen Assoc.)

            2525 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, CA 92626

            714-545-4610

            Fax: 714-545-6416

            www.ocfairviewchurch.org

            Rev. Sarah Halverson

Federated Church of Grand Forks

            (ABC, UCC)
            2122 17th Avenue South
            Grand Forks, ND 58201

701-775-9089

www.uccwebsites.net/federatedchurchgrandforksnd.html

            Rev. Keith A. Mills.

(3) California Supreme Court Affirms Same-Sex Marriage Rights

(NY Times, http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/16/us/15cnd-marriage.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin)

The California Supreme Court, striking down two state laws that had limited marriages to unions between a man and a woman, ruled on May 15th that same-sex couples have a constitutional right to marry.

The court’s 4-to-3 decision, drawing on a ruling six decades ago that struck down the state’s ban on interracial marriage, would make California only the second state, after Massachusetts, to allow same-sex marriages.

The decision, which becomes effective in 30 days unless the court grants a stay, was greeted with celebrations at San Francisco City Hall, where thousands of same-sex marriages were thrown out by the courts four years ago. It was denounced by religious and conservative groups, who pledged to support an initiative proposed for the November ballot that would amend California’s constitution to ban same-sex marriages and overturn the decision.

Same-sex marriage has been a highly contentious issue in past presidential and Congressional elections, but it was not immediately clear what role the ruling would play in this year’s elections. The Democratic and Republican candidates for president have all said that they believe marriage should be between a man and a woman, but Republicans could use a surge in same-sex marriages in the country’s most populous state to invigorate their conservative voters.

Given the historic, cultural, symbolic and constitutional significance of marriage, Chief Justice Ronald M. George wrote for the majority, the state cannot limit its availability to opposite-sex couples. “In view of the substance and significance of the fundamental constitutional right to form a family relationship,” he wrote, “the California Constitution properly must be interpreted to guarantee this basic civil right to all Californians, whether gay or heterosexual, and to same-sex couples as well as to opposite-sex couples.”

Supporters of gay marriage said the ruling was a milestone. “This decision will give Americans the lived experience that ending exclusion from marriage helps families and harms no one,” said Evan Wolfson, executive director of Freedom to Marry, who noted that same-sex marriages are now legal in South Africa, Canada, Spain, Belgium and the Netherlands. But opponents said they expected the proposed ballot initiative, which has been submitted to state election officials with more than one million signatures, to pass in November.

“The court was wrong from top to bottom on this one,” said Maggie Gallagher, president of the National Organization for Marriage. “The court brushed aside the entire history and meaning of marriage in our tradition.”

There are about 110,000 same-sex couples in California, according to census data, and the state has a strong domestic partnership law giving couples who register nearly all of the benefits and burdens of heterosexual marriage. But the majority of the justices said that is not enough. The court left open the possibility that the Legislature could use a term other than “marriage” to denote state-sanctioned unions so long as that term was used across the board — for both opposite-sex and same-sex couples.

The state’s ban on same-sex marriage was based on a law enacted by the legislature in 1977 and a statewide initiative approved by the voters in 2000, both defining marriage as limited to unions between a man and a woman. The question before the court was whether those laws violated provisions of the state Constitution protecting equality and fundamental rights. Mathew D. Staver, a lawyer with Liberty Counsel, a public interest firm that defends traditional marriage, said it would ask the court to stay its decision until the election in November, meaning that Thursday’s decision could be overturned before it becomes effective. “It would only be logical” for the court to grant a stay, Mr. Staver said, given the confusion that would arise if same-sex marriages were available for only a few months.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, a Republican, said in a statement that he respected the court’s ruling and did not support a constitutional amendment to overturn it.

(4) Call for Metro D.C. Participants

(5) Bits 'n' Bites