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Basics
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What do we do? (Vision/Mission)
Who are the staff and Council?
Open and Affirming (ONA)
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How to get involved (PDF)
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Marriage Equality:

• Marriage study packet
• How can I help?
• List of benefits of legal marriage
• Marriage equality links

Programs of The Coalition

• Discussion boards
• Local chapters
• Marriage equality work
• National Gathering
• Open and Affirming
• Community organizing
• Youth and Young Adults

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Equality in Marriage

We begin, as we always do, with the Biblical and Theological Foundations on which our project is based.

I. Biblical and Theological Foundations Assumptions

The underlying assumptions are that 1. sexuality is a gift from God, part of humanity’s (and indeed all of nature’s) givenness and 2. one’s sexuality and one’s sexual orientation are ethically neutral, that is to say one can use the gifts of sexuality and sexual orientation for good or for ill. This project is one way we hope to empower folk to use the gift of sexuality and sexual orientation for good.

Introduction

Much has been done to examine the so-called “clobber passages” found in the Biblical text. We will not re-examine them here. Instead, we would direct you to such work as Lindsey Louise Biddle’s A Biblical Self-Defense Course in which she summarizes the work of several respected Biblical scholars. (You can download the entire text off the More Light Presbyterian website—www.mlp.org. Go to “Resources,” then to “Biblical Interpretation” and choose which text you want to examine.)

We would also like to highlight several key texts that can ground a consideration of same-sex marriage Biblically and theologically.

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Reading the Bible in Light of a Love Ethic

No One Sexual Ethic; Instead, a Love Ethic
As Walter Wink has noted, the Bible has no one sexual ethic; instead, it has a consistent love ethic. The sexual ethics it supports are myriad, ranging from polygamy (see Genesis 29) to celibacy (noted in many of Paul’s letters) and many things in between (including Philip’s baptism of the Ethiopian eunich in Acts and the practice of a man mandated to marry the wife of his deceased brother if the deceased brother has no children.)

Biblical Texts highlighting Love Ethic
The Biblical text is, however, consistent in its call for a love ethic. When asked what the greatest commandment was, Jesus repeats a portion of the ancient Jewish Sh’ma—“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Deut. 6:4-5) and then he adds, “This is the greatest commandment. And the second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matt. 22: 37b-40) By doing this, Jesus gets to the heart of the Biblical love ethic. By repeating one of the core Torah passages and claiming it as his own, Jesus articulates the fundamental key to his love ethic. And for us, he forms the key interpretative lens for our discussion of same-sex marriage. Any relationship—be it global, national, communal, friendship or intimate, sexual relationship—must be grounded in the Biblical love ethic in order to be considered of God.

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Delving More Deeply Into a Love Ethic

Scripture spends a lot of time articulating what constitutes a genuinely loving relationship. And this is where we encourage you to spend your time, too. What does it mean to seek to live by a Love Ethic? What does it mean to have a marriage that is rooted in a Love Ethic? Clearly this is a life-long pursuit, but let us suggest a few guidelines.

Marriage that is Rooted in a Love Ethic contains the following:
1. The word that is translated as “love” in English has three Greek meanings: “filia,” “eros,” and “agape.” Filia is brotherly or sisterly love. Eros is sexual or erotic love. Agape is self-sacrificing love. A marriage that is rooted in a love ethic contains a healthy balance of all three of these forms of love.

We need to be clear that agape or self-sacrificing love DOES NOT mean staying in an abusive relationship. Far too many battered women are counseled by pastors to “take up their cross” with Jesus and stay in an abusive setting. This is not what agape connotes. Instead, it is based on Jesus’ actions—one who is fully empowered to be himself or herself, making the conscious decision to give freely.

2. For most of the writers of the Hebrew Scriptures and for Jesus, the whole concept of love is intricately tied to justice. Marriage that is rooted in a Love Ethic is rooted in justice. This is clearly a very large topic and we would suggest Marvin Ellison’s work Same-Sex Marriage? A Christian Ethical Analysis (2004: The Pilgrim Press, Cleveland) for a broader discussion. But let us suggest a few pieces.

Biblical justice is rooted in the understanding of shalom and Sabbath/sabbatical/jubilee. It connotes wholeness, well-being, peace and fair economic distribution. Justice within a marriage relationship offers fullness of life to both partners, respect of both, opportunity for both to flourish as children of God and pays attention to the economic welfare of both.

3. For both the Jewish and Christian traditions, community is of utmost importance. In the Hebrew Scriptures, the image of the People of God comes up over and over. In the Christian texts, the Body of Christ is also everpresent. For a marriage to be rooted in a Love Ethic, it needs to take community seriously. Any marriage must be in the context of community—both of support and of accountability. This is not limited to a church community but involves the community in which a couple lives, their circle of friends and chosen family, their biological families and, indeed, the global community.

4. Drawing on the three previous points, a marriage that is rooted in a Love Ethic is one that has a multiplying effect on love; it has a creative effect. This does not mean only children, although that is a very important piece for many marriages. But any Love Ethic Marriage must use the love it generates to create more love and justice in the world. This might be artistically, through activism, through civic involvement, and in many other waysII.

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What's possible

Mobilize members of local Coalition chapters and members of ONA churches to take action—namely to lobby legislators, attend rallies, write letters to the editor in support of same-sex marriage and to help register folks to vote.

2. To educate folks in order to achieve #1.

• Help create and hold regional trainings to help local folks familiarize themselves with the issue.

• Reach out to local churches.

• Gather these and others to advocate and participate in pro-same-sex marriage activities.

• Additional ideas are here.

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Called to Equality

Called to Equality: Considering Marriage Equality is a resource in the Just and Loving Relationships Series. It includes two 1-hour sessions created to encourage ONA settings and lgbt-supportive communities to live into God's call for justice in the public sphere. It is free to download or $15 for a bound copy from The Coalition office. To download a PDF of this resource, please click here.

Pacific School of Religion Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry has created a web-based Marriage Project, available on its web site at www.clgs.org.

Designed for religious leaders and community organizers, the CLGS Marriage Project provides biblical, historical, and theological resources for affirming same-sex committed relationships and liturgical models to honor those relationships. It features information on the history of marriage, denominational policies and statements, legal definitions by states, LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) religious caucus statements, sermons and pastoral resources, teaching tools, and many other materials.

For more information, contact 510/849-8206.

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