Episcopal priests' resolution - clergy must decline contracting, blessing civil marriages
by: Pam Spaulding
Sun Dec 14, 2008 at 09:00:00 AM EST

http://www.pamshouseblend.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=8610

I recently received an email from the Reverend Randall J. Keeney, who is an Episcopal priest in Greensboro, NC. Keeney and two retired priests will introduce a resolution at the Episcopal church's convention in January 2009 that will surely roil the gathering. While it is self-evident to reality-based people that civil and religious marriage are separate matters, it's quite controversial in the church for faith leaders to point out the obvious. Keeney is putting his position on the line since he's still a member of the clergy at St. Barnabas.

I was given permission by Rev. Keeney to publish the resolution -- it will go out in preconvention mailings beginning early in January. Rev. Keeney wrote to me:

    The purpose of the resolution is to separate church and state in the contracting of civil marriage.  One of the main issues in debates about marriage is the fact that it is tied to the ordained clergy of the Christian, Jewish, Muslim, and "you name it" faith traditions.  The result is that arguments about marriage become enmeshed with theology and theologically based bigotry.

Finally, someone with some sense. Albeit, it's unlikely the church would [willfully] concede since they'd have to give up some of their oh-so-precious power. That's all church is about, power over the masses to dictate their opinions and beliefs as truth and "god's" word.

Quote from: PamTake a look at the frank language of the resolution - it ... goes further by calling for the church to stop blessing civil marriages as well.

Quote from: resolutionResolved further, nothing in this resolution shall be interpreted to discourage clergy from blessing marriages that have been established by secularly appointed state agents.

I guess she misread, or mistyped?

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It would be a wonderful development if this resolution were to pass.

The reason I doubt it will pass, alas, is not power, per se, but money. Many churches make a pretty penny by doling out the sacrament of marriage to non-Christians.  It's sick. The other side of the story is sick too -- the people with no connection to a church who pretend to be religious for a couple months and dole out some cash just to get God's Official Stamp of Approval on their cohabitaion.

Talk about undermining the institution of marriage.