New York City -
The Moderator of the Metropolitan Community Churches Tuesday called for civil disobedience by clergy across New York State to protest state marriage law that does not recognize same-sex unions.
The first minister to take up The Call was the Rev. Pat Bumgardner, senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of New York City. Bumgardner said she would perform public marriage ceremonies on the steps of the New York City Municipal Building for two same-sex couples who have been denied civil marriage licenses on Thursday at 9:30 AM. New York law prohibits clergy from solemnizing marriages without a civil marriage license.
"If you really believe it is wrong to marry people without benefit of a civil marriage license, then arrest me -- arrest all of us, too," said Rev. Bumgardner, in a challenge to the civil authorities. "Otherwise, stop selectively harassing people, like the Mayor of New Paltz or the clergy conducting same-sex marriages there, for your own political gain."
The MCC call for disobedience to the law follows the laying of charges on two Unitarian Universalist ministers, Rev. Kay Greenleaf and Rev. Dawn Sangrey, after they performed wedding services for 13 same-sex couples in New Paltz, New York last weekend.
In charging the clergywomen Ulster County District Attorney Donald Williams said gay marriage laws make no distinction between public officials and the clergy who preside over wedding ceremonies.
Critics said the action was unprecedented and accused prosecutors of violating religious freedom.
Joining Rev. Bumgardner on Thursday will be Rabbi Ellen Lippmann of Kolot Chayeinu congregation in Brooklyn, NY
The Reverend Dr. Troy D. Perry, Founder and Moderator of the 43,000 member Metropolitan Community Churches denomination is encouraging other clergy across New York State to follow Bumgardner and challenge the law.
"The clergy of Metropolitan Community Churches have been performing same-sex weddings without civil marriage licenses for 35 years," said Perry, the first openly gay member of the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission.
"It's time to challenge New York's unjust law -- a law that violates the First Amendment rights of all New York clergy. I call upon religious leaders across New York to follow Rev. Bumgardner's courageous example by conducting civil disobedience actions and public same-sex weddings without the benefit of civil marriage licenses to draw attention to this injustice."
Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) have a long history of activism on behalf of marriage equality. In 1969, MCC performed the first public same-sex wedding in the U.S. In 1970, the church filed the first-ever lawsuit seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriages. In 2001, Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto filed the lawsuit that led to the legalization of same-sex marriages in Canada. And in February 2004, Perry filed suit against the County of Los Angeles seeking legal recognition of his Canadian same-sex marriage.
by Doug Windsor
365Gay.com Newscenter
New York Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2004
The first minister to take up The Call was the Rev. Pat Bumgardner, senior pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of New York City. Bumgardner said she would perform public marriage ceremonies on the steps of the New York City Municipal Building for two same-sex couples who have been denied civil marriage licenses on Thursday at 9:30 AM. New York law prohibits clergy from solemnizing marriages without a civil marriage license.
"If you really believe it is wrong to marry people without benefit of a civil marriage license, then arrest me -- arrest all of us, too," said Rev. Bumgardner, in a challenge to the civil authorities. "Otherwise, stop selectively harassing people, like the Mayor of New Paltz or the clergy conducting same-sex marriages there, for your own political gain."
The MCC call for disobedience to the law follows the laying of charges on two Unitarian Universalist ministers, Rev. Kay Greenleaf and Rev. Dawn Sangrey, after they performed wedding services for 13 same-sex couples in New Paltz, New York last weekend.
In charging the clergywomen Ulster County District Attorney Donald Williams said gay marriage laws make no distinction between public officials and the clergy who preside over wedding ceremonies.
Critics said the action was unprecedented and accused prosecutors of violating religious freedom.
Joining Rev. Bumgardner on Thursday will be Rabbi Ellen Lippmann of Kolot Chayeinu congregation in Brooklyn, NY
The Reverend Dr. Troy D. Perry, Founder and Moderator of the 43,000 member Metropolitan Community Churches denomination is encouraging other clergy across New York State to follow Bumgardner and challenge the law.
"The clergy of Metropolitan Community Churches have been performing same-sex weddings without civil marriage licenses for 35 years," said Perry, the first openly gay member of the Los Angeles Human Relations Commission.
"It's time to challenge New York's unjust law -- a law that violates the First Amendment rights of all New York clergy. I call upon religious leaders across New York to follow Rev. Bumgardner's courageous example by conducting civil disobedience actions and public same-sex weddings without the benefit of civil marriage licenses to draw attention to this injustice."
Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) have a long history of activism on behalf of marriage equality. In 1969, MCC performed the first public same-sex wedding in the U.S. In 1970, the church filed the first-ever lawsuit seeking legal recognition of same-sex marriages. In 2001, Metropolitan Community Church of Toronto filed the lawsuit that led to the legalization of same-sex marriages in Canada. And in February 2004, Perry filed suit against the County of Los Angeles seeking legal recognition of his Canadian same-sex marriage.
by Doug Windsor
365Gay.com Newscenter
New York Bureau
©365Gay.com® 2004
This article originally appeared on 365gay.com. Republished with permission.
