5. Is it appropriate for PC(USA)
governing bodies to communicate these actions to public officials
and the media?
Yes. In fact, PC(USA) governing bodies have historically communicated
the denomination’s position on public issues.
The text of Ivory’s remarks during the March 3 press conference,
which took place prior to a U.S. Senate hearing on the Federal
Marriage Amendment:
Good morning, my name is Rev. Elenora Giddings Ivory and
I am the director of the Washington Office of the Presbyterian
Church (USA). Our General Assembly is the national decision-making
body for this 215-year-old historic denomination with approximately
11,500 congregations all across in the United States and Puerto
Rico.
In 2002, the 214th annual meeting of the General Assembly
of the Presbyterian Church (USA) voted disapproval for the resolution
calling for a Federal Marriage Amendment. At this same Assembly,
the commissioners voted to reaffirm decades of social-witness
policy that supports the civil rights and non discrimination
for all persons, regardless of sexual orientation.
Indeed, the Presbyterian Church's position on this issue
dates back to 1996 when the General Assembly was asked to consider
commenting on a 1995 pending decision by the Hawaii Supreme
Court on the issue of equal access to the civil rights of marriage
for same sex couples. In response to this resolution, the (1996)
General Assembly commissioners voted to affirm the “church’s
historic definition of marriage as a civil contract between
a man and a woman, yet recognizing that committed same sex partners
seek equal civil liberties in a contractual relationship with
all the civil rights of married couples ... we urge supporting
legislation in favor of giving civil rights to same-sex couples”.
We are mindful that a proposal to amend the Constitution
should not be taken lightly and that the Federal Marriage Amendment
would restrict the civil rights of millions of Americans. Civil
rights are a fundamental right under the constitutions of the
United States and its constituent states and territories. Because
these constitutions guarantee equal protection of the law, the
states should permit gay and lesbian couples access to the civil
status of civil marriage and to share fully and equally in the
rights and responsibilities of that status. We urge Congress
to reject this Amendment.
Notably, while the Presbyterian Church General Assemblies
have affirmed the civil right of same sex couples to civil marriage,
it retains its religious practice and view that "Marriage
is a gift God has given to all humankind for the well being
of the entire human family. For Christians, marriage is a covenant
through which a man and a woman are called to live out together
before God their lives of discipleship. In a service of Christian
marriage a lifelong commitment is made by a woman and a man
to each other, publicly witnessed and acknowledged by the community
of faith. [Presbyterian Church (USA) Book of Order W 4.9001].
Few decisions by religious bodies are more central than
who can take part in important religious rituals or services,
including marriage. The Constitution bars any court or legislature
from requiring any religious institution or person to perform
marriage ceremonies for anyone. Indeed, the Constitution protects
houses of worship in their freedom to limit marriages on whatever
theological grounds they choose. The First Amendment already
protects religious organizations from governmental interference
in such matters, and constitutional definitions of marriage
therefore are unnecessary. The Constitution should be reserved
for affirmation of democratic values of equal rights and not
delineating negative ones. Again, the Federal Marriage Amendment
should be rejected.
|
