A Wonderful Morning!
Supreme Court Legalizes Gay Marriage Nationwide
“The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 this morning that it is legal for all Americans, no matter their gender or sexual orientation to marry the people they love.”
Dear St. Thomas Family,
I know that this day has been long awaited and is an occasion of great celebration. I rejoice with you in this victory for equal rights and look forward to further conversations with you.
You may also know that the General Convention of the Episcopal Church is in session right now and is considering a canon revision to the definition of marriage, so this is good news also but a change to the Book of Common Prayer will most likely not occur for some time. For more information and conversation about what is happening at convention regarding this, I refer you to two blogs, one by Tobias Haller (blog.tobiashaller.net) and the other by Scott Gunn (www.sevenwholedays.org). Once some decisions are made we will meet to discuss these matters further
You may also have received the communication from Bishop Lambert from convention. Please know that I have responded to his posting, explaining that we at St. Thomas strive to live “traditional family values” through honoring the two great commandments of loving God and neighbor. I believe that it is important in these times to remain in respectful conversation as brothers and sisters in Christ, rather than remaining silent. Because we are under the authority of the bishop, same gender couples who do get married here in Texas, will not be able to get married in a church in the Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, YET.
I say YET because I look forward to the day, which I hope is soon, when the state, the National church and the Diocese are all in sync so that couples who are living holy lives together may be blessed for the blessing that they already are. I thank all of you for your faithful witness to the gospel as we continue to minister together.
“No union is more profound than marriage, for it embodies the highest ideals of love, fidelity, devotion, sacrifice, and family. In forming a marital union, two people become something greater than once they were. As some of the petitioners in these cases demonstrate, marriage embodies a love that may endure even past death. It would misunderstand these men and women to say they disrespect the idea of marriage. Their plea is that they do respect it, respect it so deeply that they seek to find its fulfillment for themselves. Their hope is not to be condemned to live in loneliness, excluded from one of civilization’s oldest institutions. They ask for equal dignity in the eyes of the law. The Constitution grants them that right. The judgment of the Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit is reversed. It is so ordered.”
Bessings and Peace,
Joy+
