Celebrating the Marriage of Tammy Lindahl and Martha Juillerat

MLP.org file photo

Yesterday, July 30, 2005, Tammy Lindahl and Martha Juillerat were married at Trinity United Church, Vancouver, British Columbia. More Light Presbyterians celebrate the love, commitment and marriage of Tammy and Martha. Both former Presbyterian clergywomen, graduates of McCormick Theological Seminary who served God in parish ministry, Tammy also served on the National MLP Board and Martha is the National Program Director of the Shower of Stoles Project. Tammy and Martha live in Minneapolis, MN.

It was a wonderful experience to be part of the church community that came together to witness the marriage commitment of our dear friends Martha and Tammy. Martha and I were invited to participate in the national Affirm United Conference of the United Church of Canada. With the possibility of legal same-sex marriage offered in Canada by federal law, the Rev. Sally Harris, pastor of Trinity United Church and Co-Chair of Affirm United, the pro-LGBT program within the United Church of Canada, invited Martha and Tammy to be married at her church.

The congregation of Trinity United Church joyfully embraced the opportunity to host the marriage ceremony and celebration for Martha and Tammy. Additionally, the Affirm United Council was delighted to make the wedding ceremony an official part of their conference. Family, family of choice and friends of Martha and Tammy traveled from Minnesota, Virginia, California and New Mexico to Vancouver for their wedding.

Martha and Tammy said so many times this weekend that it was their fondest hope and dream to be married in the church. And so on this day, because of marriage equality in Canada and the gracious support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons and relationships in the United Church of Canada, Martha and Tammy's dreams came true.

Longtime friend of the brides, the Rev. Bear Ride, said that it was truly an honor to serve as a co-officiant for Tammy and Martha's marriage ceremony. It was a tremendous privilege for Bear and me to participate in and support Martha and Tammy in their wedding here in Vancouver.

While certainly grateful for marriage equality in Canada and the openness within the United Church of Canada, those of us here from the United States and the Presbyterian Church (USA) realize that this marriage could have been, should have been in our own country, in our own Church.

With hope for change in our Church and country,
Michael