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Marriage and Holy Union Resources

"More Light Presbyterians envisions that Christian sexual ethics marked by covenantal fidelity shall be the standard for all Presbyterians, irrespective of sexual orientation."
-More Light Presbyterians Board of Directors Statement, September 1999.

Resources on Just and Inclusive Marriage

  • The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies Marriage Project
    This website provides scholarly and religious resources on marriage in the United States with the aim of promoting views of marriage that are more open, more just, and more inclusive of all citizens regardless of sex, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

    • The Debate in the PC(USA) over Holy Unions

  • Resources on Amendment O
  • More Light on Same-Sex UnionsPDF logoalso in HTML
  • More Light on Sexual Ethics PDF logo also in HTML
  • Summary of Presbyterian Policy - by Jim Anderson, reprinted from More Light Update
  • MLP Press Release on 212th GA action on Holy Unions

  • From the 1994 Debate - Reprinted from More Light Update

  • Congregational Policies on Union Ceremonies and/or Marriage

  • Dobbs Ferry Church/Hudson River Judicial Case

    • Personal Experiences

  • Tom and Dave
  • Louie and Ernest

    • The Debate in Other Denominations over Holy Unions

  • Methodists - CORNET

  • Episcopalians

  • Lutherans
    • Policy of St. Francis Lutheran Church, San Francisco

    • Liturgical Resources for Holy Unions
  • Equal Rites: Lesbian and Gay Worship, Ceremonies, and Celebrations - Kittredge Cherry and Zalmon Sherwood, eds. Westminster John Knox Press, 1995
  • Ceremonies of the Heart - Celebrating Lesbian Unions- Becky Butler. Seal Press, 1997
  • The Essential Guide to Gay and Lesbian Weddings - Tess Ayers and Paul Brown. Alyson, 1999.
  • Alternative Weddings: An Essential Guide for Creating your own Ceremonies - Jane Ross-MacDonald. Taylor, 1997.

    • The Secular Debate over Same-Gender Marriage

  • Jack Rogers on Same-Sex Marriage
  • Young People change the minds of Seattle Times editors on same-gender marriage
  • Seattle Times Editorial on Same-Gender Marriage
  • Videos and Books Available in MLP's Video Lending Libarary
    • "Encouraging Marriage, Commitment, Faithfulness: An Update on the Hawaii Equal Rights Marriage Project" (20 minutes, 1996) Attorney Dan Foley, who represents the gay/lesbian plaintiffs in the Hawaii case, Baehr v Miike, provides background and an update on what is happening in Hawaii and its potential effect on the rest of the country.
    • "NJ Issues" - Domestic Partnerships & Same Gender Marriages. from Jim Anderson. Not reviewed.
    • "1500 Years of Blessing Gay and Lesbian Relationships: It's Nothing New to the Church." The original address of John Boswell to the Integrity Convention describing how he discovered previously unknown rituals to affirm same gender relationships in the Catholic Church, still authorized and practiced in the 20th century. (a tape of a tape, but important archival material!)
    • "The Right to Marry" (1996) promotes the civil right of legal marriage for same-sex couples. Nationally prominent gay and lesbian leaders spell out why this right is so important to the community, and what we can do to win and preserve it.
    • "Same Sex Marriages" ABC News Nightline special report. Good general information.
    • Equal Rites: Lesbian and Gay Worship, Ceremonies, and Celebrations. Cherry & Sherwood, editors. 1995
    • Same-Sex Unions in Premodern Europe. John Boswell. 1994. The publication of the translated same-gender religious rite in the appendix is awesome and liberating, indeed.
    • Same-Sex Marriage: The Moral and Legal Debate. Baird and Rosenbaum, editors. 1997.
    • The Case for Same-Sex Marriage: From Sexual Liberty to Civilized Commitment. Eskridge. 1996. Before reading this book, I was ambivalent about the subject. This book has profoundly influenced me.
    • Making Love Visible: In Celebration of Gay and Lesbian Families. Jean Swallow. 1995. Excellent photos with short captions.