CLGS

Although most religious groups and denominations in the United States do not support same-sex marriage, there are increasing numbers of religious groups that are either fully supportive of same-sex marriage or are seriously debating whether or not to offer support for such marriages. In this section are statements and other documents on marriage from a variety of religious organizations, institutions, and groups.

The Unitarian Universalist Association
www.uua.org

The Unitarian Universalist Association has a long-standing and deeply held commitment to support full equality for bisexual, gay, lesbian, and transgender people, going back 33 years to 1970. The Association, through action of its General Assembly and congregational actions, has advocated for nondiscrimination and hate crimes legislation; its ministers have performed ceremonies of union for same-sex couples; and in 1996 delegates to the UUA General Assembly voted overwhelmingly to call for the legalization of same-sex marriage.

The United Church of Christ

The UCC has long been a leading voice in advocating for the full inclusion of LGBT people and for their civil rights. In 2005, the General Synod of the UCC was one of the first mainline Christian denominations to call for full civil and religious marriage equality for lesbian and gay couples. The UCC website has an extensive array of resources on this issue for congregations and clergy. Go here for more information...

The Episcopal Church USA

Although the Episcopal Church does not officially support full marriage equality for lesbian and gay couples, it does "support of gay and lesbian persons and [opposition to] any state or federal constitutional amendment that prohibits same-sex marriages or unions." Some dioceses within the Episcopal Church permit the blessing of same-sex unions."Claiming the Blessing," a coalition of a number of organizations within the Episcopal Church working for the full inclusion of LGBT people, offers a variety of resources on marriage equality in the Episcopal Church. Go here for more...

Reform and Reconstructionist Judaism

In 1984, the Reconstructionist Rabbinical College become the first rabbinical seminary to accept openly gay and lesbian students and to endorse their ordination as rabbis. In 1993 the Reconstructionist movement also decided to sanction religious marriage for same-sex couples. In 2000, the Central Conference of American Rabbis made the recognition of officiation for same-gender marriages the norm for Reform Judaism. Read more here...