As the country awaits the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on gay marriage, clergy are weighing possible options. WOSU takes a look at the controversy through the eyes of two denominations.
The Supreme Court of the United State is the final arbiter of constitutional law. But their pending decision on gay marriage rights will have limited effect on whether some clergy will have to perform same-sex marriages.
Methodist Theological School of Ohio religious history professor Dianne Lobody sees no end to the debate. Lobody says the Supreme Court’s ruling won’t affect the United Methodist Church’s decision on gay marriage or allowing openly gay clergy.
“The United Methodist Church is hip deep in this argument on its own," Lobody laughs. "It does not need any further prompting to engage this conversation.”
Lobody sites similar divisions over cultural controversy, such as slavery, dating back to the 19th century. And more recently, divorced clergy, though not as divisive an issue as gay marriage.
“’What do you mean? The institution of marriage is falling apart! We’re going to let the clergy do that?’ … But what we also have is greater understanding about what marriage is now as opposed to what it was [in biblical times]," Lobody says. "And so what we’re going to understand is the Holy Spirit is speaking in a different kind of way.”
A United Methodist Church committee is expected to vote this week whether to send a measure to national delegates. They could vote to allow gay marriage rights in the church.
Rev. John Keeny is pastor of King Avenue United Methodist Church. A large banner on its bell tower announces “ALL are welcome.” Forty percent of its parishioners are members of the LGBT community.
“This is going to be huge," Keeny says.
Keeny, who wants to be able to marry same-gender couples, says he’s asked about once a month to officiate a gay wedding.
“It is painful to say to couples, ‘I’m sorry, I cannot do your wedding. And King Avenue cannot be a site. We accept you, however the denomination prohibits our doing this.’”
Keeny adds some of the churches gay and lesbian members fear losing their pastors if they press for marriage rights.
“And so they, God bless them, are willing to tolerate not being fully accepted by the United Methodist Church because they do not want to put their ministers at risk," he says. "They are more gracious and loving and accepting of the United Methodist Church at present than it is of them.”
Keeny’s fear is a possible schism over gay marriage.
“We try to, I think, kick the can down the road and make it a study issue for 2020," Keeny says. "I’m not sure we can hold together that long.”
While the United Methodists continue to consider the issue, Ohio Episcopal clergy may have to decide on their own whether to officiate gay weddings. The Episcopal church allows same-sex marriage in states where it’s legal. But a good conscience clause lets clergy opt out.
“I really don’t see that much would change here," says Bill Pursley, rector at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Lancaster.
“It’s been my policy not to provide a blessing for same-sex marriage," he says. "I would assume that would carry on even if the state law did change.”
While Pursley doesn’t expect any more divisions in the church over the issue, he thinks the debate will stick around for generations.
“I think it's indicative of another issue that has to do with ultimately what is the authority in the life of the believer and in the Christian community. And I think that will be debated much longer than issues of sexuality," Pursley says.
At Trinity Episcopal Church, in Downtown Columbus, Rev. Richard Burnett says clergy and parishioners pay close attention to the Supreme Court case.
“I think the Episcopal Church has understood this opportunity, and the opportunity to look at our theology of marriage as a whole, to look at it as a way to move us toward transformation," Burnett says.
Burnett expects the church soon to allow pastors to perform gay weddings at their own discretion without the bishop’s consent. He says that would level the playing field for gay and lesbian members.
“Because, of course, we don’t want to have different classes of marriages.”
The Episcopal Church General Convention is this summer. The Supreme Court decision is expected in June.
