News
2006-09-19
Episcopal priest
blesses union of gay couple in Arkansas
An Episcopal
priest who was the first to bless a gay couple in Arkansas
says it was not his intent to be the first at anything b
An Episcopal
priest who was the first to bless a gay couple in Arkansas
says it was not his intent to be the first at anything but
rather to recognize two men who "discovered God's
presence in a redeeming, life-giving way" over the
past 15 years. The Reverend Ed Wills, the pastor at
St. Michael's in west Little Rock, blessed the relationship
of Ted Holder and Joe van den Heuvel on Saturday night
in a service before approximately 200 people.
The Right
Reverend Larry Maze, bishop of the 55 congregations in the
Episcopal diocese of Arkansas, in July authorized blessings
for same-sex couples. Seven other dioceses have
written policies for the practice, while others
haven't formalized the process.
"I just wanted
the sign of the cross made over our relationship,"
Holder said. Van den Heuvel added, "It's good to be
somewhere where you can feel the love of other people
and to be honest about yourself. It just felt good and
right."
Holder, 53, and
Van den Heuvel, 50, were raised in other Protestant
congregations (Holder a Methodist and Van den Heuvel, Dutch
Reformed) and became Episcopalians shortly after they
met, seeking a more formal liturgy. The pair said they
joined St. Michael's after leaving another Episcopal
congregation that wouldn't consider blessing their
relationship. (AP)
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