UCC leader
endorses same-sex marriage

With a possible historic vote looming on a measure supporting same-sex marriage, the head of the United Church of Christ on Tuesday publicly endorsed the resolution for the first time. The Reverend John H. Thomas said Tuesday that the church's General Synod "should affirm the rights of gay, lesbian, and transgender persons" to have marriages "equal in name, privileges, and responsibilities to married heterosexual couples." "I believe our local churches, as they are able, should move toward the development of marriage equality policies," Thomas added during a speech at Emory University. That remark drew a lengthy standing ovation from the audience of about 200. The same-sex marriage resolution is one of three expected to be voted on by the General Synod at its annual meeting this weekend in Atlanta. If it passes, the church would be the first mainstream Christian denomination to officially support the marriages of gay and lesbian couples. Church members could also choose to support a "one man, one woman" marriage resolution or a resolution calling for prayer and study of the same-sex marriage issue. Recently, backers of the third option endorsed the same-sex marriage resolution and condemned the "one man, one woman" resolution as discriminatory. The 1.3 million-member United Church of Christ has a history of supporting gays in its denomination; in 1972 it ordained the first openly gay minister and established a gay caucus. UCC churches are autonomous, meaning that the General Synod does not create policy for its more than 5,700 congregations. Thomas said he was disappointed that some congregations are considering leaving the denomination if the same-sex marriage resolution is approved. (AP)