A brief history of O&A at Rock Spring, its O&A statement, an exposition of the Synod Resolution, and a roadmap of our forum series.

On Sunday, September 24, a group of 52 participants kicked off a four-part forum series on the Marriage Equality Resolution with a review of the process that led Rock Spring to adopt its Open and Affirming (ONA) Statement on June 4, 2000. The Statement “affirms human relationships and behavior based on love, support, responsibility and trust” and invites all people to share fully in the life of the church, “including ceremonies of traditional marriage and committed union.” Masami Kojima described Rock Spring’s careful and in-depth study of issues related to sexual orientation and scripture leading up to the congregation’s vote by a large majority to become an ONA Congregation. Many who participated in opportunities for study and reflection afforded by the ONA process reportedly found their views affected in profound ways. Masami left us with this question: Does marriage equality follow from Rock Spring’s ONA policy?

We welcomed back Rob Peters, formerly Rock Spring’s Minister for Parish Life, to explain how the 25th General Synod answered that question in the affirmative on July 4, 2005, when 85–90 percent of the delegates voted in favor of the resolution, “In Support of Equal Marriage Rights for All”. Having served as a voting delegate to the 25th Synod, Rob walked us through the process by which the Synod prayerfully considered the views of both those supporting and opposing the Resolution. Alternatives that were considered but rejected include a proposal for thoughtful reflection on this issue and return to it at a later date, and another for equal rights but that stopped short of calling the commitment between the same-gender couples marriage. How is it that the Synod took the bold step of affirming equal marriage rights for all couples regardless of gender even though only a minority of UCC congregations have officially adopted an ONA statement? Synod delegates are charged to vote in accordance with their conscience rather than with any mandate from those they represent. Rob described his own personal journey with the issue of marriage equality (“I had a long way to go”), a journey that ended with Rob holding up a green voting card in favor of the Resolution. Rob explained that he believed that the Spirit had moved the delegates to support the UCC’s decision to affirm equal marriage rights.

RELATED INFORMATION & DOCUMENTS:

Presentation on the history of ONA at Rock Spring

1996 Forum “And God Loves Each One. A Search for Understanding: Understanding Homosexuals”

Full text of Rob Peters' presentation

SERMONS

Available on the Web Site Under: Open & Affirming:

January 1982 sermon, “Pilgrimage Toward Understanding”
November 11, 1999 panel presentation at the fourth Sharing Our Rainbow of Light Celebration, “Homosexuality and Our Use of Scripture”
September 19, 1999 sermon, “Open and Affirming—Journey to Understanding”
January 9, 2000 sermon, “What Would Jesus Say? Homosexuality and Key Biblical Texts”
January 30, 2000 sermon, “Open and Affirming Faith”

Available on the Web Site Under: Weekly Sermons:
September 24, 2006. Rev. Janet Parker. “Civilization and Its Malcontents.”