Kern County’s faith organizations: Will you do marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples ?

[The Straight Story]

Kern County’s faith organizations: Will you do marriage ceremonies for same-sex couples when they become legal in June?

“I’ve been doing spiritual unions since I was ordained. Unity ordains gay and lesbian ministers. For us the issue is about the people.”

— Rev. Charles Cournyea of Unity Center, Bakersfield.

“I don’t know. I’m studying it.”

— Rabbi Cheryl Rosenstein, Temple Beth El.

“No. Our culture does not allow that.”

— Sarvjeet Singh, secretary for the Sikh Guru Nanak Mission of Bakersfield.

“No. Without a doubt. We don’t play that. The Bible says don’t do it. We try to follow the Bible.”

— Rev. Angela Williams, Cain Memorial AME Church.



County takes wait-and-see attitude on gay marriages
BY JAMES BURGER, Californian staff writer
e-mail:[email protected] | Tuesday, May 20 2008 11:40 AM

Last Updated: Tuesday, May 20 2008 4:04 PM

Kern County is not issuing same-sex marriage licenses.

At least not yet.

Local officials are waiting to see what happens with last week’s decision by the California Supreme Court that in effect legalized gay marriage in the state.

The ruling is supposed to take effect the middle of June but gay marriage opponents hope to delay implementation until November — when voters may be presented a ballot initiative that would overturn the decision and limit marriage to heterosexual couples.

http://www.bakersfield.com/hourly_news/story/449802.html

[nichomachus]

1. I'd like to be pointed to the bible passage

that says you can't do it -- oh, and in the Greek version, not the wretched and inaccurate English translations.

[angstlessk]

2. but not until you stone your children for disobedience first!!

[nichomachus]

7. The better one -- almost always overlooked

Is that if you find any mold in your house, you need to tear down the whole house and carry the pieces outside the city limits.

Check that shower curtain -- get the sledge hammer.

[angstlessk]

8. would that be into another's city limits...cause all my city limits just put me into

another's city limits...i recon all i care about is me and mine anyways??

[nichomachus]

9. I think the OT folks

had a lot more unincorporated land than many US states have now. We have lots where I live, so there are places where you can take the pieces of your house and dump them.

[BOSSHOG]

3. Ah Memories!!

My wife and I were married in Kern County a long, long, long time ago in the Chapel at Naval Weapons Center China Lake.

How can a county take a wait and see attitude relative to a supreme court ruling??

[The Straight Story]

4. I used to live in Ridgecrest myself

Hot as hell there :) Bakersfield isn't much better though.

[BOSSHOG]

6. Before I was married

I lived in the Barracks and one of our favorite things was a Monkey Special (Peanut Butter and Bananas) Pizza from John's Pizza in Ridgecrest and a case of beer. Haute Fucking Cuisine for poor sailors in the desert.

[rox63]

5. No churches are required to perform same-sex marriages in Massachusetts

Same-sex marriage is a civil marriage, although there are some churches that will perform same-sex marriages, including UCC, UU and some Reform Jewish temples.

[Glorfindel]

10. Interesting comments from Rev. Angela Williams...

"No. Without a doubt. We don't play that. The Bible says don't do it. We try to follow the Bible."
Oh, really? I suppose the Rev. Angela could be a man with a funny name, but I doubt it. Why doesn't she follow THIS section of the Bible? "Let your women keep silence in the churches: for it is not permitted unto them to speak; but they are commanded to be under obedience, as also saith the law. And if they will learn anything, let them ask their husbands at home: for it is a shame for women to speak in church." (I Cor 14:34-35). Yet here is an "ordained" woman, claiming to follow the Bible. Tsk, tsk. What wretched hypocrisy.
:evilgrin:

[Bluebear]

11. good catch!

[The Straight Story]

12. Well to be fair....she DID say

"We TRY to follow the Bible" :rofl:

[Manifestor_of_Light]

13. Biblical Marriage is Solomon and his 500 concubines!!

:rofl: :rofl:

The Reverend didn't mention that, either.

[Hekate]

14. Many denominations have already crossed that bridge--Unity, Unitarian-Universalist, Reform Judaism

...and others. I am overjoyed that my gay and lesbian friends will have this opportunity to make legal what heretofore has been a union sanctified and blessed by their religious organization but until now not recognized by the state. Onward to the County Courthouse!

If you want a same-sex marriage in the Southern Baptist Convention or a Hasidic synagogue you will have a problem -- but that falls under freedom of religion. They get to determine what's sacred, not the state.

The state gets to determine what constitutes "legal" -- and it's about time.

Hekate