Press Release: Same Gender Wedding Caps Methodist Meeting As Sign of Hope

RECONCILING MINISTRIES NETWORK
3801 North Keeler Avenue, Chicago, IL 60641

Contact Persons:

Ann Craig, Media Coordinator
craig@glaad.org, 213-703-1365, cell
Rev. Troy Plummer, Executive Director, troy@rmnetwork.org, 773-315-9225, cell
Monica Swink, Board Chair, monicaswink@cox.net, 405-473-3942, cell

SAME GENDER WEDDING CAPS METHODIST MEETING AS SIGN OF HOPE

In a final act of protest against anti-gay legislation and as a sign of hope for the future, Sue Laurie and Julie Bruno got married.  Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight allies rallied around, as they vowed to love and cherish each other for the rest of their lives.

Sue Laurie, who is the Outreach Coordinator of Reconciling Ministries Network and her partner, Julie Bruno, a social worker, recited marriage vows after 25 years of living in a covenant relationship.  They are members of United Church of Rogers Park, a United Methodist church in Chicago, Illinois

Julie Bruno said, “This is an opportunity for us to celebrate our relationship with our church family that is gathered from throughout the world. God blesses same gender unions every day and has blessed our relationship for the last 25 years. Just because the church says “No,” God does not stop blessing the love of two people in covenantal relationship.”

Around 300 people attended the wedding in General Worth Park in Fort Worth, Texas, across the street from the convention center where delegates met to pass official United Methodist policies.  This sign of hope capped a week of both disappointments and positive actions by the General Conference.

Advocates of fairness and equality have been working for 36 years to remove the statement that gay lives are “incompatible with Christian teaching” but it remains on the books. Language that allows pastors to refuse membership to gay people was not replaced.  Prohibitions against same gender marriages and ordination of gay or lesbian clergy continue.

Historic votes also established full acceptance of transgender clergy and members for another four years; civil rights for gay people; a mandate to end discrimination against gay people and produce resources to educate the church on homophobia and heterosexism; and, urged churches and families not to reject their gay members.