United Church News reported yesterday that about 100 UCC members in the Southern Conference of the United Church of Christ signed a statement critical of the UCC’s General Synod to support same sex marriages:
More than 100 members of the UCC’s Southern Conference signed a declaration last week affirming their belief that biblical scripture defines marriage as being between only one man and one woman.
The declaration, entitled the "Lexington Confession" and signed by 130 UCC ministers and laypersons during a special gathering July 7 at Hedricks Grove UCC outside Lexington, N.C., was drafted in direct response to the vote earlier this month by the UCC’s General Synod affirming same-gender marriage equality.
“People who disagree with the action of the General Synod have to find ways that are meaningful to them to express their difference,” said the Rev. Bob Thompson, pastor of Corinth Reformed UCC in Hickory, N.C. “I can’t speak for other places in the country but I can tell you that there are a lot of individuals and churches in our area that are extremely upset about the vote. This is one response that they can make rather than pulling out of the denomination. We are hearing a lot of rumblings along those lines….”
(The Rev. John) Thomas (UCC General Minister and President), who endorsed the same-gender marriage equality resolution a week before it was adopted by the General Synod, praised those who have chosen to sign the Lexington Confession as embodying some of the core values of the UCC.
“In the United Church of Christ we expect local churches to hold in high regard the decisions or advice of the General Synod, but we do not expect each local church to agree,” Thomas said. “The Lexington Confession takes the Synod seriously, even in its dissent, and I am grateful that those who have signed it have expressed their desire to honor the covenants we share even in the midst of sharp disagreement as we continue to walk together in God's ways.”
Thomas and those who signed the “Lexington Confession” are correct: we can live together as Christians even in our disagreements.
There are not very many UCC congregations in the American South. Some that are there, however, have declared themselves to be “open and affirming” of gays and lesbians. Even in my native southland there is Christian support for gays and lesbians.
One of the clearest examples of that is at the Circular Congregational Church in Charleston, South Carolina. This congregation has made it part of their Gospel-centered mission to support civil rights for gays and lesbians. Their stance is prophetic in a state that often takes the opposite position. Click here to read more about my last visit to Circular (and to see some pictures of this historic congregation).
