Press Release from the United Church of Christ

United Church of Christ leaders are denouncing a Washington State high court ruling on July 26 that upholds a ban on same-gender marriage. Nineteen couples, including a UCC clergy couple, were challenging the constitutionality of the state's ban on same-sex marriage equality.

The Rev. Peter Ilgenfritz and The Rev. Dave Shull, pastors of University Congregational United Church of Christ in Seattle since 1994, have been in a committed same-sex relationship for more than 20 years. They also have been leaders in the fight to overturn a 1998 law passed by the state legislature that limits legal marriage to one man and one woman.

The Rev. Catherine Foote and the Rev. Don Mackenzie, who are also pastors at University Congregational UCC, issued a joint statement today saying UCC members ? both locally and nationally ? are offering support and prayers for Ilgenfritz and Shull during a time of personal disappointment. However, they emphasized, the church will continue its work in support of lesbian,
gay, bisexual and transgender people, including full marriage equality.

"We were dismayed to hear this morning's ruling that effectively denies marriage rights to homosexual couples," Foote and Mackenzie said. "We know Peter and Dave to be wonderful, sensitive, faithful people of God, and a committed couple, and we have supported and affirmed them as they entered into the lawsuit process which led to today's ruling."

Formed in 1891, Seattle's University Congregational UCC has nearly 1,000 members. Throughout Washington State, the UCC has about 80 congregations, with more than 10,500 members. Thirty seven UCC congregations in the state have publicly declared themselves to be "open and affirming" of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. University Congregational UCC became "open and affirming" about 16 years ago.

"People of faith differ on their response to this ruling," Foote and Mackenzie wrote. "We celebrate that University Congregational UCC has joined with other local congregations and other settings of our denomination in advocating for justice and equality for all people, as children of God, regardless of sexual orientation. We will continue to affirm the lives and relationships of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. We will continue to welcome all people into our life and ministry, and especially at this time those who have been wounded by painful, judgmental and condemning words."

In July 2005, the 1.2-million-member United Church of Christ became the largest Christian denomination to support marriage equality, when the UCC's General Synod, meeting in Atlanta, endorsed a resolution calling for full equal marriage rights for same-gender couples. The non-binding General Synod action encourages other settings of the church, including local congregations, to study the issue.

"My heart and prayers go out to Peter and Dave and to all the plaintiffs in this case, as well as all those affected by this unjust ruling," said the Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer, the UCC's national minister for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender concerns. "Today's ruling makes no sense. The court has apparently chosen not to rely on the state's constitution, but on one particular religious view of
marriage."

"In this decision, the majority failed to respect the freedom of religion, equal protection under the law and the right to privacy," said Schuenemeyer, from the UCC's national offices in Cleveland. "They have denied justice and placed couples and their families seeking the right to marry in harm's way."

In its 5-to-4 decision, the Washington Supreme Court stressed that it was ruling on the constitutionality of the law, not on the question of gay marriage itself, which the court said could be legalized through a state ballot initiative.

The UCC, formed in 1957 with the union of the Congregational Christian Churches in America and the Evangelical and Reformed Church, has more than 5,600 churches throughout the United States.