Denominational Statement

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Journal of the Swedenborgian Church,· 2004 Minutes of the 179th Session, pages 37-38

A Denominational Statement on Same Sex Marriage

With humility and prayerful willingness to be led by the Lord and in love toward the neighbor, The Swedenborgian Church of NorthAmerica, a Christ-centered church that affirms religious pluralism, recognizes the goodness of love in many forms. Wherever love is, God is there too... for “for God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them.” (1 John 4:16) We alsoaffirm our fundamental human right of freedom of choice; we affirmthe right of each individual to choose his or her life partner and doso within a committed relationship based in love and faith towardthe Lord, and in love and fidelity toward one another. We affirmthat in a democratic and free society adult persons should be free toenjoy the same basic legal rights within a committed and faithfulrelationship, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, race religionor social status. We affirm that the presence of hatred discrimination,homophobia and selfishness are against God’s will, as weperceive the Divine with and amongst us.

Therefore, we do so declare and affirm that couples, irrespective of sexual orientation, deserve the right to legally join themselves together in a union of love called marriage.

We do this with the conviction that marriage entails life-long mutual trust and strict fidelity to one partner for better or for worse, and the church will offer its ongoing support to the couples it hasunited. We acknowledge that there are differences of opinion within our church regarding usage of the term “marriage” for same–gendered couples, and we affirm the goodness of a diversity ofopinion. As members of the Lord’s New Church on earth (specifically within General Convention), whose hearts enjoy deep affections for the truth of God found in the Holy Bible as illuminated by the beautiful doctrines of Emanuel Swedenborg, we affirm the importance of continued good scholarship and deep, careful, spiritually sensitive, compassionate thinking and dialogue.No individual or congregation will be required to bless same-sex marriages in the Swedenborgian Church. The Church respects the judgment of those who decide to bless these relationships by providing such rites for use within the Church.

The Swedenborgian Church, therefore, lends its support to ministers and congregations who, as a result of their own discernment processes, decide to offer their services and sanctuaries to people irrespective of sexual orientation who wish to join themselves together in holy marriages.

Following lengthy discussion and statements by several members of the study task force, it was moved and seconded to adopt the amended statement as a Denominational Statement. Motion carried: 75 in favor, 13 against.

·The General Convention of the New Jerusalem in the United States and Canada. Central Office: 11 Highland Ave.; Newton, MA. 02460-1852. Phone 617 969-4240.