New Mexico Presbyterians support same-sex marriage

Twenty-one Presbyterian clergy in New Mexico have signed a statement in support of same-sex marriage. The statement is part of a joint public education campaign “Why Marriage Matters New Mexico” conducted by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico and Equality New Mexico (EQNM).

“By standing in support of the freedom to marry for all committed couples in New Mexico, I believe that I am in no way taking a bold or unusual stance,” said Robert Woodruff in the ACLU’s press release. He is pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in Albuquerque.

“I am simply standing in the light of my faith perspective of inclusion and the fundamental call to love one’s neighbor as oneself. Though I do not speak for all of the faithful in the denomination or congregation I serve, I do speak with a great multitude. I speak in one voice with the nearly one-hundred other religious leaders in New Mexico, from varying faith traditions and denominations, who have joined together to affirm the moral and faith tenets of respecting and honoring all marriages formed by loving, committed couples,” he said.

The statement begins by saying that the signers “draw upon our moral convictions and our personal faith to support the freedom to marry in our state … As people of faith and as New Mexicans, we believe in loving our neighbors, and treating one another as we would like to be treated – with dignity and respect. This means recognizing the love and commitment of lesbian and gay couples through marriage.”

It continues, “We recognize that there are a diversity of views in the faith community, and respect the right of religious groups to refuse to officiate or bless marriages for lesbian or gay couples. Indeed, not everyone in our congregations or denominations agrees with this viewpoint.”

That quote is especially true in the Presbyterian Church (USA). At the 2012 General Assembly commissioners voted down overtures to redefine marriage and to issue an authoritative interpretation to allow pastors to conduct marriages for same-sex couples in states where that is legal. Instead, the assembly approved a two-year “season of serious study and discernment” for presbyteries and congregations regarding the meaning of Christian marriage.

That vote also directed the PCUSA’s Office of Theology and Worship to “prepare and distribute educational materials to all presbyteries and congregations. These materials should include the relevant Scriptures, key methods of Biblical interpretations, current understandings of our constitution, and some suggested guidance for prayerful and reconnecting ways of listening to one another.”

The OTW’s six-part marriage study, made available April 29, uses the “Statement on the gift of marriage” found in the Presbyterian Book of Common Worship as its outline.

Recently, the Covenant Network of Presbyterians, an advocacy group that works toward the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer persons in the life of the PCUSA and also supports same-sex marriage, has posted its own “Supplemental resources for the marriage study,” that offers a “broader perspective” than the OTW study provides.

According to the ACLU press release, signers of the statement include active and retired faith leaders from across the state, representing different denominations and faith traditions.

“We support civil marriage fairness as an issue of religious freedom, for a denial of civil recognition dishonors the religious convictions of those communities and clergy who do officiate, and bless, marriages for same-sex couples,” reads the New Mexico statement. “Our religious principles are grounded in a love and acceptance of all people, and we believe deeply that means embracing marriage between same-sex couples.”

Presbyterian signers include:

1. Rev. David Cameron, pastor, Immanuel Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque
2. Rev. Kenneth Cuthbertson, PhD, Presbytery of Santa Fe, Presbyterian Church (USA)
3. Rev. Seth Finch, pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque
4. Rev. Dr. Frank Yates, pastor, St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque
5. Rev. Wayne Mell, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Taos
6. Rev. Dr. Bobbie G McGarey, New Life Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque
7. Rev. Trey Hammond, Pastor, La Mesa Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque
8. Rev. Dr. Robert B. Woodruff, Second Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque
9. Rev. James M Collie, Presbytery of Santa Fe, Presbyterian Church (USA)
10. Rev. Harry Eberts III, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe
11. Rev. Paul Debenport, pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Albuquerque, Retired
12. Rev. Jan Gough, Presbytery of Santa Fe, Presbyterian Church (USA), Medanales
13. Rev. Drew Henry, pastor, Las Placitas Presbyterian Church, Placitas
14. Rev. Paul R. Miller, Sierra Blanca Presbytery, Presbyterian Church (USA), Honorably Retired
15. Rev. Dr. Barbara Dua, Presbytery of Santa Fe, Presbyterian Church (USA)
16. Rev. Dean H. Lewis, Presbytery of Santa Fe, Presbyterian Church (USA), Honorably Retired
17. The Rev. W. D. Lackey, ThD. Presbyterian Church (USA), Honorably Retired
18. Rev. Tony Chambless, First Presbyterian Church, Ruidoso
19. Rev. Dr. James E. Raghair, Presbytery of Santa Fe, Presbyterian Church (USA), Honorably Retired
20. The Rev. Dr. Peter Frazier-Koontz, Presbytery of Santa Fe, Presbyterian Church (USA), Honorably Retired
21. Dr. Michael J. Adee, First Presbyterian Church, Santa Fe
22. Rev. Lorelei Kay, Pastor, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Presbyterian Church (USA), Gallup

The entire statement reads:

“We, the undersigned clergy and religious leaders from across New Mexico, draw upon our moral convictions and our personal faith to support the freedom to marry in our state. 

“We are leaders of various faith communities, who have lived and ministered closely with thousands of families through all of life’s glory, tragedy, and tedium. Some of these families are headed by same-sex couples. They, like many of us, enjoy the holidays with aunts and cousins, struggle to meet the mortgage, and fret over children who aren’t doing well in school.

“These families are our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends and our peers. As people of faith and as New Mexicans, we believe in loving our neighbors, and treating one another as we would like to be treated – with dignity and respect. This means recognizing the love and commitment of lesbian and gay couples through marriage.

“Entering into a committed, loving relationship is one of life’s most sacred and holy gifts. Marriage means responsibility and hard work, but it also brings life-changing protections for a family. Those of us who are married often take for granted the fact that we will not be questioned when we go to the hospital to visit our spouse; that no one can step between a mother and her children; that if death comes suddenly and we are unprepared, our spouse or children will not be denied inheritance in those mournful hours. Most heterosexual couples wouldn’t want to be denied these joys and protections that come with marriage, and when they think about it, they wouldn’t want to deny that to anyone else, either.

“We recognize that there are a diversity of views in the faith community, and respect the right of religious groups to refuse to officiate or bless marriages for lesbian or gay couples. Indeed, not everyone in our congregations or denominations agrees with this viewpoint. By the same token, we support civil marriage fairness as an issue of religious freedom, for a denial of civil recognition dishonors the religious convictions of those communities and clergy who do officiate, and bless, marriages for same-sex couples.

“Our religious principles are grounded in a love and acceptance of all people, and we believe deeply that means embracing marriage between same-sex couples.

“New Mexico has a long history of valuing and protecting the humanity and dignity of every person. It is time to extend this tradition to families that include same-sex couples.”