Protestant reform leaders hail new ‘Christian Declaration on Marriage’
The Association for Church Renewal, November 15, 2000
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Leaders of evangelical renewal groups in several mainline denominations have announced their endorsement of “A Christian Declaration of Marriage.” They congratulated leaders of the National Association of Evangelicals, the National Conference of Catholic Bishops, the National Council of Churches (NCC) and the Southern Baptist Convention for drafting and issuing the declaration. Association for Church Renewal members pledged to promote the declaration within their denominations, seeking endorsements from church leaders and wide implementation of the declaration’s recommendation.
The Christian Declaration of Marriage, released at a Nov. 14 press conference, urges churches to develop programs “to reduce the divorce rate and increase the marriage rate.” Signers pledge to uphold “God’s first institution – marriage.” Marriage is defined as a “holy union of one man and one woman in which they commit to build, with God’s help, a loving, life-giving, faithful relationship that will last for a lifetime.” The declaration warns of the adverse social impact of high rates of divorce, cohabitation, and non-marital births, coupled with a decline in the marriage rate. It acknowledges the responsibility for churches to uphold marriage and encourages community and church-based programs of education and pastoral ministry to support marriage.
“We are encouraged that these four major Christian bodies are joining together to address the central social problem facing our nation,” said ACR Chairman the Rev. James V. Heidinger II, president of Good News (United Methodist). “We challenge leaders of our denominations also to endorse the declaration. Our denominations must provide resources and encouragement for the grass-roots implementation of the declaration’s proposals.”
“The fact that NCC General Secretary Robert Edgar has signed this declaration comes as a pleasant surprise,” said the Rev. Todd Wetzel of Episcopalians United. Earlier this year, Edgar had publicly opposed California Proposition 22 that defined marriage as the union of one man and one woman. “The participation of NCC leaders in this project will open doors to the declaration’s reception in mainline Protestant circles.”
“This is the kind of ecumenical effort which our nation and our churches desperately need,” said the Rev. Donna Hailson of American Baptist Evangelicals. “Now is the time for local congregations in communities across the country to join together to defend marriage.”
In addition to Hailson, Heidinger and Wetzel, other ACR signers of A Christian Declaration on Marriage included R.H. Blackburn of the National Alliance of Covenanting Congregations (United Church of Canada), Tom Brock of the Great Commission Network (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America), Diane Knippers of the Institute on Religion and Democracy, James M. Kushiner of the Fellowship of St. James, Bruce Mason of the American Anglican Council (Episcopal Church), David Runnion-Bareford of the Biblical Witness Fellowship (United Church of Christ), Terry Schlossberg of Presbyterians Pro-Life, David Stanley of United Methodist Action and Parker Williamson of the Presbyterian Lay Committee.