DANIEL DARLING|12:01 AM CT When sociologists chronicle how the West redefined marriage, they will cite many factors, including progressive social pressure, willing media, and liberal theology. But thoughtful evangelicals shouldn’t only point the finger at the outside world. Even among gospel-preaching congregations, we’ve contributed to the steady erosion of a once-strong institution. And I’m not…
By Rachel Zoll NEW YORK (AP) — The dispute among United Methodists over recognition of same-sex couples has lapsed into a doctrinal donnybrook, pitting clergy who are presiding at gay weddings in defiance of church law against proponents of traditional marriage who are trying to stop them. Since 2011, Methodist advocates for gay marriage have…
By Denny Burk, www.dennyburk.com One of the things that has become increasingly clear in the debate about gay marriage in this country is that proponents do not really want to have a debate. They have already decided that traditional marriage supporters are ignorant rubes at best or bigots at worst. In either case, there is…
By Kevin DeYoung I admit six days out of seven I feel mighty pessimistic about the prospects for traditional marriage in America and in the West. It seems likely that “marriage” will become an increasingly flexible institution, both by its legal definition and by our cultural assumptions. The major voices in education, in the media,…
Andrew Walker asks and answers the question, “Should the Church ‘Get out of the marriage business?” on The Gospel Coalition Blog: Christians are frequently tempted to excuse themselves from the kerfuffle over same-sex marriage by insisting that the church should get out of the marriage business altogether. Many suggest that we should separate the conception…
By Tricia L. Nadolny Beth Stroud, a Methodist pastor, said she knew what to expect when she told her Philadelphia congregation in 2003 that she was a lesbian. A church trial. A guilty verdict. And a vote to strip her minister credentials. All three happened. What shocked Stroud was the jury vote on her punishment:…
By Travis Loller NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Worried they could be sued by gay couples, some churches are changing their bylaws to reflect their view that the Bible allows only marriage between one man and one woman. Although there have been lawsuits against wedding industry businesses that refuse to serve gay couples, attorneys promoting the…
By Stoyan Zaimov The executive director of the Manhattan Declaration, a movement of Christians from various denominations with traditional values working to preserve the sanctity of life, marriage and religious liberty, says conservatives will only have themselves to blame if gay marriage becomes legalized in America. “If the Supreme Court rejects the time-honored purpose of…
By Anjani Trivedi It looks like Americans are finally accepting gay marriage, even if nearly half still don’t approve of the same-sex unions. According to a new poll by the Pew Research Center, 72% of Americans say that legal recognition of gay marriage is inevitable, although only 51% actually approve of allowing it. The “rising…