Glenn Kanestrom: All loving marriages a reflection of God’s love
Some have said that the Episcopal Church has deviated from Christian doctrine by recently allowing same-sex marriage. We say that since the 1970s, the Episcopal church has been reexamining Christian doctrine and has come to the deep truth that we are all beloved of God. In 1976 we concluded, “homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance and pastoral concern and care of the Church.”
Since then we have been in church-wide discernment about how we live out that conclusion. After much prayer and studying the theology of marriage per se, we have created rites that reflect the beauty of the Episcopal Church and honor this deep truth.
Some have said that we are bowing to culture. We say God speaks in Christian tradition and hold the traditional teaching that Christian marriage is marked by fidelity, monogamy, mutual affection and respect. God speaks in Holy Scripture; that God’s love found there is the same love that binds couples together in marriage. God speaks in our current experience. If you want to know more, join us. All are welcome.
Glenn Kanestrom, Riverbank
This story was originally published August 3, 2015 at 5:48 PM with the headline "Glenn Kanestrom: All loving marriages a reflection of God’s love."