Can same sex couples get married at St. Luke’s?
Yes. If you are a same sex couple wanting to get married in our church, please contact our office at 608-222-6921 or office@stlukesmadison.org.
Summary:
"Update: Same sex marriage laws in society and church are changing fast. The Episcopal Church voted (at our General Convention of July 2015) to approve two liturgies for same sex marriages, and required that our bishops give access to same sex couples to the sacrament of marriage. Our Diocese and clergy are in the process of understanding what this change means for us and how to implement it. No priest is required to marry any couple, but our parish priest will be delighted to do so.
If you are a person interested in this topic and you’d like to learn more about our local history, please read the material which follows."
An Overview
Same sex civil marriage has been legal in Wisconsin since October 6, 2014.
Episcopal churches in Madison are members of the Diocese of Milwaukee, and Bishop Steven Miller told his clergy on October 8, 2014 that the Episcopal Church is “still involved in a discussion relative to the theology of marriage” and that the Supreme Court’s decision did not change either the church’s canons (that is church law) or rubrics (that is instructions about the service) on marriage. The marriage service in the Episcopal prayer book is found here: http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/marriage.pdf, and Episcopal canon law here: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/CandC_2009.pdf (Canon 18: Holy Matrimony or 19: Marriage).
Update: http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2015/02/04/marriage-task-force-calls-for-gender-neutral-language-in-marriage-canon/
Although Episcopalians differ in their views, we have been gradually and steadily moving towards full inclusion of gay and lesbian people in every aspect of our church communities. In July, 2012, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church authorized the use of “I will bless you; and you will be a blessing” as a trial liturgy for blessing same sex couples committed relationships. An excerpt can be found here: https://www.churchpublishing.org/media/869869/IWillBlessYouandYouWillBeaBlessingEXTRACT.pdf.
In 2012 and 2013, congregations in the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee were invited by the Standing Committee to participate in a parish-wide conversation, and submit a report in order for the Standing Committee to discern “the mind of the diocese” on this matter. St Luke’s held an all parish discussion after two Sunday services and the community unanimously supported the full inclusion of gay and lesbian people in our parish. The Diocesan Standing Committee compiled each parish study. Their report can be read here: standing_committee_cover_letter & standing_committee_report.
In June, 2013, Bishop Steven Miller said he would not allow clergy to use this liturgy in the Diocese of Milwaukee, but in his letter, he restated his commitment to same sex civil marriage. He signed an amicus brief supporting overturning Wisconsin’s ban on same sex marriage in the October 2014 Supreme Court case.
In late August 2014 Bishop Miller allowed and issued some guidelines for the blessing of same sex civil marriages in our diocese. He wrote to clergy “The provisional rite approved by the General Convention in 2012 is not a marriage liturgy, he noted, “therefore it is inappropriate for clergy of this Church to act as agents of the State and sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples.”
Each congregation is required to participate in a study of marriage. Topics will include Episcopal church history, theology and the Bible, liturgy, civil and canon law, and mission.
As required, St Luke’s held a congregational study in two sessions, with the same content in January of 2015. These sessions were open to congregation members and anyone wishing to attend.
Study area 1: History: reviewing the history of the Episcopal Church’s decisions regarding same gender-relationships and reflecting on the current context.
Study area 2: Theology and the Bible: examining our understanding of God’s blessing through the lens of theology and scripture.
Study area 3: Liturgy: Discussing liturgy in general and liturgical resources developed for the blessing of same-gender relationships.
Study area 5: Mission: exploring the blessing of same-gender relationships as part of the Church’s mission and God’s reconciling work in the world.
Study area 4: Civil and Canon law: exploring legal, canonical and spiritual issues that arise as the Church considers blessing same-gender couples.
Following the congregational study, the Vestry voted unanimously for full inclusion.
For more information, contact the our office, 222-6921 or office@stlukesmadison.org.
Yes. If you are a same sex couple wanting to get married in our church, please contact our office at 608-222-6921 or office@stlukesmadison.org.
Summary:
"Update: Same sex marriage laws in society and church are changing fast. The Episcopal Church voted (at our General Convention of July 2015) to approve two liturgies for same sex marriages, and required that our bishops give access to same sex couples to the sacrament of marriage. Our Diocese and clergy are in the process of understanding what this change means for us and how to implement it. No priest is required to marry any couple, but our parish priest will be delighted to do so.
If you are a person interested in this topic and you’d like to learn more about our local history, please read the material which follows."
An Overview
Same sex civil marriage has been legal in Wisconsin since October 6, 2014.
Episcopal churches in Madison are members of the Diocese of Milwaukee, and Bishop Steven Miller told his clergy on October 8, 2014 that the Episcopal Church is “still involved in a discussion relative to the theology of marriage” and that the Supreme Court’s decision did not change either the church’s canons (that is church law) or rubrics (that is instructions about the service) on marriage. The marriage service in the Episcopal prayer book is found here: http://justus.anglican.org/resources/bcp/marriage.pdf, and Episcopal canon law here: http://www.episcopalarchives.org/CandC_2009.pdf (Canon 18: Holy Matrimony or 19: Marriage).
Update: http://episcopaldigitalnetwork.com/ens/2015/02/04/marriage-task-force-calls-for-gender-neutral-language-in-marriage-canon/
Although Episcopalians differ in their views, we have been gradually and steadily moving towards full inclusion of gay and lesbian people in every aspect of our church communities. In July, 2012, the General Convention of the Episcopal Church authorized the use of “I will bless you; and you will be a blessing” as a trial liturgy for blessing same sex couples committed relationships. An excerpt can be found here: https://www.churchpublishing.org/media/869869/IWillBlessYouandYouWillBeaBlessingEXTRACT.pdf.
In 2012 and 2013, congregations in the Episcopal Diocese of Milwaukee were invited by the Standing Committee to participate in a parish-wide conversation, and submit a report in order for the Standing Committee to discern “the mind of the diocese” on this matter. St Luke’s held an all parish discussion after two Sunday services and the community unanimously supported the full inclusion of gay and lesbian people in our parish. The Diocesan Standing Committee compiled each parish study. Their report can be read here: standing_committee_cover_letter & standing_committee_report.
In June, 2013, Bishop Steven Miller said he would not allow clergy to use this liturgy in the Diocese of Milwaukee, but in his letter, he restated his commitment to same sex civil marriage. He signed an amicus brief supporting overturning Wisconsin’s ban on same sex marriage in the October 2014 Supreme Court case.
In late August 2014 Bishop Miller allowed and issued some guidelines for the blessing of same sex civil marriages in our diocese. He wrote to clergy “The provisional rite approved by the General Convention in 2012 is not a marriage liturgy, he noted, “therefore it is inappropriate for clergy of this Church to act as agents of the State and sign marriage licenses for same-sex couples.”
Each congregation is required to participate in a study of marriage. Topics will include Episcopal church history, theology and the Bible, liturgy, civil and canon law, and mission.
As required, St Luke’s held a congregational study in two sessions, with the same content in January of 2015. These sessions were open to congregation members and anyone wishing to attend.
Study area 1: History: reviewing the history of the Episcopal Church’s decisions regarding same gender-relationships and reflecting on the current context.
Study area 2: Theology and the Bible: examining our understanding of God’s blessing through the lens of theology and scripture.
Study area 3: Liturgy: Discussing liturgy in general and liturgical resources developed for the blessing of same-gender relationships.
Study area 5: Mission: exploring the blessing of same-gender relationships as part of the Church’s mission and God’s reconciling work in the world.
Study area 4: Civil and Canon law: exploring legal, canonical and spiritual issues that arise as the Church considers blessing same-gender couples.
Following the congregational study, the Vestry voted unanimously for full inclusion.
For more information, contact the our office, 222-6921 or office@stlukesmadison.org.