Ecclesiastical Proclamation
Universal Life Church Monastery:
Ecclesiastical Proclamation of Canon Law All humans have an inalienable right and duty to practice their own peaceful religious traditions. However, religion should not contradict the reality of creation. "Why does God give us instincts and then set all the rules in opposition?" asks John Milton of Kevin Lomax in the movie The Devil’s Advocate. This question poses a dilemma for many believers. We are told that what separates humans from all other forms of life on earth is that we are endowed with free will. Given the choice to yield to our instincts, or consciously deny our primal instructions, the laws set forth in whichever holy book we might follow often prescribes a model of behavior that demands sacrifice. The theory of evolution is now academically accepted as the most believable explanation for the variety of life on earth. For argument's sake, we shall accept the Vatican's position that if evolution occurred, it may very well have been under the impetus and guidance of “divine intelligence.” Thus we assume that animals, endowed with neither free will nor conscience, evolved in accordance with creation’s design. How then can we explain the existence of homosexuality observed and documented in over 500 species of animals?
Christian dogma holds that the function of sexuality is procreation and any aberration is perverse and unnatural. Such is the placing of gods over humanity, the placing of junk science over reality, and the placing of belief over knowledge. Zoologists have observed, in a wide variety of species from dolphins to orangutans, a consistent frequency of homosexual behavior. Take for example New York’s Central Park Zoo's male penguin couple that raised their young together, making headlines around the world. If animals behave instinctively in response to stimuli and not out of a socially constructed code of conduct, would it not stand to reason that we, their evolutionary cousins, might possess a similar biological imprint? We may not be willing to abandon ancient traditions and practices, but we can adapt them to our new understanding of the universe. It is difficult to reconcile this evidence through deductive reason and rational thought with the condemnation of homosexual behavior found in antiquated and archaic Scriptures. In our search for truth we must not shy away from intellectual honesty and scientific evidence that causes us to question hitherto unquestioned belief. Would a loving God create something, and then condemn it?
None of us can ignore the primal instruction of Creation. Moreover, why did Jesus avoid any utterance on the subject? Nor can we ignore the apparent biblical gay relationships of Ruth and Naomi or David & Jonathan. Clearly, we have wavered from the path of legitimate search, transition, and discovery. We as a people differ on the story of our origins, but these divisions, worsened by our quarrelsome, arrogant nature, now imperil our future and the future of earth. All religions must adapt to unfolding knowledge about the universe we live in, without rejecting deep spiritual connections to human history and the natural real world that we are a part of today.
Today the Board of Directors issues this Ecclesiastical Proclamation; All persons with love for one another have a religious and constitutional right under the 1st Amendment of the United States, to the Sacrament of Marriage. Such is invoked under natural, primal, and religious law. Given this understanding, we hold that it is a denial of religious rights by the United States government to restrain our ministers from their constitutional right to perform the ritual of the Sacrament of Marriage to consenting adults, regadless of sexual design.
Our campaign on the “Road to Jericho” will include instituting legal action against all entities of government within the United States who traverse the First Amendment by refusing the rights of Holy Sacrament as offered to heterosexual couples when denied to homosexual couples.
Adopted and Approved: Thursday, April 12, 2007 Universal Life Church Monastery Storehouse Board of Directors
Ecclesiastical Proclamation of Canon Law All humans have an inalienable right and duty to practice their own peaceful religious traditions. However, religion should not contradict the reality of creation. "Why does God give us instincts and then set all the rules in opposition?" asks John Milton of Kevin Lomax in the movie The Devil’s Advocate. This question poses a dilemma for many believers. We are told that what separates humans from all other forms of life on earth is that we are endowed with free will. Given the choice to yield to our instincts, or consciously deny our primal instructions, the laws set forth in whichever holy book we might follow often prescribes a model of behavior that demands sacrifice. The theory of evolution is now academically accepted as the most believable explanation for the variety of life on earth. For argument's sake, we shall accept the Vatican's position that if evolution occurred, it may very well have been under the impetus and guidance of “divine intelligence.” Thus we assume that animals, endowed with neither free will nor conscience, evolved in accordance with creation’s design. How then can we explain the existence of homosexuality observed and documented in over 500 species of animals?
Christian dogma holds that the function of sexuality is procreation and any aberration is perverse and unnatural. Such is the placing of gods over humanity, the placing of junk science over reality, and the placing of belief over knowledge. Zoologists have observed, in a wide variety of species from dolphins to orangutans, a consistent frequency of homosexual behavior. Take for example New York’s Central Park Zoo's male penguin couple that raised their young together, making headlines around the world. If animals behave instinctively in response to stimuli and not out of a socially constructed code of conduct, would it not stand to reason that we, their evolutionary cousins, might possess a similar biological imprint? We may not be willing to abandon ancient traditions and practices, but we can adapt them to our new understanding of the universe. It is difficult to reconcile this evidence through deductive reason and rational thought with the condemnation of homosexual behavior found in antiquated and archaic Scriptures. In our search for truth we must not shy away from intellectual honesty and scientific evidence that causes us to question hitherto unquestioned belief. Would a loving God create something, and then condemn it?
None of us can ignore the primal instruction of Creation. Moreover, why did Jesus avoid any utterance on the subject? Nor can we ignore the apparent biblical gay relationships of Ruth and Naomi or David & Jonathan. Clearly, we have wavered from the path of legitimate search, transition, and discovery. We as a people differ on the story of our origins, but these divisions, worsened by our quarrelsome, arrogant nature, now imperil our future and the future of earth. All religions must adapt to unfolding knowledge about the universe we live in, without rejecting deep spiritual connections to human history and the natural real world that we are a part of today.
Today the Board of Directors issues this Ecclesiastical Proclamation; All persons with love for one another have a religious and constitutional right under the 1st Amendment of the United States, to the Sacrament of Marriage. Such is invoked under natural, primal, and religious law. Given this understanding, we hold that it is a denial of religious rights by the United States government to restrain our ministers from their constitutional right to perform the ritual of the Sacrament of Marriage to consenting adults, regadless of sexual design.
Our campaign on the “Road to Jericho” will include instituting legal action against all entities of government within the United States who traverse the First Amendment by refusing the rights of Holy Sacrament as offered to heterosexual couples when denied to homosexual couples.
Adopted and Approved: Thursday, April 12, 2007 Universal Life Church Monastery Storehouse Board of Directors
posted by Universal Life Church at
3:53 PM
8 Comments:
Please excuse me and my ignorance, but show me in the bible where it says that Ruth and Naomi or david or Jonathan were gay? But it speaks on the contrary. David had a wife Jonathan had a wife and Ruth was predestined for Boaz. Where is a gay indication in this? why do the church have to compromise? Why do we have to comform to this wirld? Because of the constitution? Please Godis the Law and seems we obey mans law above His even in the church. Peter said should we obey God or man, the church needs to take a stand and stop flopping so much to fit in. and just so you will know I am totally against same sex marriges. This is the position I take on the matter. Just so you all will know...
I'm sorry that I don't agree with the good minister gary but, in this new world, the churches' views must change as well.
I have always been brought up to believe that Jesus and God love everyone. And what many people do not seem to understand is that gay relationships are not about sex in there entirety. It is about love and finding someone who loves you and whom you can love unconditionally. Is that not what a heterosexual relationship is about as well? I know that those who are against homosexuals will not change there minds because of my one small paragragh. That's not what I am trying to do. I just needed to get another point of view out there.
Sarah, I would say that I respect your opinion but honestly I don't. This is why the church is suffering to this day. People who compromise the Gospel to gain peoples favor. I almost want to ask if you are out of your mind, but I will keep that to my self. Homosexuality is a sin and no matter how you or anyone else who reads this puts it that will never change. you say it's not about sex entirely? I sure hope and pray that you are not ordained because this is exactly what it is about. We can't make wrong doers feel comfortable in their wrong. We have to reprove, rebuke as ministers of the Lord Jesus Christ. Excuse my forwardness but you people are killing me with your it's ok God will understand attitude. Maybe this is the church for all people. People who care about being liked as opposed to saving peoples lives.....
Today, May15th, California joined Massachusetts by disallowing a gay marriage ban.
Let's celebrate love, gay or straight, and support anyone willing to commit to a relationship.
It doesn't come around every day.
And I'm all for fairness.
Today, I was committed in a civil union in Vermont, to my partner Michael. My good friend James officiated the ceremony, a man ordained by the Universal Life Church. We have known each other for 2 months, but I have never been so sure of anything in my life! The feeling I have for him is the greatest love I have ever known in my life and I find it offensive that anyone would profess to know what is in my heart and claim it to be nothing but lust.
For all the Catholic bashing done on this blog, it seems very Catholic to issue "ecclesiastical proclamations" from on high.
ULC is a content free religion and now it's adding content.
Once you make an dogmatic proclamation on one issue, who's to say where it stops? Why bind people's consciences when you say you respect their freedom of conscience?
Not commenting on the content of the issue at all--good people can disagree. I have difficulty with the ULC acting like Rome. Rome is Rome, Modesto/Seattle are not.
I have been an ordained Reverend in the ULC since 1995. I am honored and delighted that the ULC is taking this bold step.
If the United States insists on continuing to bind sacred marriage within a Church to a legal definition that impacts insurance, visitation, adoption, power of attorney, and so forth, I only see two paths forward: Either at least some Churches accept that same sex marriage is ok - or completely eliminate all reference to marriage in all Federal and State laws.
By linking marriage in a Church to marriage in the eyes of the Government, the Churches themselves have turned this into a civil rights issue - preventing a class of citizen from obtaining rights and privileges afforded to other classes based purely on sexual preference is, in my mind, no different than the issues our country faced back when we had white and colored water fountains.
From the perspective of the ULC, and the message that it stands for - namely, we all have the right to determine what is right for ourselves - supporting same sex marriage is not "taking a stand on gays" - it's taking a stand on the rights of the ordained ministry to follow their non-violent beliefs. The State governments have been actively preventing the free expression of these rights. This action by the ULC therefore, I see as justified. I could care less if Baptists, Muslims, Catholics, whatever, choose or choose not to marry gays in their respective sanctuaries. I care a great deal that those of us in this ministry are prohibited from doing so - not because of the collective belief of the ministry, but because of actions of the state governments.
I take comfort in the fact that by and large the Churches against same sex marriage have already lost this argument - a large swath of those under 30 no longer see same sex marriage as an issue, and I expect that trend to continue. Any fighting against it now is reactive, and while I respect their right to share their message, I can't help but see them as bigots that I find it very difficult to respect - particularly those who claim to follow Christ's message, which certainly had nothing to do with deciding who is a sinner, and who isn't.
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