Now we read the United Church of Christ has jumped off the cliff. ("United Church of Christ backs gay nuptials", AP, 7-5-05)
ATLANTA -- The United Church of Christ's rule-making body voted overwhelmingly Monday to approve a resolution endorsing same-sex marriage, making it the largest Christian denomination to do so. The vote is not binding on individual churches, but could cause some congregations to leave the fold. Roughly 80 percent of the representatives on the church's 884-member General Synod voted to approve the resolution Monday, a day after a smaller committee recommended it. The Rev. John H. Thomas, president of the United Church of Christ, said with the vote on Independence Day, the rule-making body "acted courageously to declare freedom."
How are they defining "freedom"? Freedom from the word of God? Freedom from rational standards? Freedom from concerns about the public health? Freedom from concern about the well-being of children?
