PRESENTATION BY THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA TO A FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COMMITTEE ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE
2003-FEB

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On 2003-FEB-13, The United Church of Canada gave a submission to the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights concerning same-sex marriage. They recommended that the federal government adopt a legislative framework that provides the same civil recognition for same-sex and opposite sex couples.

In its submission to the committee, the United Church outlined its longstanding commitment to equality rights for gays and lesbians within the church and Canadian society.

Historically, The United Church of Canada has also made various statements regarding marriage. Prior to 1980, marriage was named as a union between a woman and a man. Subsequently, it was reported at the 30th General Council in 1984 that the life and ministry of Jesus demonstrated what it means to be a full human being made in the image of God. The essential mark is the total self-giving love to the other. There is no genuine humanity apart from relationship and community, but there is more than one way to symbolize and express this reality that is pleasing to God and in keeping with God’s intention for humanity.

In 1988, the General Council affirmed that all "life-long relationships" (note the omission of the term "marriage") need to be faithful, responsible, just, loving, health giving, healing, and sustaining of community and self. The implication is that these standards apply to both heterosexual and homosexual couples as the United Church has come to recognize that gay and lesbian members want to make the same life-long commitments that heterosexual members make, and to make their solemn vows with communities of faith who will support them in their commitments. Consequently, recent United Church resources for marriage preparation, Passion and Freedom (coming in summer 2003), and services, Celebrate God’s Presence (2000), make no distinctions between heterosexuals and homosexuals.

As a Protestant denomination, the United Church is part of the Christian tradition that does not regard marriage a sacrament. Procreation is not a defining aspect of marriage in the United Church. Nor does the church condemn people who decide divorce is the only option for a marriage that is fraught by unhappiness. Divorced people receive the communion of the church and may remarry someone else.

Nevertheless, the United Church places an extremely high value on the seriousness of vows taken before God and in the presence of witnesses. The church urges congregations to help couples to prepare for a life together and offers counseling and enrichment courses.

The most recent policy decision by the General Council affirming the relationships of same-sex couples was in 2000. At this General Council meeting, the church adopted the policy to affirm and work toward the civil recognition of same-sex partnerships. As a result, some United Church congregations are beginning to record the services of same-sex couples in their marriage registers and forwarding these registrations to provincial governments for licensing.

In its submission, the United Church argues that many of the alleged benchmarks for confining marriage to opposite-sex couples do not bar same-sex couples.

Procreation can no longer be cited as a defining dynamic of marriage in Western society. Ironically, in Canada, we do have heterosexuals who marry with no intention, and in some cases, no ability of having children, and yet we have same-sex couples with children who cannot get married.

Others may argue that including same-sex couples undermines society’s understanding of family. It is the experience of the United Church that non-traditional family forms may equally advance these family values.

Still others argue that including same-sex couples within a definition of marriage impinges on their religious freedom and understanding of marriage as an opposite-sex institution only, potentially forcing some clergy to compromise their faith and marry a same-sex couple. This is not true. The separation of Church and State in Canada means clergy are not required to marry couples when it would be contrary to the faith community’s religious beliefs. One example is the refusal of the Roman Catholic Church to marry someone who is divorced.

For further information, please contact:

Program Officer
Human Rights & Reconciliation Initiatives
Justice, Global & Ecumenical Relations Unit
The United Church of Canada
3250 Bloor St. West, Suite 300
Toronto, Ontario M8X 2Y4

References used:

1. "United Church Urges Ottawa to Recognize Same-Sex Partnerships," United Church of Canada, 2003-FEB-26 at: http://www.united-church.ca/

It is our understanding that there is no copyright on this document, as it was presented as a submission before a federal government committee.
Originally posted: 2005-SEP-14
Latest update: 2005-SEP-14