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TwitterEpiscopal Church Blesses Unions for Same-Sex Couples
On Tuesday, the Episcopal Church overwhelmingly approved liturgical rites for same-sex couples. Over 75% of the voting bodies at the Episcopal General Convention, which includes priests, bishops, and lay members alike, voted to include gay and lesbian couples in the church’s holy covenant service. The service, while not classified as a marriage, will enable couples to stand to make a lifelong commitment to one another while standing at the altar before family and friends.
The Episcopal Church, which boasts 85 million members nationwide, joins a growing number of faith communities in affirming that all committed couples deserve equal recognition and respect. Rt. Rev. Greg Rickel, the Episcopal Bishop of Olympia, applauded the Church’s decision, telling the Seattle Post-Intelligencer:
“It had to be a most gratifying day for gay and lesbian people, who share a deep and abiding love, in fidelity, for one another. Their journey has been long and many of them may not feel this is all they would like to see, but most present here are surely gratified this day.”
Rev. Debra Peevey, our Director of Faith Outreach at Washington United, celebrated the Episcopal Church’s move to embrace marriage for all loving couples:
“I rejoice with my brothers and sisters in the Episcopal Church who voted overwhelmingly to support Holy Covenant blessings to gay and lesbian couples making faithful, lifetime commitments. While this is a historic step forward, let us remember that those blessings do not provide the protection of Civil Marriage. That is why we are praying and working to Approve Referendum 74 which will allow loving, committed same sex couples the responsibilities and protections of Civil Marriage in Washington State.”
Here in Washington, we’re proud that nearly 40 religious and faith organizations have joined our coalition to defend the freedom to marry. You can see the full list of faith organizations here.
We’re confident that as people of faith continue to talk about why marriage matters for gay and lesbian couples, support for approving Referendum 74 in faith communities will only grow between now and Election Day.
