Clergy: Wait-and-see stand

Unitarian to seek support today for marriage protest

Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, Massachusetts, Thursday, May 8, 2003

By KATHLEEN MELLEN
Staff Writer

NORTHAMPTON — Local religious leaders appear unlikely to immediately join the city Unitarian minister who will no longer sign marriage licenses in protest of the state's ban against same-sex marriages.

The Rev. F Jay Deacon of the Unitarian Society of Northampton and Florence plans to ask other city religious leaders to follow his lead at their monthly interfaith meeting today.

But several ministers interviewed Wednesday said they cannot consider Deacon's proposal without first fully airing it in their congregations.

Deacon said one of the meeting's organizers, the Rev. Peter Kakos of Edwards Church, asked him to speak about his idea. He said he has not broached the subject with any other local clergy.

"The fact that Peter invited me to talk about it is a good sign," said Deacon. Kakos was not available for comment Wednesday.

Deacon announced in February that he had stopped signing marriage licenses for any couples, but will continue to perform religious wedding ceremonies for all couples. For a marriage certificate, couples would have to pay $75 to a justice of the peace. Deacon cited the "melding of church and state — and the confusion inherent in it."

Several area religious leaders said that they support Deacon's concern about gay couples' rights, but are reserving judgment until they hear what Deacon — and their congregations -— have to say.

"It is unfair that same-sex couples can't have the same privileges and benefits of marriage," said the Rev. Peter Ives of First Churches.

Ives, who has officiated at same-sex commitment ceremonies, said he welcomes Deacon's talk at the clergy meeting. But he said he "needs more time to discuss this with my deacons and my congregation," before making any decisions.

"This is a very important issue for us at First Churches," where numerous gay and lesbian couples are members. "I'd like to share this with my congregation, not make this decision in isolation, by myself."

Rabbi Justin David of Congregation B'nai Israel also said he needs time to consider Deacon's tactic, though he supports his goal of state recognition of same-sex unions.

David said in his 10 months as rabbi of the congregation, he has not officiated at a gay marriage, though he is willing to do so.

He said he might discuss the issue with his congregation before any decisions. "I would have to investigate the implications a little more closely," said David.

Other area clergy say they also want to hear more before any action.

The Rev. Don Weiss, associate pastor of College Church, declined to comment, saying he is unfamiliar with the issues.

The Rev. Peter Hey, pastor of Christ United Methodist Church, where today's meeting is scheduled to take place, said he is eager to hear from Deacon on the issue.

"A lot of people care about this. This is a justice issue," said Hey. "I don't know that I would take the same position that Jay takes. Probably not. But that doesn't mean it's not a good thing."

Deacon, meanwhile, has said he objects that gay couples lack the same legal protections and rights that a marriage license grants to heterosexual couples.

"All of these unequal privileges can be gotten by the stroke of a signature," said Deacon, who is gay. "Very ironically, my signature."

Across the state, 15 to 20 Unitarian ministers have agreed not to sign marriage licenses, according to Deacon. But at least one Unitarian minister expressed concern to Deacon that the move would anger members of her congregation who "just want to get married," he said.

Kathleen Mellen can be reached at kmellen@gazettenet.com.

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