 |
| The Rev. Tiffany Steinwert |
 |
| The Rev.Fred Small |
 |
| Senator Dianne Wilkerson |
 |
| The Rev.Kim Crawford Harvie |
| Photos by Deborah Weiner |
UU Minister and Congregation Honored by Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry
(Boston – February 15, 2006) At its eighth anniversary awards presentation, the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry  presented citations to individuals and congregations who have shown leadership in supporting equal marriage in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Rabbi Devon Lerner, Executive Director of the RCFM and the Rev. Tiffany Steinwert, Pastor, Cambridge Welcoming Ministries (and RCFM Board member) officiated at the ceremony. Activities were held in the Massachusetts State House Nurse's Hall.
The Rev. Fred Small of the First Church Unitarian in Littleton, MA , received the Religious Leadership Award, conferred for "prophetic vision and leadership in advocating for marriage equality as a matter of civil rights and religious liberty." Small was one of the first Unitarian Universalist ministers to commit to not sign marriage licenses until all couples could be married equally under the law (in a sermon given on February 2, 2003 ). In expressing his support of equal marriage, Small wrote , "I invite you to support and defend everyone's right to love whomever they will and lawfully to marry if that is where their hearts lead. That, I believe, is the meaning of freedom. That is the meaning of compassion. That is the meaning of justice."
Four awards were presented to outstanding congregations who had shown exemplary "leadership as a community of faith in action by advocating for marriage equality as a matter of civil rights and religious liberty." The Arlington Street Church in Boston was honored with one of the awards, with Rabbi Lerner recalling the first legal religious wedding performed in the Commonwealth, (May 17, 2004, of Robert Compton and David Wilson) which was held at ASC as well as a record number of weddings held on May 20, 2004. Senior Minister Kim Crawford Harvie, who has played a leading role in advancing marriage equality in the Commonwealth for over a decade, accepted the award along with members of the church's staff and congregants.
Others honored included Senator Dianne Wilkerson and Rep. Barbara L'Italien, who received the Byron Rushing Freedom of Religion Award; The United Church of Christ, General Synod and Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference, which received the Peace and Justice Award for outstanding faith-based leadership in helping gay and lesbian couples preserve their civil right to marry; Temple Israel – Boston, United Parish of Auburndale – Newton, and First Churches of Northampton, which received Outstanding Congregation awards. The Rabbi Bernard Mehlman Building Bridges Award, "for prophetic leadership in helping build bridges with people of faith who are still in dialogue about marriage equality," was given to the Rev. Dr. Nancy S. Taylor, Senior Minister, Old South Church in Boston.
The Unitarian Universalist Association is an active member of the Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry. The UUA has previously been honored with the Religious Leadership Award by the RCFM. The Rev. David Pettee, Director of Ministerial Credentialing for the UUA, has recently joined the RCFM Board.
Citation honoring the Rev. Fred Small
First Church Unitarian, Littleton
The Rev. Fred Small is the minister of First Church Unitarian in Littleton. He has been part of the RCFM for many years and brings such a strong sense of purpose and vision that others can't help but notice. On February 2, 2003, Fred announced from the pulpit that he would refuse to sign marriage licenses for heterosexual couples until the same-sex couples enjoyed their equal marriage rights in Massachusetts. As he ended his sermon, the congregation rose in a standing ovation.
Fred was not the first clergy person to take this stand, but he was the first to do so very publicly. He challenged other clergy to take the same position and scores did so. Their refusal to sign marriage licenses helped educate people of faith and the public about the difference between civil and religious marriages. His actions also helped break the stereotype that all clergy oppose gay marriage.
Fred lives the mission of the RCFM, which is to declare to the world that love, equality, and inclusion – not hatred, discrimination, and exclusion – are the real "moral values." |
|
Citation honoring Arlington Street Church, Boston
On May 17, 2004, the Arlington Street Church became the first congregation in the country to legally marry a gay couple in their house of worship. Many of us will never forget the moment when Robert Compton and David Wilson, members of the ASC and one of the seven plaintiff couples, were legally married in the sanctuary by REv. Kim Crawford Harvie before hundreds of friends and supporters. This was not the first of firsts for the ARlington Street Church. The ASC, without hesitation, opened its doors to the founding meeting of the RCFM in 1998, and has continued that support to this day.
During these last several years, ASC members have been on the front lines in this struggle for marriage equality. They have walked the halls of the STate House, organized Pride interfaith services, provided support for LGBT individuals and families and spoken out from the pulpit and in their communities about the importance of equality for all. The ASC follows in the very proud tradition of the Unitarian Universalist Association by playing a key role in moving civil rights one step further along the arc of the universe that moves toward justice. |
|
Media coverage:
|
