The Very Rev. Dr. Peter Short

June 29, 2005

Sisters and Brothers in The United Church of Canada,

Greetings in Christ!

Yesterday the Parliament of Canada passed legislation granting gay and lesbian couples legal access to civil marriage. This legislation comes as no surprise. The question has been debated and contested in a very public manner. The United Church of Canada has been an active participant in this issue in the 18 months since the 38th General Council asked the government to include same-sex marriage in the marriage legislation. During this time, United Church congregations have been encouraged to assess and determine their marriage policies with respect to same-gender couples.

This legislation is no surprise to anyone who has been in touch with current events in church and society. Nonetheless, it represents a profound change in civil society's definition of marriage-an institution that stands at the heart of Canadian family life. It may not be a surprise to the mind that has been tracking the trajectory of the legislation, but the heart is deeply surprised as the legislation makes the passage from theoretical debate to law of the land.

I am writing to offer my support to congregations, missions, outreach ministries, chaplaincies, and all our people in ministry as you continue to live into the questions, celebrations, dilemmas, and opportunities that arise with the passage of this legislation. Although our hearts may be surprised in different ways-some dejected, others elated-I am inviting all to recognize that we are living in a surprising moment, one that calls for compassion for one another and faith for the journey as our church makes this passage into a changed world.

In the days before the legislation passed, the scripture spoke to me in a way I had not expected. I was listening to a text that is not specifically about marriage. It spoke to me just the same.

The text is in the 14th chapter of the gospel according to Luke; the parable of the great dinner to which many guests were invited (Luke 14:15-24). Jesus told this parable on his way to the house of a leader of the Pharisees where he was to eat a meal on the Sabbath (14:1). The conversation on the way to the dinner turned on the perennial gospel questions: What is near to the heart of God and who may draw near to the holy (14:2-6)? What is the relationship between honour and humility (14:7-11)? And what is the true nature of hospitality (14:12-14)? These questions form the prelude to the parable of the great dinner.

The parable begins when someone observes, "Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God." (14:15b). Jesus responds to this observation by telling of an invitation to a great dinner and of the litany of excuses offered in response to the invitation. One invited guest was tied up with real estate and sent his regrets. Another had just taken delivery of new equipment and had to test it. Yet another had just been-lo and behold!-married, and couldn't make it. So the great dinner is on ("Blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God") and all manner of busy people are rising up together to miss it.

This is what I heard as I listened to the text. The great table is set; the great dinner is on. One may be occupied and preoccupied by any number of compelling issues, but the great banquet is happening. One may feel that the world is falling apart and send regrets to the host because there is too much to be done in holding the world together. Still, the banquet is on. One may be committed to marriage and refuse to come, as if marriage were in competition with the great banquet and not the result of it.

All of this is to say that principles (no matter the stripe) may be what we have instead of faith. Principles (no matter the stripe) may be more to us than the great invitation. Though we may not intend it, principles may cause us to have ears only for the sounds of our own interests and not for the surprising invitation to join the unlikely guests at the table where there is room for all who will come.

As your congregation makes the passage into a Canada that welcomes civil marriage for same-gender couples, please accept my prayers and encouragement that you may hear the invitation and show up for the dinner you never intended to miss. And "blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God."

Meanwhile, I offer the following observations about the import of the legislation.

Bill C-38 is directed toward civil society and not toward religious marriage in church, temple, synagogue, or any other recognized place of religious marriage. The legislation provides for the protection of religious freedom, including tax exemption status, for communities where conscience does not permit the celebration of same-gender marriage.

The decision on who may be married in and by The United Church of Canada is made by the congregation through its Session or equivalent. Some congregations have been celebrating same-gender covenants for a long time. For them, the move to same-gender marriage may be a seamless one. Some congregations will be lamenting the passage of the legislation and will find it to be against conscience to permit same-gender marriage in the church. For them, the decision is a difficult one because they may be exposed to ridicule and to charges of homophobia. Most congregations include valued members on both sides of the issue, as well as people whose minds and hearts are still in a struggle to discern the good path. For them, the unity of the congregation is at stake and the stakes are high.

As Moderator of the whole church, not just parts of it, I acknowledge that we are not of one mind and not of one vision on this. We are surprised in the heart by what is happening. We find ourselves in a place that is both dilemma and opportunity. This place is dilemma because our unity is challenged by the differences among us. This place is opportunity because we have yet another chance to receive the gifts brought forth from the storehouse of diversity that we have so often put forward as one of our great strengths.

This would be a good time to pray for one another. This would be a bad time to be carried off by the songs of victory or by the laments of resentment. Beneath the louder music of public ideologies there is a gospel invitation that is being sounded, an invitation to a great banquet. And "blessed is anyone who will eat bread in the Kingdom of God."

May the Holy Spirit guide you in the way of Christ, opening ears and hearts to the sounds of God's surprising invitation. May you be aware of my gratitude on behalf of the whole church for your witness to Jesus Christ and your servant ministry in his name. And may you receive the bread that feeds you as his body, a sign of the banquet of God.

Sincerely,

The Right Rev. Dr. Peter Short
Moderator, The United Church of Canada