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Bishop Chris Boerger testifies before
Washington State Senate |
Bishop Chris
Boerger, ELCA Northwest Washington Synod, testified on Monday at a public
hearing of the Washington State Senate Committee on Government Operations and
Tribal Relations & Elections, saying that he was in favor of LGBT couples
being able to have legally-recognized marriages that are equal in the state.
Bp Boerger's
statement to the hearing: "Mr. Chairman, I am Chris Boerger, the bishop of
the Northwest Washington Synod of the Evangelical Church in America. In 2009
the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America voted to commit itself to find ways
to allow congregations who choose to do so to support and hold publicly
accountable lifelong monogamous same gender relationships. That's quite a
mouthful: publicly accountable, lifelong, monogamous, same-gender
relationships. One of the people who had questions about our doing this said,
"Bishop, isn't that marriage?" And my response is, "Well, in
everything but name." The reality is, the Lutheran church has always held
that it is the state that defines what marriage is; it's the church that then
blesses people who enter into that relationship. We have now stated our desire
to bless those who are publicly accountable in lifelong, monogamous,
same-gender relationships. We can't call it marriage--you can. That's why I am
here today to say there will be those in my church who will not participate; we
understand that freedom. There are those who want to, and we ask for that
freedom."
Executive
Director Emily Eastwood said, " We thank Bp. Boerger for his courageous
witness. His statement reflects the fine line of the ELCA social statement
which allows freedom of choice for those pastors and congregations wishing to
perform marriages for same-gender couples in states where such are legal. The
Northwest Washington Synod has long supported full participation for LGBT
people in the life of church and society. Bp. Boerger's statements reflect the
views already expressed by the synod. Nevertheless, by taking these views to
the legislature and, therefore, into the media, Bp. Boerger has acted for
justice. Our thanks are due."
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Rev. Chris Boerger, Bishop of the
Northwest Washington Synod (ELCA) |
(The bishop's remarks begin at about the 1:12:20 mark)
The hearing was
on Senate Bill 6239, "An act relating to providing equal protection for
all families in Washington by creating equality in civil marriage and changing
the domestic partnership laws, while protecting religious freedom..."
This act would
establish no differentiation under state law between civil marriage rights,
responsibilities and benefits for same-gender or opposite-gender couples.
Further, the bill would provide that registered domestic partnerships between
same-gender persons that currently exist would be deemed to be marriages
automatically on June 30, 2014, unless the couple gets married prior to that
date or have initiated separation proceedings as of that date. Religious
freedom is fully protected in the bill: no religious minister or congregation
would be forced by the law to perform marriages they did not wish to, or forced
to allow their facilities to be used for that purpose.
There is a
parallel bill to the same effect in process in the Washington State House of
Representatives, HB 2516.
On Monday also,
State Senator Mary Margaret Haugen announced that she would vote for the
marriage equality bill, making her the 25th senator to so state and the passage
of the bill practically assured. There are already sufficient votes in the
State House of Representatives for passage. Washington Governor Christine
Gregoire has stated that she would sign the bill into law when it passes.
From reports it
appears the bill will come out of the Senate committee by Thursday of this
week, and out of the House committee by January 30th. There are other
procedural steps before it will come to a vote.
In opposition,
there is a bill running for a joint resolution of the whole legislature that
seeks to place on the ballot at the next general election an amendment to the
state's constitution that states, in part: "Recognizing that marriage
between persons other than a male and a female has never been authorized or
recognized by law in this state, only marriage between a man and a woman is
valid and recognized in Washington. The uniting of two persons other than one
male and one female in any marital relationship, although recognized as valid
in another jurisdiction, is not recognized as valid in this state."
Phil Soucy
Director
Communications LC/NA
www.lcna.org
