calendar June 29, 2015 in Bishop, Bishop messages

Bishop’s Reflection on Marriage Equality

Bishop Burkat

Last Friday’s Supreme Court decision striking down bans against same-sex marriage “knocks the power out of long-standing assumptions that most but not all people are equal,” Bishop Claire Burkat writes in a pastoral message. “For our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, as well as all those who have worked for marriage equality here in the United States, this is a welcome change and a time for rejoicing.” Read the full reflection below.

 

June 29, 2015

 

Those Who Were Far Off Have Come Near

Bishop’s Reflection on Marriage Equality

 

So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God. — Ephesians 2:17- 19

Lightning struck my house last Tuesday night during the storm. At first I didn’t realize what had happened until later when I noticed my old stereo and TV as well as the Internet, cable and landline phone were fried. Some things I didn’t notice before in my everyday life needed attention.

Last Friday, metaphorical lightning quickly and decidedly struck our country with the majority decision by the Supreme Court to end same sex marriage bans across our whole nation. This knocks the power out of long-standing assumptions that most but not all people are equal. For our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, as well as all those who have worked for marriage equality here in the United States, this is a welcome change and a time for rejoicing.

I am thankful this now includes the freedom to marry in all 50 states providing equal protection under the law regardless of one’s sexual orientation or religious preferences.

As we are assessing how and where this lightning struck, let us reflect on the true equality and freedom that is ours, and has always been ours in the Gospel of Jesus Christ — no exceptions.

Peace has been proclaimed to those who were once so far off they never dreamed they would be invited near. And we rejoice that all have access to God through Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.

I celebrate with so many people all across our country, that our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters, sons, daughters, neighbors and co-workers are no longer strangers and aliens under the law of the land, but are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God.

With and in Christ,

+ The Rev. Claire S. Burkat, Bishop

 

In a pastoral letter last year, Bishop Burkat says that because “in the ELCA we are not of one mind” on this subject, “our commitment to one another is to be respectful of various perspectives, and accepting of differing practices. …We seek through this guidance to see these differences as a gift to be celebrated as we live out that which unites us: the mercy and grace of Jesus Christ who leads us into mission and ministry in the world.”