A MOTION
RELATING TO SAME-SEX MARRIAGES
COMMENTARY: Three
members of Waterloo North Mennonite Church (WNMC), Mandy Witmer, Ross Willard,
and Russel Snyder-Penner, have met on a number occasions to craft a proposal on
how their congregation could move forward on the narrow question of same-sex
marriage. The document below is the result. It is not entirely clear how a
proposal such as this ought to be considered and decided at WNMC. In the
absence of clear precedent it has been framed as motion to be made at a
members' meeting of the congregation.
WHEREAS:
At present
Mennonite Church Eastern Canada does not recognize same-sex
marriages nor
sanction the marriage of same-sex couples by their member
congregations;
A significant
portion of the congregation of Waterloo North Mennonite Church
wants our church
to recognize and be prepared to perform the marriage of
same-sex
couples;
BE IT RESOLVED
THAT:
1. The
congregation of Waterloo North Mennonite Church will recognize
and honor
marriages of same-sex couples and invoke God's blessings upon
them.
COMMENTARY: This
paragraph should not be interpreted as meaning the congregation will perform
marriages of same-sex couples. Rather, it is a response to the fact that in
Canada same-sex couples may legally marry, and that such couples may wish to be
present in our congregations. Paragraph 1 represents an affirmation of those
relationships, while remaining deferential to the present position of Mennonite
Church Eastern Canada with respect to performing
marriages.
2. The
congregation of Waterloo North Mennonite Church calls on
Mennonite Church
Eastern Canada to authorize our ministers to perform
the marriage of
same-sex couples.
COMMENTARY: Our congregation has a responsibility to both the
broader church (specifically, Mennonite Church
of Eastern Canada) and to same-sex couples. If this congregation
concludes that it ought to be willing to perform marriages for same-sex couples, it may
honour both responsibilities by remaining subject to the authority of Mennonite
Church of Eastern Canada on the
question, while clearly and unambiguously calling for a change to MCEC's
opposition to the marriage of same-sex couples by its ministers.
