Some Athens religious leaders are coming together to offer their support for same-sex marriage. They are offering their services for marriage counseling and planning in preparation for the U.S. Supreme Court’s pending decision on same-sex marriage.
The ban on same-sex marriage is still being debated, but some Athens religious leaders are already being proactive in their support of the legalization of same-sex marriages.
Five local religious leaders are preparing to offer their services as wedding officiants and marriage counselors to same-sex couples while the decision is still being heard by the U.S. Supreme Court.
“I want folks to know that we are here for them,” said the Rev. Deborah Woolsey, the priest-in-charge of The Church of the Good Shepherd.
In 2004, Athens was the only county in Ohio to vote against State Issue 1, an amendment to the state constitution that bans same-sex marriage. In continuing that support, Rev. Evan Young, the campus minister at United Campus Ministry, said he and his colleagues want to honor same-sex relationships.
“We felt it was important to stand with the LGBTQ community in this time of anticipating momentous change,” he said in a press release.
The religious leaders’ efforts began after they heard about the two cases — Obergefell v. Hodges and Henry v. Himes — which could bring marriage equality to all couples and are expected to have a ruling this month.
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The leaders met and discussed what to do and how to be proactive.
“LGBT folks have had experiences in other states where the ban was lifted and then closed again,” Young said. “We are not aware of any bad action, but we want to help as many people as we can before bad (might) happen, like the ban being put back into action. We want to be prepared.”
Delfin Bautista, the director of the Ohio University LGBT Center, is excited that local religious leaders are helping the effort for equal rights for LGBT individuals.
“Religion was once a weapon used against LGBT people,” Bautista said. “More religious members are supporting it. It shows the narrative has been changing. … Their support is saying that justice doesn’t stop at the church doors but also goes through.”
Push back has been limited, Woolsey said, but the leaders are prepared to make themselves available to those who might disagree with their effort. Woolsey added that she has already had discussions with opponents.
“I have discussed with people and have seen amazing transformations because those disagreeing have finally begun to see others as human beings,” she said.
While Woolsey has only been with The Church of the Good Shepherd since January 2015, she said she has known of the church’s support since the beginning.
“They made it clear in the interview process that this was supported by their church, and they needed it to be supported by its next leader,” she said. “A parishioner who just became a deacon in the church actually met his husband here. Everyone was supportive of it.”
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Pastor Lynn Miller of Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church said that the council and most of the congregation at her church have supported this stance.
“Years of dialogue, study, work and prayer have been part of the process,” Lynn said. “Also the larger church body — The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America — supports this action as well.”
Though the support seems to be stronger than the opposition, Bautista fears the push-back from other forces, such as the religion’s higher leaders who might have problems with the effort and not desire it in their churches.
“Some of these leaders are taking a risk,” Bautista said. “We want them to know that the LGBT community will have a mutual solidarity as well and will aid them when they are in need.”
Bautista is hopeful that this outspoken support from the religious leaders will strengthen the bond between the LGBT Center and the local churches.
“Students don’t realize that religious spaces could also be safe spaces,” Bautista said. “This gives them an opportunity to heal in a spiritual manner and help ease some of the hurt. It also shows them who the allies are.”
With the decision expected to be announced this month, the religious leaders and Bautista said they are optimistic.
“It’s going to pass,” Bautista said. “While the fight for this isn’t the end goal of our efforts, it is a stepping stone. This allows us to celebrate a victory and re-energize our efforts. There is still a lot of work to be done.”
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@eliciacgibson
