First Unitarian in Providence Moves Toward an Official Endorsement of Marriage Equality in Rhode Islaand

Rhode Island State Representative Arthur Handy has announced that he will be submitting legislation today calling for marriage equality in our state.

It will be his ninth try.

This time the tide appears to be flowing with him.

Two days ago in his inaugural address Governor Lincoln Chaffee also called for marriage equality.

I sit on the steering committee for the Religious Coalition for Marriage Equality in Rhode Island. We are confident this is the year. Representative Handy will probably have more than enough co-sponsors than it will take to win passage in the House. The Senate is not a done deal. But, so close, so close…

It is time for every person of good will to speak out in favor of this landmark act of civil rights.

Our own congregation is in the process of self-discernment as to whether by a vote of the congregation to take an official stand in favor of marriage equality. I’m very excited that the community is wrestling with this.

Our Standing on the Side of Love committee is leading the way. They presented a document to our Prudential Committee that reads:

“From time to time over the long history of the First Unitarian Church of Providence, the congregation has felt compelled by our belief in social justice and equality to take a stand on issues of great significance in our times, issues such as abolition. We also do this in accordance with the tradition of taking stands on civil rights and social justice issues as an association of congregations during annual General Assembly meetings of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

The Standing on the Side of Love Committee of the First Unitarian Church believes that we are in the midst of one of those important times in our history. We believe that all people deserve the opportunity to attain the legal protections and safeguards of civil marriage, and therefore we have proposed that, as a church, we publicly endorse marriage equality in Rhode Island. We believe that, as the flagship UU church in Rhode Island and a beacon of hope for all people whatever their sexual orientation, it is right and necessary for us to take a public stand. We believe we should do this through a vote of the congregation.”

They then cited the relevant part of our bylaws which has a very high bar to cross. First there needs to be petitioner, which is the Committee, although this motion has also received the unanimous endorsement of the Prudential Committee, our elected governing board. A called meeting on Sunday the 23rd will present this motion to the congregation. If a majority give their consent, then a mail ballot will be sent to the membership. At least one third of the membership must respond. Of that number at least two thirds must vote in support for the motion to carry.

The motion is fairly simple:

Wheras, a just society guarantees to all of its citizens certain civil rights, and
Wheras, every adult deserves the opportunity to attain the legal protections and safeguards gained through civil marriage, and
Whereas, the First Unitarian Church of Providence, Rhode Island affirms and promotes the Unitarian Universalist principles of
The inherent worth and dignity of every person,
Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations, an
World community, liberty, peace, and justice for all,
We, the congregation of the First Unitarian Church of Providence, by a vote of our membership, endorse marriage equality in the state of Rhode Island. Further, we call upon Rhode Island’s legislators to pass this legislation and for the Governor of Rhode Island to sign it into law.

Carried upon the legalistic language is something of the heart.

It sings of human possibility.

Takes my breath away.

A call to justice.

A call for civil rights.

A moment has presented, pregnant with possibility…

This Sunday following worship, the Standing on the Side of Love committee will sponsor a congregational conversation, allowing people to explore what this proposal means and what the consequences might be of it passing, or of it failing. There will be a second opportunity for those who cannot attend this meeting on Wednesday evening the 19th.

We will be taking the vote authorizing a mail ballot to go to the entire membership on January the 23rd in a called meeting of the congregation following the worship service.
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 Keep us in your hearts.