Supporting the fair and equal treatment of all people is a social justice issue that is central to the practice of faith. We know there are many people of faith, clergy and lay leaders who support the freedom for same-gender couples to civilly marry. Over 100 Vermont clergy of different denominations have signed the Declaration of Religious Support. For more information on religious support for the freedom of same-gender couples to marry, read below.
• Freedom of Religion and Civil Marriage
• What is the Declaration of Religious Support
• View the list of signers.
• Read and sign the Declaration of Religious Support
• 6 Things Clergy can do for the freedom to marry[link below]
• Resources for people of faith and clergy
Freedom of Religion and Civil Marriage - (Download PDF)
The right to freedom of religion, protected
by the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, ensures that no clergy
person can be forced to perform a marriage, or sign a marriage
certificate, against his or her faith, and no faith community can be forced to
celebrate a marriage in violation of its religion. As a consequence,
many people are legally entitled to marry, but cannot insist that they be
married in a particular church, or by a particular clergy person. For
example, even though an individual who has divorced, or is marrying
outside of his or her faith, has a legal right to marry, some communities
of faith will not celebrate such marriages. That's their right.
The religious rite of marriage DOES NOT confer any legal rights or responsibilities. The religious rite of marriage is a ceremonial rite of passage within a faith tradition, and only couples who meet the requirements of a particular faith tradition can participate in religious marriage.
A civil marriage is separate from a religious marriage. It is a contract with the state that confers over 1,400 civil rights to couples and their families. A couple who wants to civilly marry can do so without having a religious ceremony. Those who enter into a civil marriage are better protected.
A couple who wants to enter into a religious marriage can do so without entering into a civil marriage. A couple who has a religious marriage only (they have not signed a civil marriage license) do not receive any protections from the state.
Many faith traditions do recognize both the religious rite of marriage of same-gender couples and support the civil right for same-gender couples to marry. In Vermont, over 100 clergy have signed in support of the freedom for same-gender couples to marry.
What is the Declaration of Religious Support?
The Declaration of Religious Support is a public statement created by supportive Vermont clergy that declares their support for the freedom of same-gender couples to marry. To help people of faith who are genuinely struggling with this issue, the Declaration offers an opportunity to reflect on the meaning of faith related to our civic engagement, our constitutionally protected right to worship freely, and the freedom for ALL to marry as a matter of social justice. Clergy who sign the Declaration are listed by denomination in alphabetical order. We distribute it at county fairs, community events, house parties, and churches and synagogues throughout the state.
*** If you are a supportive clergy person or lay leader, sign the Declaration today!!
Below are the Vermont clergy who have signed the Declaration of Religious Support for Same-gender Couples to Marry.
List of Supporters
United Church of Christ
Rev. David Andrews
Rev. Shayna Appel
Pastor Katherine B. Arthaud
Rev. Richard L. Bingham
Rev. William M. Burhans
Rev. Catherine A. Cadieux
Rev. Dr. C. Michael Caldwell
Rev. Carole Carlson
Rev. Adrianne L. Carr
Rev. Douglas R. Carter
Rev Dr. David C. Chevrier
Rev. Mary Lee Clark
Rev. William Sloane Coffin (Deceased)
Rev. Richard B. Crocker
Rev. Sandra L. Daly
Rev. Roger C.B. Daly
Rev. David Dean
Rev. Kathy Wonson Eddy
Rev. Mark Follansbee
Rev. Timothy R. Forester
Rev. Bonnie L. Haase
Rev. Dr. MB Handspicker
Rev. Patricia A. Harwick
Rev. Ray L. Harwick
The Rev. Jane G. Henderson
Rev. Michael L.C. Henderson (Deceased)
Rev. Susan A. Henderson
Rev. Mike D. Henkle
Rev. Ruth Anne Hill
Rev. Will Hunter
Rev. Serge F. Hummon
Rev. Dr. William J. Hirschfeld
Rev. Laura Lee Kent
Rev. Matthew W. Laney
Rev. Janet Langdon
Rev. Robert A. Lee
Rev. James D. Llewellyn
Rev. Marjorie A. MacNeill
Rev. Bill Nelson
Rev. William R. Neil
Rev. Joan Newton O'Gorman
Rev. Charles J. Parsley DECEASED
Rev. Morris D. Pike
Rev. Mark R. Pitton
Rev. Peter Plagge
Rev. Dr. Barbara deB.Allen
Purinton
Rev. David P. Ransom
Rev. Louise S. Ransom
Rev. Penny R. Smith
Rev. Lise Sparrow-Pepin
Rev. Thomas D. Steffen
Rev. Dr. Arnold Thomas
Rev. Susan T. Webster-Toleno
Rev. Margaret W. Tooker
Rev. Elizabeth S. Towle
Rev. Joan Vincent
Rev. Bill Warriner
Rev. Daniel S. Wright
Rev. David D. Wright
Rev. Margaret T. Wright
Episcopal
The Rev. Keri Aubert
The Rev. Gordon Bardos
Rev. Molly A. Bidwell
The Rev. Janet K. Brown
Rev. Thomas Brown
The Rev. Robert W. Castle
Rev. Thora L. Chadwick
The Rev. Bradford D. Clark
St. James Church
The Rev. Canon Margaret Crane
Rev. Lee A. Crawford
The Rev. William A. Davidson
Rev. Gary W. Eley
The Rev. Timothy C. Eberhardt
The Rev. Terence P. Gleeson
Rev. Lyle G. Hall
The Rev. Ann E. Hockridge
The Rev. Victor J. Horvath
Rev. Jean A. MacDonald
Rev. Dr. Linda M. Maloney
The Rev. John Morris
The Very Rev. Diane Nancekivell
The Rev. Sherry Osborn
The Very Reverend Kenneth W. Poppe
The Rev. Diane E. Root
The Rev. Graig F. Smith
The Rev. Elizabeth Stedman
The Rev. Virginia C. Thomas
The Rev. C. Leland Udell
The Rev. Nancy A.G. Vogele
The Rev. Canon Tanya R. Wallace
The Rev. Hal Woods
Rev. Oliver L. Yarborough
Unitarian Universalists
Rev. Meredith U. Anderson
Rev. Roddy O'Neil Cleary
Rev. Elizabeth R. Curtiss
Rev. Nancy Jay Crumbine
Rev. Jane Dwinell
Rev. Marta Flanagan
Rev. Richard A. Forcier
Rev. Brendan Hadash
Rev. Barbro Hansson
Rev. Mary T. Higgins
Rev. Pat A. Hoertdoerfer
Rev. Daniel J. Jantos
Rev. Bruce J. Johnson
Rev. Gary Kowalski
Rev. Carole Martignacco
Rev. Johanna L. Nichols
Rev. Jeanne Nieuwejaar
Rev. Olav Nieuwejaar
Rev. Marjorie Rebmann
Rev. Eleanor Rice
Rev. William C. Saunders
Rev. Paul S. Sawyer
Rev. Dr. Robert E. Senghas
Rev. Dr. Patience G. Stoddard
Rev. Telos Whitfield
Rev. Steven M. Wilson
United Methodist
Rev. Anne L. Torrance Bachmann
Rev. Mitchell Hay
Rev. Richard H. Hibbert
Rev. Robert E. Hollstrung
Rev. Barbara Lemmel
Presbyterian
Rev. Michael Brown
Rev. Edwin C. Granai
Rev. Susan E. Rambo
Rev. Rebecca S. Strader
Judaism
Rabbi Joshua Chasan
Rabbi Sheri K. Berger
Rabbi Joshua Boettinger
Unaffiliated
Rev. David W. Connor
Independent/Old Catholic
American Catholic Church of New England
Quaker
Barton Glover Friends' Meeting
Bennington Religious Society of Friends
Burlington Friends Meeting
Putney Religious Society of Friends
6 Things Clergy Can Do to Support the Freedom to Marry for Social Justice
1. Sign the Declaration of Religious Support of Civil Marriage for Same-gender Couples.
Sign the Declaration of Religious Support on behalf of your congregation or as an individual clergy member of your denomination. The Declaration provides clergy and faith communities the opportunity to demonstrate their, and/or their congregation's support for the freedom to marry as a social justice issue.
2. Ask 5 other clergy members to sign the Declaration.
We urge you to ask 5 of your fellow clergy who value the freedom for ALL Vermonters to marry as a social justice issue to sign the Declaration of Religious Support. Please download a copy of the Declaration Sign-up Form to ask your
fellow clergy to sign. The completed form can be mailed to the address listed on the form.
3. Invite a trained speaker to your congregation, interfaith group, congregation committee, or community.
Volunteers throughout the state are available to speak with your congregation, committee, interfaith group or the community at large. They can share their personal experiences about why equal marriage rights are important to them and their families. Email Robyn at field_director@vtfreetomarry.org to invite a speaker.
4. Share Voices of Vermonters with your congregation and fellow clergy.
Voices of Vermonters is a 13 minute video that captures the importance of civil marriage equality for same-gender couples and their families. Viewers hear from Vermonters around the state who share their personal stories to address the issues surrounding civil marriage equality. Feel free to invite a VFMTF representative to talk about next steps in Vermont to gain full civil marriage equality and to address questions folks may have. Request a Voices of Vermonters DVD
or email Robyn at field_director@vtfreetomarry.org to set up a Voices of Vermonters event.
5. Coordinate with VFM to organize an interfaith service or community event.
Collaborate with Vermont Freedom to Marry and other denominations to host interfaith services, vigils or other community events. Throughout the year, there are opportunities and important dates for congregations and clergy members to join in support of civil marriage equality. We encourage clergy leaders and congregations to contact Robyn Maguire to determine the optimal time to schedule a service or event or for more information about resources to assist you. Info:
field_director@vtfreetomarry.org or 802.388.2633
6. Write a letter to the editor of your local paper.
To provide a balanced religious perspective and to be a strong, vocal advocate for the freedom to marry as a social justice issue, please write a letter to the editor of your local paper. All too often, radical religious leaders and individuals use local papers to miseducate the public about this issue. Supportive clergy members have a unique opportunity to demonstrate religious support for civil marriage for same-gender couples. Write a letter to the editor today!
The Episcopal Diocese of Vermont - Task Force on Blessing Same Gender Relationships - Bishop Thomas Ely appointed a Task Force on the Blessing of Persons Living in Same Gender Relationships in September, 2003. He said, "The ministry of gay and lesbian persons, lay and clergy alike, is significant in our diocese and for that I give thanks. Likewise, it is pastorally important for us to move forward with clarity about the church's blessing of those who wish to be joined in civil unions in our congregations."
The Episcopal Diocese of Vermont Resource Page - A resource page that offers downloadable information regarding same-gender couples and faith within the Episcopal church.
Claiming the Blessings Voices of Witness - A video created by Claiming the Blessings, CLAIMING the BLESSING is an intentional collaborative ministry of leading Episcopal justice organizations to provide the church our witness as Christians, and as gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people of great faith.
Claiming the Blessing PDF - A collection of essays prepared for General Convention 2003.
UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns - A national organization that provides resources for people of faith and UCC churches on LGBT issues.
VT United Church of Christ Open and Affirming Churches - A list of Vermont Conference UCC churches that are open and affirming to welcome all people.
VT Unitarian Universalist GLBT resource page - Unitarian Universalism is very supportive of Bisexual, Gay, Lesbian, and Transgender (BGLT) people and their families, and has officially welcomed this community since 1970. This page offers resources for people of faith and UU Churches.
List of UU Churches in Vermont
Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism - RAC educates and mobilizes the American Jewish community on legislative and social concerns, advocating on issues from economic justice to civil rights to religious liberty to Israel. This link is dedicated to GLBT equal rights.
Welcoming Resources - This site offeres religious resources that support the unconditional welcome of people of all sexual orientations, gender identities & their families in the church home of their choice.
Articles of Faith - A series of commentary pieces on the intersection of faith and the struggle for inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in religion. Written by members of the National Religious Leadership Roundtable, these insightful commentaries shed light on the welcoming efforts of many faiths towards LGBT people.
National Religious Leadership Roundtable - The National Religious Roundtable is an interfaith network of leaders from pro-LGBT faith, spiritual and religious organizations that brings together people of faith who support GLBT people.
Human Rights Campaign Religion and Faith page - HRC offers several resources to clergy and communities of faith its site.
Religious Coalition for the Freedom to Marry of Massachusetts - A statewide organization of different denominations committed to preserving the right for same-sex couples to civilly marry.