Welcome to the Marriage in the Christian Tradition Website

In the midst of the 2004 Massachusetts debate about the meaning of marriage, prompted by the 4-3 decision of the Supreme Judicial Court, 30 clergy and lay members of our Conference expressed themselves in a brief statement which was communicated to the Conference Minister and Area Ministers.

Statement and Signers

There followed a meeting between 15 of the signers and the executive staff of the Conference, at which the signers were invited to engage the conversation by providing access to points of view that were underrepresented in the discussion to date. This website is an attempt to respond positively to that invitation.

This web site is created by the signers of the statement, and is representative of a variety of points of view. We agree that these points of view ought to be part of the overall discussion. However, the views represented in the various resources are those of the individual authors, and do not necessarily represent the views or opinions of all the signers.

We also care deeply about justice for gays and lesbians in the wider society and for honoring the kinship which all of us share in the Church by our common baptism. We are not of one mind on how public justice and ecclesial commonality are best implemented.

The resources to which we link on "The Meaning of Christian Marriage" reflect our oneness of mind.

Those linked to "Ecumenical Dimensions" are to assist in putting our church's discussions in the context of the wider church.

Sites and papers linked under the heading "Perspectives on Homosexuality" indicate a range of opinion on the topic that underlies the entire discussion. Being in a church committed to both unity and diversity, we believe the scope of the latter as well as the depth of the former should be given a fair hearing.

We invite your feedback and suggestions to further the discussion of this important issue. Click here to send comments or make suggestions.
Email: comments@uccmarriagediscussion.org