Faith Leaders from Across New York Issue Statement in Support of Marriage Equality

June 14, 2011

Contact: Stefan Friedman, 646-241-7786, friedman@skdknick.com

Signatories Join 734 Additional New York State Clergy and Lay Leaders in Urging Lawmakers to Pass Marriage Legislation

Our faith traditions teach us that all people are children of God, deserving of love, dignity and equal treatment, and we, the undersigned therefore believe that gay and lesbian New Yorkers in committed, loving relationships should be able to protect each other with the critical safety-net provided by civil marriage. The performing of marriage ceremonies is one of the most important facets of our work as ministers and rabbis. We take this work extremely seriously and are grateful to have “the power vested in us” by the State of New York as we bring couples together in marriage through our civil and religious laws.

While we recognize and respect that not all faiths support marriage equality, it is important to note that the legislation in its current form states that no clergy, house of worship or denomination would be forced to perform same-sex marriages. Moreover, current New York State law already provides extremely broad protections for religious organizations that do not wish to make their facilities available to same-sex couples for marriage ceremonies, receptions or other functions. Those protections would be unchanged under the proposed legislation.

It would be a blessing if New York were to allow loving, committed gay and lesbian couples to be married. We call on the Legislature to pass this legislation for the good of these couples and for the good of our great State.

Rev. Tom Goodhue

Executive Director, Long Island Council of Churches

Rev. Freeman Palmer

Interim Regional Conference Minister, Southeast Region, New York Conference, United Church of Christ

Rev. Dr. Serene Jones

President, Union Theological Seminary

Rabbi David Ellenson

President, Hebrew Union College

Rev. Mieke Vandersall

Minister Director, Presbyterian Welcome

Rev. Dr. Dale Irvin

President, New York Theological Seminary *

Bishop Alfred Johnson

Church of the Village

The Venerable William C. Parnell

Archdeacon for Mission, The Episcopal Diocese of New York

Honey Heller and Donald C. Cutler

Co-Chairs, Reform Jewish Voice of New York State

Rev. Dr. Paul Bradley

President & CEO, Blanton-Peale Institute & Counseling Center *

Rev. Stephen H. Phelps

Senior Minister, Riverside Church

Richard Goodman

The Religious Society of Friends, Manhasset, New York

Rev. James W. Adelmann

Pastor of the Garden City Community Church, United Church of Christ

Rev Dr. Diane Samuels

Mt Sinai United Church of Christ

Rev. Dr. Robert W. Gunn

United Church of Rockville Centre

Rev. Elizabeth A. Braddon

Stony Brook Community Church, United Methodist