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Five same-sex couples wed in Ashland church

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 11:17 AM PST

By The Associated Press

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ASHLAND, Ore. — Clergy members at an Ashland church performed marriage ceremonies for five same-sex couples, even though Oregon doesn't recognize the marriages as legal.

The Rev. Pam Shepherd and three other clergy members who performed the ceremonies Saturday at the First Congregational United Church of Christ have pledged not to sign marriage licenses for any couple, gay or straight, until they can sign the licenses for all.

They say they'll let the state worry about the civil side of the religious ceremonies they held Saturday.

Lisa Spencer and Karen Wennlund were among the couples. They say the day was as much about the couples' commitment to God, their communities and each other as it was about making a political statement.

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Common Sense 24 wrote on Jan 13, 2009 12:22 PM:

" They want to play politics? Revoke their tax status. "

saturos wrote on Jan 13, 2009 12:38 PM:

" That's logical isn't it Common Sense 24... Nice judgement there... Let them stand up for what they believe in. "

Frugal in Kelso wrote on Jan 13, 2009 12:59 PM:

" In that case, Common Sense 24, any church that participates in any form of politics should lose their tax status as well. Considering how many preachers are preaching politics from the pulpit, that could certainly help increase funding for cash-strapped states and local governments! "

disappointedinthistown wrote on Jan 13, 2009 2:49 PM:

" I agree with keeping the line between church and state very well defined. I was offended at a service last year when the minister/pastor/whatever read a letter from the "head" minister/pastor/whatever pleading its followers to vote against the measure on gay marriage. I think churches should not publicly counsel people on how to act politically. As individuals church leaders and members have a right to encourage people, but not as a congregation from the alter. If a church leader has the ability to sign marriage licenses, they need to do their duty and not make political statements through their position. They need to do it as an individual, not as a representative of a church. "

Cowlitz1 wrote on Jan 13, 2009 3:41 PM:

" They did not sign the marriage licenses, therefore, the members of the clergy involved in this ceremony did not abuse their power. However, the clergy is allowed to preach their version of the word of God. If their understanding of that word includes allowing homosexuals to recognize a union in front of their diety, there is absolutely no reason to prevent that. It will not be a legal union, as the state does no recognize it and the license isn't signed. Thus, it is a religious union. Correct me if I'm wrong, but seperation of church and state allows the church to handle religion and the state to handle the governing. That is precisely what is happening here and in no way does this infringe upon the ideal of "seperation of church and state." "

El Gabilon wrote on Jan 13, 2009 4:49 PM:

" We have said it before. "Marriage" is a religious affair. "Civil Union" a state affair. Every one who files a license to join in wedlock and a cermony is performed by a justice of the peace is not married, rather has been joined in a civil union. If the same couple then appears in a church and a ceremony is performed by a minister, priest, etc., it is a marriage...although if they first go to the church, then both a civil union and a marriage has been granted. The Catholic church considers any Catholic who engages in a Civil Union, NOT MARRIED unless they have been married in a Catholic Church. The decision to MARRY someone is a decision made by the CHURCH(S) not the state. Thus a couple have if they wish engage in a CIVIL UNION one day and the next engage in a MARRIAGE CEREMONY the next.
It is unconstitutional for the state not to allow Gay couples the right to a civil union, but not unconstitutional for a church to refuse to marry a gay couple. "

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