Sunday 20th November 2011

On Thursday evening Marylanders for Marriage Equality came to help us get involved in the effort to pass marriage equality here in Maryland. In two months the General Assembly returns to Annapolis where the Religious Freedom and Civil Marriage Equality bill will be reintroduced. Governor O’Malley has made passing marriage equality one of his legislative priorities -  but to pass the bill, there needs to be strong grass roots support. I can see a busy two months ahead.

Next week is Thanksgiving week, and we will be celebrating Thanksgiving Day at the church with our extended family. It’s always a wonderful meal and I hope you can come and join us.  The following Sunday is the first Sunday in Advent. Christmas is well and truly on the way. On Dec 3rd we host our annual Santa event at Anderson Photography, and then on Sunday December 4th we host our annual general meeting here at the church. Then we’re in the final run up to Christmas itself, with carol singing in the community, A Christmas carol, and a wonderful Christmas eve service. And besides all of these we’re now taking bids for the building work which will extend our sanctuary.

Why, in the middle of our busy lives, should we make time to support the effort to bring marriage equality to Maryland?  You may not want to get married! You may live in West Virginia or Pennsylvania! You have a busy time ahead and the last thing you need is something else to think about.

Except  - This is important. The very same rules that deny same sex partners marriage rights are the same rules that condone women being valued as less than men. Traditional marriage is the ownership of a woman by a man, and same sex marriage threatens that. Same sex marriage sends the signal that women and men are of equal worth. That one does not own the other. That women should be paid the same as men, and not the 75c on the dollar they presently earn. Same sex marriage in Maryland sends a message to West Virginia and Pennsylvania, as well as other states, that discrimination on the basis of gender is unconstitutional.

Don’t get me wrong, the other stuff is important too, but passing the marriage bill changes the world in ways that will only be fully felt in the generations to come. What we do today makes a difference, and surely making a difference is what Christ calls us to do.

If you’d like to help then talk to me, or Terry Schildt, or  visit the web site marylandersformarriageequality.org. I hope these next few months are a blessing to you. I hope that together we can make equality in Maryland a reality.                            

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