It is a practice that undercuts the foundation of our faith in the God who created all in the divine image. The ban against Holy Unions by the United Methodist denomination is nothing less than blasphemous. A second assumption is that it is appropriate and even a privilege for the church to celebrate covenantal relationships for couples. Such covenants whether in legal wedding or extra-legal Holy Union, whether for gay or straight couples are declarations of relationship of individuals to one another, of a couple to a congregation, and of all of us to God and God s world.
Straight couples have a myriad of options for their celebration.
Gay couples do not. As a short-term strategy, the decision for a moratorium on all services is one that I could support. As an ongoing posture it presents serious problems. A fourth assumption is that the church sanctuary is symbolic as well as real space. It is not the only place where worship may take place, but it is a place where faithful worship must not be denied.