Faith Declaration of Support for Freedom to Marry

October 14, 2011

Faith Leader’s Declaration of Support of the Freedom to Marry

We are Oregon & Washington clergy and religious leaders of many faiths, traditions, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations and gender identities. We represent religious institutions, organizations, and movements throughout our state.

We declare that our faith calls us to affirm civil marriage equality for loving same-sex couples. We come from different political parties and philosophies and now lift our voices in unity to speak a faithful word for freedom and equality.

Our religious traditions and scriptures teach us that wherever love is present, God is also present. One of God’s greatest gifts to us is our human capacity to love one another. The ability of two people to enter into relationships and form families of love and care is one expression of this gift. It is holy and good. We therefore affirm the right of loving same-gender couples to legally enter into such relationships on an equal basis with loving heterosexual couples.

We recognize that there are principled differences on this issue within the religious community. We affirm that the state should not require any religious group to officiate at, or bless, same-gender marriages. However, the state also should not favor the convictions of one religious group over another by denying individuals their fundamental civil right to marry whom they love. Civil marriage is a civil right. Whether a religious authority chooses to bless the marriage is a separate matter and not required by law.

God is love and love is for everyone. In this spirit we raise our voices in the united stand for the freedom to marry.

signed by:

Congregations and communities of faith:
Community of Welcoming Congregations
Ainsworth United Church of Christ, Portland
Metropolitan Community Church, Portland
First Congregational United Church of Christ, Salem
Christ the Healer United Church of Christ, Portland
University Park United Methodist Church, Portland
Temple Beth Israel, Eugene
P’nai Or, Portland
Interfaith Spiritual Center, Portland
Wy’East Unitarian Universalist Church, Portland
Clackamas United Church of Christ, Milwaukie
Freedom Friends Church, Salem
Sister Spirit, Portland
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Portland
Metanoia Peace Community, Portland
Kehillah Hadashah, Portland
Kairos Milwaukie United Church of Christ, Milwaukie
New Thought Center for Spiritual Living, Lake Oswego
Sophia Christi Catholic Community, Eugene
Sophia Christi Catholic Community, Portland
Journey Catholic Community, Portland
First Unitarian Church, Portland
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Salem, Salem
Unity of Portland, Portland

Faith Leaders
The Rev. Tara Wilkins, United Church of Christ Gresham
Rabbi James Greene, Temple Beth Sholom Salem
The Rev. Anne Moore, St. Hilda’s Episcopal Church, Monmouth
The Rev. David Alexander, New Thought Center for Spiritual Living Portland
The Rev. Michael Powell Morningside United Methodist Church Salem
The Rev. Caroline Zaworski, United Church of Christ Corvallis
The Rev. L. D. Wood-Hull, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church Portland
The Rev. Ruth Broeski, Roman Catholic Portland
The Rev. Gabrielle Chavez, First Congregational United Church of Christ/Christ the Healer UCC Salem
The Rev. Laurie Miller Vischer, Presbyterian Church (USA) Portland
Rick Seifert, Clerk, Multnomah Monthly Meeting (Quakers) Portland
The Rev. Dr. Jeanne Knepper, University Park United Methodist Church Portland
The Rev. Carol Brown, United Methodist Church
Rabbi Boris Dolin, Associate Rabbi, Temple Beth Israel Eugene
Rabbi Yitzhak Husbands-Hankin, Temple Beth Israel Eugene
The Rev. Chuck Currie, United Church of Christ Portland
Rabbi Debra Kolodny, P’nai Or Portland
The Rev. David Bean, Cherry Park United Methodist Church Portland
Bishop Michael Hanley, Episcopal Diocese of Oregon
The Rev. Lynne Smouse Lopez, Ainsworth United Church of Christ Portland
The Rev. Warren Light Director and Campus Minister Eugene
Rabbi David Kominsky, Kehillah Hadashah, Portland
The Rev. Patti Pomerantz, Unitarian Universalist Portland
The Rev. Jennifer Brownell, Hillsdale United Church of Christ Portland
The Rev. Marcia Standard, Wy’East Unitarian Universalist Church Portland
The Rev. Denise Andersen, Clackamas United Church of Christ Milwaukie
The Rev. Jennie Ott, Lake Oswego United Church of Christ Lake Oswego
The Rev. Cecil Prescod, Ainsworth United Church of Christ Portland
Eugene Norcross-Renner, Clerk, Lower Columbia Religious Society of Friends Seaview
The Rev. William Sinkford, First Unitarian Church Portland
The Rev. Dr. Cameron Sharp, Chaplin, United Church of Christ Portland
The Rev. Dr. Frodo Okulam, SisterSpirit Portland
The Rev. Dr. Don Eck, Salem Spirit of Life Salem
The Rev. Toni Tortorilla, Sophia Christi Catholic Community Portland, Eugene
The Rev. Cythinia Worthen, Unitarian Universalist Church Redmond
The Rev. Dennis Parker, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Portland
Fr. Jack Cunningham, Kirk of St. Michael
The Rev. David Weekley, Sellwood and Capitol Hill United Methodist Church Portland
The Rev. Karen Crooch, United Methodist Church Salem
Pastor John Schwiebert, Metanoia Peace Community United Methodist Church Portland
Novice Monk Sylvan Genko Rainwater, Dharm Rain Zen Center Portland
The Rev. Dr. Forster Freeman, Presbyterian Church (USA)/United Church of Christ
Intern Judy Zimmerman, Unitarian Universalist Church Salem
The Rev. Melanie Oommen, First United Church of Christ Eugene
The Rev. Rick Skidmore Kairos, Milwaukie United Church of Christ Milwaukie
The Rev. Nathan Meckley, Metropolitan Community Church Portland
The Rev. Lisa Hoefner, Camp and Retreat Ministries, United Methodist Church Portland
The Rev. Dr. Walter John Boris, Conference Minister United Church of Christ Portland
Rabbi Michael Cahana, Congregation Beth Israel Portland
Pastor A.C. Caldwell, Journey Catholic Community Portland
Pastor Sam Gioia, Journey Catholic Community Portland
The Rev. Rick Davis, Unitarian Universalist Church Salem
The Rev. Laurie Larson Caeser, Evangelical Lutheran Church of America Beaverton
The Rev. Casey Moffett-Chaney, New Thought Portland
The Rev. Berdell Moffett-Chaney, New Thought Portland
The Rev. Karen Wood, United Church of Christ Salem
The Rev. Tom Disrud, First Unitarian Church Portland
The Rev. Lisa Davis, Unity of Portland Portland
The Rev. Jim Parr Philipson, First United Methodist Church Corvallis
The Rev. Bonnie Parr Philipson, First United Methodist Church Corvallis
The Rev. Heather Starr, Unitarian Universalists of Central Oregon Bend
The Rev. Don Frueh Parkrose, United Church of Christ Portland
The Rev. Michelle Manicke, Central Lutheran Church Portland
The Rev. Jennifer Yocum, Forest Grove United Church of Christ Portland
The Rev. Kerby Lauderdale, Peace Church of the Brethren Portland
The Rev. Peg Pfab, Southminster Presbyterian Church Beaverton
The Rev. Anton DeWet, First Congregational United Church of Christ Portland
The Rev. Canon Nathan LeRud, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Portland
The Very Rev. William Lupfer, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Portland
The Rev. Canon Catherine Nichols, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral Portland
Pastor Laurel Hess Lyceam of Trees Vancouver
The Rev. Elizabeth Winslea, Presbyterian Church (USA) Portland
The Rev. Dana Kathleen Johnson, Lay Leader, Morningside United Methodist Church Salem
Mike Johnson, Webmaster, Morningside United Methodist Church Salem
Worsnop Atkinson Memorial Church, Unitarian Universalist Oregon City
Shirley Sturgill, Pastoral Relations, Medford United Church of Christ Medford
Rich Rhode, Just Peace Comm., Medford United Church of Christ Medford
Andy McQuery, Diocesan Organizer, Integrity USA – Episocpal Diocese of Oregon Portland
Hank Hadaway, Vice Moderator, Wy’East Unitarian Universalist Church Portland
Liana Aburto Board Moderator Wy’East Unitarian Universalist Church Portland
Christina Robertson, Ordained Elder, Presbyterian Church (USA) Portland
Dr. Eunice Schroeder, Spiritual Director, Interfaith Spiritual Center Portland
Oralee Stiles, Spiritual Director, Interfaith Spiritual Center Portland
Paula Franck, Spiritual Director, Interfaith Spiritual Center Portland
Melissa Arnold, Diocesan, Delegate St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Portland
Aleita Hass-Holcombe, Just Peace Comm., First Congregational United Church of Christ Corvallis
Michael Moffitt, Mission Comm. First Congregational United Church of Christ Eugene
Jerry Koch, Synod Council Oregon Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
Christine Ruddy, Operations Coordinator, New Thought Center for Spiritual Living Lake Oswego
Shirley Johnson, Moderator, Zion United Church of Christ Gresham
Don Johnson, Justice & Witness Team, Zion United Church of Christ Gresham
Alison Hilber, Practioner, New Thought Center for Spiritual Living Lake Oswego
Dr. Marcia Shaw, Board Member, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Corvallis
Tim Ditch, Director of Music/Administration, Hillsdale United Church of Christ Portland
Dr. Michael Adee, Executive Director, More Light Presbyterians
Sydney Baer, Executive Director, Congregation Beth Israel Portland
Sue Hamilton-Flory, Moderator, All People’s United Church of Christ Bend/Redmond
Joni Plotkin, Administrator Beit Am Corvallis
Babs Eggleston, United Methodist Church Grants Pass
Nancy Hesselman, Rose City Park United Methodist Church Portland
Irwin Noparstak, Jewish Eugene
David White, United Methodist Church Portland
Lisa Baggia, United Methodist Church Sherwood
Andy Belcher, United Methodist Church
Marilyn Belcher, United Methodist Church
Lucinda Hughes, United Methodist Church
Peggy Hughes, United Methodist Church
Ronnie Egger, United Methodist Church Eugene
Deborah Maria, United Methodist Church
Anne Seelye, St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Portland
Joyce Liljehom, First Congregational United Church of Christ Portland
Ted Liljehom, First Congregational United Church of Christ Portland
Korin Leman, Augustana Lutheran Church Portland
Pat Pennock, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Corvallis
Lew Pennock, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Corvallis
Gwen Gwilym, United Church of Christ Eugene
Carole Isaacks, Ainsworth United Church of Christ Portland
Ron Jantzen, Atonement Lutheran Church Newport
Deborah Weekley, Oregon Idaho Reconciling United Methodists Portland
Sheila Smith, Unitarian Universalist Fellowship Corvallis
Ali McIntyre, New Thought Center for Spiritual Living Lake Oswego
Fran Davis, All People’s United Church of Christ Bend/Redmond
Dean Flory, All People’s United Church of Christ Bend/Redmond
Liz Douville, All People’s United Church of Christ Bend/Redmond
Pris Hardin, All People’s United Church of Christ Terrebonne
Bill Hardin, All People’s United Church of Christ Terrebonne
Miles Hutchins, All People’s United Church of Christ Bend/Redmond
Mike Lovely, All People’s United Church of Christ Bend/Redmond
Kymberli Colbourne, All People’s United Church of Christ Bend/Redmond
Gloria Olsen, All People’s United Church of Christ Bend/Redmond
Millie Whately, All People’s United Church of Christ Bend/Redmond
Gina Anderson, All People’s United Church of Christ Bend/Redmond
Judy Morgan, All People’s United Church of Christ Bend/Redmond
Barbara Bilyeu, All People’s United Church of Christ Bend/Redmond
Kay (KD), Novak Burnett, West Hills Friends Church Portland
Jan Nelson, Morningside United Methodist Church Portland
Ofelia Bullock, Grove Tor Bjorn Portland
Marcos Roberto Domingues, Integrity Portland Portland
William Seelye, MCC Portland/Episcopal Portland
Terry Milner, St. Michael & All Angels Portland
Pachez Loskill, Jewish Portland
Vivian Hayash, Central Lutheran Church Portland
Vicky Charleston, Central Lutheran Church Portland
Karen Jolly, Central Lutheran Church Portland
Jan Erickson, Mission of the Atonement Beaverton
Catherine Newman, Mission of the Atonement Beaverton
Paul Jolly, Central Lutheran Church Portland

To have your name or congregation added to this list, contact info@lovecommitmentmarriage.org