On July 4, 2005, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ overwhelmingly passed a resolution in support of equal marriage rights for all people, regardless of gender. It marks the first time that one of the nation’s mainline churches has expressed support of marriages for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons.
General Minister and President, the Rev. John H. Thomas “acknowledged that it was not lost on the gathering that this historic stand was taken on the nation’s Independence Day.
‘On this July Fourth the General Synod of the United Church of Christ has acted courageously to declare freedom, affirming marriage equality, affirming the civil rights of same gender couples to have their relationships recognized as marriages by the state, and encouraging our local churches to celebrate and bless those marriages,’ he said.”
Read the UCC release from the General Synod.