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Interview: Senior Minister United Church of Christ Congregation Talks About Gay Marriage & Blessings same sex by Peter Menkin

Interview: Chief Minister of the United Church of Christ congregation on interviews Gay Marriage & Blessings of same-sex

By Peter Menkin

  Senior Minister, Reverend Matt Broadbent, Los Altos, California Foothill Congregational Church, United Church of Christ, spoke to this writer by telephone and webcam on Skype in February 2010 on same-sex marriage and Same-sex blessings. This is the first in a series of interviews with clergy different name on the subject. Two others to come are interviews with The Rt Hon. Rev. Marc Andrus of the Episcopal Church, USA (San Francisco Bay Area known as the Diocese of California) and Rabbi Stephen Pearce of Reform Temple Emanuel El, San Francisco. This writer hopes to find two people willing to speak their names, making a series of five.

1. This two part question has to do with the mission of the Church: (1) Is it mission for the United Church of Christ and your congregation to proclaim and to standardize the practice of Gay Marriage & blessings of same sex? (2) Is a question of peace and justice, and you comment on the remarks made by the editor Pilgrim Press, the Rev. Timothy G. Staveteig. I asked a question similar if the file is the mission of the UCC Church and editors noted in an email response:

a. "From the first edition of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. 's Measure of a Man in 1957, The Pilgrim Press has developed books and resources that have often addressed the court difficult and complex social issues. With our publishing operation history (since 1640), which is a gift from the United Church of Christ, The Pilgrim Press Searched voices marginalized by a dominant culture and seeks to build fully inclusive communities. "I am responding as a pastor, not not so much as a scholar. No. Not our Mission. Mission is to be a Christian church and to incarnate God for all peoples. It's all about peace and justice. It's more a question of fairness, and we expect those who are marginalized. My church is a community of upper middle class, in the middle of Silicon Valley. For most people, this is not a huge problem for them, there is a small group that is opposed. We love to day the pilgrim Church, 1620. They were the movement of separatist Puritans who sought to purify the church. These are mainly owners Store and traders, some of the rising middle class in England, who wanted to withdraw from the Church of England. Bishop John Robinson, the Pilgrims sent Road to the New World with the warning: "The Lord hath yet more truth and light to break forth from the Holy Word of God." The Presbyterian churches seeking to be open to the LGBT community are called "More Light" churches. They collect quote This Robinson. The UCC has tried to be faithful to this search for the continuation of "God's light and truth, and thereby we experienced many "firsts" in American religious life. We were one of the first religious groups opposed to slavery. We were the first to order the first-order one African American pastor, and the first to order a woman in the 19th century. In the 20th century we were the first order a openly gay minister, the Rev. William Johnson in San Carlos, UCC … We have a long tradition of pushing the edges on the peace and social justice. I want to say that we are condemned by our principles, continually asking the question: How God continually opens the Church to all people? It seems natural for us to say: "Should we be celebrating same sex marriages?  

1. Where are you on the United Church of Christ religious spectrum? Progressive, liberal, conservative? What does this mean for you?

Minister of State, the Rev. Matt Broadbent: I guess I'm somewhere in the range of liberal progressive, but my style is traditional. I tease my congregation that I am more conservative than theirs. They try to be updated, while I still sing plainchant. I love tradition.

1. Where is the San Francisco Bay Area United Church of Christ goes with the blessing of same sex marriage and gay? A national statement has been made to this?

Minister of State, the Rev. Matt Broadbent: The simple answer is yes. We trained a statement National. This is not a hierarchical church, the national organization made a statement. This is a recommendation to the churches local. He goes to the local church. Each local church must decide how they manage the recommendation. On July 4, 2005 the General Synod 25, the assembly National, they voted for a right to marriage Opportunities for All recommendation. Recommendation is my word, and that's what it means to consider supporting Rights of equal marriage for all.

1. If there is a key biblical vision that supports gay marriage and same-sex blessings, please give a biblical example and explain something to your view on the interpretation? Who else shares this sensitivity and understanding that we could know or recognize?

Minister of State, the Rev. Matt Broadbent: My point is, if you ask the question This is Jesus' answer to gay marriage or same-sex relationships. Nothing. He did not mention it at all. What happened in this discussion is people have picked up some statements by Paul, and some of the Old Testament. All have something to do with oppression, not the relationship. The passages of Scripture that guide me are the following: 1 John: 4, which says simply, God is Love. And those who love, love of God. 1 Corinthians 13 is the passing of Paul Love, holding up the relationship of love between people is the supreme value. For me, the essential Text of the Gospel is the great commandment in Matthew, Mark and Luke. And it is the reaffirmation of Jewish tradition that you are to love God and love of neighbor. It is the heart of it is what Jesus says is the heart of faith. Marriage, as such, is a social arrangement, or do not help to love God and love of neighbor. And I tell people I'm in the business of encouraging long-term relationships. This is a Healthy Way in the world. If such is the same relationship, so that's what I do. I would say that in these passages that our more conservative choice, everything is about where a person benefits from someone else. When he speaks of men who sleep with men or women with women, he speaks of Temple prostitution. It speaks of relationships that are unequal, and basically unfair. What Jesus calls always justice and equality in the United of God.

1. What book do you recommend reading that leads readers to understand your position and your statements in support Gay Same Sex Marriage & Blessing?

So when people ask me, I direct them to the Website, www.UCC.org.

1. Have you conducted a blessing of same sex and, if so, will you tell us some of the words you used? Where did you do?

Minister of State, the Rev. Matt Broadbent: I have, both in Santa Cruz, where I was for 17 years, and here in Los Altos, just a couple months ago. I wish I could have said I have done more. In Santa Cruz – he was with two women early in my ministry. I led the church in a frank and positive relationship. We did the wedding in their home, not in the sanctuary. The reason why they did this was one was an artist and the other was teaching at the University. I asked them to do when asked about marriage, "what date do you?" The other wedding was done in Los Altos at Foothills Congregational Church UCC. The couple was legally married in Vermont. What we have done in the Church is a blessing of their civil vows, we have the same sex, unbiased wedding ceremony. We worked with the couple and the ceremony was quite traditional. They said: "We want to be married, not be in a show. "What they wanted to get a sense of God's blessing on their chosen relationship. We speak of one in Los Altos. They went with the blessing, because they were already married.

1. Who are the other significant well known and respected clergy, leaders of churches of other denominations, primarily in the San Francisco Bay, and accompany you on your point of view? Do you know their faith? Is there someone with whom you spoke, you had the greatest influence?

Minister of State, Reverend Matt Broadbent: In our own denomination, it is both leaders of the United Church of Christ in the Bay Area. I know a couple of ministers who have problems with it. I really do not know of anyone else in our denomination that has a problem with Gay Marriage. There is always the Reverend Dr. Mary Susan Gast. It is conference minister in Northern California – Nevada region.

1. If There are words you recommend implementing a same-sex blessings, would you tell them. Where in the Bible that support, and if you see these as part of the Social Gospel, please Tell us something your sense of the social gospel that leads you to support this? Do you recommend some readings from the Bible to homosexual couples (man and woman, man and woman), and their civil union or relationship, or gay marriage, are there other readings or meditations on the biblical text do you recommend?

Minister of State, the Rev. Matt Broadbent: In both I have done, we all had the Bible open to interpretation. The Santa Cruz is clear that we do not use one where a woman leaves her family and cling to her husband. But the other couple, Los Altossaid [on Paul's statement], we can make this work. One of us will be the role of the husband. The Bible was for them not a problem. They discussed the issue of love and commitment and caring for each other. We have considered the argument of the Apocrypha Toby's wife holding a goat. In most discussions I had with people, most of the material was open to the public passages regularly. There was no great things to do more special readings for gay people. Everything is moving in the main flow. Hey there, we have the same needs, desires similar.

1. At what point in your life, have you started to support the purpose of this interview? Has it been since being a UCC ordained minister? Is there someone you respect in that specific do not agree with your position?

Minister of State, the Rev. Matt Broadbent: My father was a minister, and he met my mother seminar. It was the United Church of Christ. We had always been part of a liberal and progressive worship. There was a problem with gay marriage as a problem but overcame it intellectually. My father grew up in an era where it does not show much affection. Was something that I missed. There was resentment on my part that he did not tell me he loved me. I think I was 50 years he first told me he loved me. He was afraid if he showed too much affection for me and his brother, he was afraid that we would become Gay. I never knew a time when I really had a problem with the issue of gay marriage. It is a matter of being in covenant relationship. My problem is the same as in heterosexual relationships. When he becomes a sexual relationship only, it becomes satisfying our hunger, and not a relationship of care.

1. Although we have not talked about Proposition 8 in California, how would you characterize the Results of the vote said yes to deny gay marriage in the state? Is there some sort of guilt in that position in the moral or spiritual?

I think people who were so opposed to Prop. 8, seem to imply that the marriage will be devalued by the same-sex marriage, my first reaction is an insecure How are you. The point is when a relationship is based on reciprocity and trust and take care of each other, This can only strengthen our society.

1. When in faith and concern of the United Church of Christ (national and your congregation) did the tide turn toward Gay Same Sex Marriage & Blessing? Would you tell us something about your personal experience in faith and concerns the question of faith? Was this a teaching of Jesus Christ, a meditation on the Bible?

Minister of State, Reverend Matt Broadbent: It was a turbulent period when the United Church of Christ decided to include human rights recommendation of marriage, they have other conferences that have withdrawn from the United Church of Christ. Puerto Rico withdrew from the UCC Pennsylvania (Western Pennsylvania) withdrew from the UCC (several associations did that). I think there were associations of Indiana who has the same thing. In our region. Senior Minister, Reverend Matt Broadbent: My personal experience: When I cam to the Church Los Altos, 10 years ago, I was asked what will be one of your major issues? I said: No, but they need to understand that I was a debate Minister frank and positive, and that's how I would administer the Church. When the laity within the Church she even told me and everyone else, we must move forward and become an open and affirming church, I would be there to support them. There were people on this committee who thought it okay. We can probably counter it, if we block properly. During the ten years we have practiced it, and during last three years we have become an open and affirming church. We lost some members, but we won a number of young families. All said they wanted to be part of a church that has been present, they wanted their children to be reared in this type of church. I was also asked, do you make a same-sex marriage. I said: Yes, I would. If I were asked. Before, I made the request in Deacon (they are one of the sovereign body of the Church are lay leaders Foothills Congregational Church UCC). I am sure they would have said yes, but after we became an open and affirming church, we were able to do so. I turned to one of the founding members of the Church fifty years old, have you ever imagined that we would have a same-sex marriage in the Foothills. Never in my wildest dreams. Is this not perfect, "she said.

1. Have you gave a sermon on the subject and text May we see a sample of key?

Minister State, the Rev. Matt Broadbent: I tend not to beat these things into the ground. I am more of a Bible teacher, but I have used the issue as a reflection or illustration in a sermon. Several times I have used: This is why gay or lesbian or transgender people are so upset by this issue. Rather than preaching on social issues hot, I try to mix our concerns with the biblical texts. I try to create a way in which we can all talk to each other.

1. What is your sense of the community of believers, partly as a meeting and senses as a dimension of your leadership of a congregation? How is your sense of community beyond your name to the world's largest, and again you give us some biblical instruction, perhaps the Old Testament regarding the new on This theme of Gay Same Sex Marriage & Blessing?

1. I guess we have addressed the subject, but to reformulate the previous question because I think it is important to our subject, and you do not need to speak directly to the question in your answer to or the previous question it, what the Church means to you as senior minister? What is your vision, as one might say?

Minister of State, the Rev. Matt Broadbent: What I think is the Church is the body of Christ. We are called to embody the spirit Christ in the world, and we realize that the life of Christ in us in the world. We are all one body, here we are all included in the present. My vision of the Church is who understands my brothers evangelicals, Catholics and Orthodox, the whole church. What we are called to do is let us identified as an exclusive club in the world, but to show the Church as the Kingdom of God in the world. It is a very broad vision. How can I be inclusive? How can God be in the world, not only in the Church, but in creation? A keyword is to transform the word kingdom Kingdom. I think it His words, we go it confused, as if Jesus is all powerful and will judge us. He speaks of how we are all united in this relationship to another, Jesus is opening an invitation to be close to each other. It is so broad it is beyond religious identity. If God is love, God is love Absolutely.

1. In my email correspondence with the Rev. D. Schuenemeyer Michael, we discussed a series of questions and topics on contemporary issues Gay Marriage & Blessings same sex. I asked if San Francisco and California is leading missionary activity of the Church in this area, and if as a secular society is in the foreground. Do you agree with his answer, and you comment on his remarks? He said and I asked:

1. 1. What region is a leader in their responsiveness to the question: Is San Francisco?

1. 1. For the UCC, this effort is not unique to California and it is therefore difficult to say where the forefront of this movement is in our name. There are churches, pastors and lay engage both the civil and religious in many places across the country, particularly in states that have successfully achieving of marriage equality, including Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Iowa. Congregations tend to be most affected are those who have an educational process called open and affirming. This process usually leads to a local church declare publicly their acceptance and inclusion of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgender in the full life and ministry of the Church.

1. 1. Over there was also the strong commitment that marriage equality has not yet been achieved either on the ballot or in the courts, or anti where states have adopted gay marriage laws. UCC leaders, clergy and laity, have ensured that religion is progressive hearing and supported the organizing efforts that have been successful in building a movement which, despite recent setbacks ultimately successful.

1. 1. Energy tends to be greater in areas where there is a high level of legislative elections, or legal activity. This fall, the Maine will be very active and there will be many UCC churches and leaders involved in the effort to defeat their ballot initiative to repeal of marriage equality there. There is much activity in Iowa in an effort to protect the court's decision. California will also continue to be a place of business with efforts to repeal Prop. 8, from 2010 or 2012

This is a personal response from senior minister, the Rev. Matt Broadbent: He [the Reverend Michael] is quoting statements you would not think to open same-sex marriage. I grew up in New Hampshire. I came to California during the winter of 1979, I knew the California as everyone generally liberal in their social behavior. But the religious atmosphere was quite conservative in nature, particularly in the Valley and other areas. People were socially conservative in New Hampshire and have generally been religiously liberal. As a kind General Environment. So I can understand why the states of New England acceptance of homosexual marriages. I know their expectation was that they would act appropriately. In California, people do not always act appropriately, but religiously they are closed over. I think it's a strange paradox. I'm not surprised that in California they defeated the idea of same-sex marriage. Even if the California is regarded as a sort of Left Bank life. It is one of the paradoxes of life. For me personally, I struggle and have struggled with the idea of separation of church and state. Especially in Anglo American churches. We are not defined as Black churches who really get involved and take a position. They are socially liberal, but very conservative. What I am trying to do in the UCC is trying to preach values, stay to understand the core values of the Gospel, then encourage the actions of people in the community. Personally, I try lead. For example, when we became an open and affirming church, everybody knew where I was.

1. Later in my conversation E-mail the Rev. Michael, I asked the following question with his reply. Will you comment on the service of blessing, he noted and tell us if you use it or know others in the area that uses it?

1. 1. Have you service standard, or both, may I see the text?
   2. Yes. It is a non-sexist version of the Order of marriage in our book of worship.
   3. Link: Command for Marriage – an inclusive version [PDF]

i. The Rev. Michael D. Schuenemeyer is Executive health and full awareness of larger departments Church Senior Minister, Reverend Matt Broadbent: This sound format is in some so the model we operate from. And we are free to modify and adjust what we want. We're really Bottoms Up Church … independence thinking, and decisions are taken by the parishes themselves.

1. Thank you for this interview via email questions and answers. Is there anything thing that you would like to add or say?

Minister of State, the Rev. Matt Broadbent: Not at this point. I think I am on dissuaded.

Addendum: The Pilgrim Press Publisher (United Church of Christ) recommends these titles of books on Gay Marriage:

Same Sex Marriage?: Extension of marriage rights to same-sex couples is front page news, and highly contested in both church and society. This book review was written by a gay man and progressive Christian ethicist who places justice decision the heart of contemporary spirituality. In dialogue with both jurists and theologians, the author examines the strengths and weaknesses of how traditionalists marriage, supporters of same-sex marriage and LGBT (lesbians / bisexual / transgender gay /) critics of marriage analyze the issues and frame their arguments. This book offers constructive proposals for revitalizing Christian sexual ethics and advance the debate, regardless of whether the right to marry is won or lost.

Exile or Embrace: This book is a helpful guide for pastors and congregations asking questions such as:
How do we as a congregation to be in alliance with our gay members?
How will we respond to homosexuals outside the church? The first part tells the story of the Congregation of the struggle Siler and growth as she pondered whether to become openly welcoming gays and lesbians Christians.
Part Two helps leaders to identify the congregation when and how to participate in this conversation in assembly.
The third part is a study guide outlining the seven sessions to shape the conversation and congregational discernment.

God Comes Out:
"Readers will welcome this book not only for his wisdom and compassion, but also for his suggestions practices on how to initiate conversation on liberating sexual differences. Pastors especially will understand thoroughly how to preach a fully inclusive gospel can make our communities a more faithful implementation of the reign of God. Hinnant and demonstrates yet again how the preaching is above all a theological act, giving witness to justice and compassion of God. "~ Thomas H. Troeger, Yale Divinity School and the Institute of Music Sacred.

Image: (1) Portrait Rev. Matt Broadbent.

About the Author

Peter Menkin, an aspiring poet, lives in Mill Valley, CA USA (north of San Francisco). My blog: http://www.petermenkin.blogspot.com

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