Local church supports Supreme Court's decision on same sex marriage
CARY, N.C. (WTVD) -- As the nation continues to debate the Supreme Court's ruling recognizing same sex marriages, many church services decided to join the conversation on Sunday morning.
While the majority of opponents cite religious reasons for disagreeing with the decision, there are those who say there's room for same sex couples within the church.
Reverend Chris Furr is a pastor at Covenant Christian Church in Cary. The church is a Protestant, progressive church that openly welcomes members of the LGBT community.
So, when news of the Supreme Court's decision regarding same sex marriage broke this past week, Furr had a reaction that was different from some other church leaders.
"I think my first reaction was just relief for the couples in our church who were married and were worried and had to be concerned about the legality of their marriage and would it be recognized from state to state," shared Furr.
Currently, the church has several same sex couples, and many who support their unions.
"Actually I was thrilled, I thought, 'it's been a long time coming.' I don't think we have the right to say who someone can love," said church member Robin Miller.
While Furr admits there might be those even in his own congregation who don't share the same views, they still practice respect for other's beliefs. That's something he hopes the Christian community will embrace.
"You hear the differences of opinion and belief, and there's a lot of hard feelings on either side," Furr explained. "And we have a lot of work to do to overcome that and become one church."
That might prove difficult with such a difference of opinion on the subject. For example, Bishop Michael Burbidge released this statement, saying, in part:
"The true definition of marriage cannot be redefined by courts-it remains the permanent union of one man and one woman, oriented to the procreation and raising of children. The Catholic Church, along with many other Christian and religious traditions, will continue our work with regard to this true definition of marriage."
Furr believes you can be a Christian and still support same sex marriage.
"I've come to think that Christ compels me to love my neighbor as I would love myself. And I look around at the beautiful people within this church who happen to love someone who is of the same sex, and I recognize their love isn't all that different from the love I have for my own wife."
Read Bishop Burbidge's entire statement below:
The true definition of marriage cannot be redefined by courts-it remains the permanent union of one man and one woman, oriented to the procreation and raising of children. The Catholic Church, along with many other Christian and religious traditions, will continue our work with regard to this true definition of marriage and to strengthen the moral basis for all such relationships. As Catholics, we are called to never compromise the beliefs that we treasure and celebrate, while always respecting and loving one another other as God's sons and daughters.
It is important to note that the majority opinion of the Supreme Court acknowledged that people of faith may continue to advocate, with the utmost sincerity and conviction, that by Divine precepts, same-sex marriage should not be condoned. Furthermore, the Supreme Court reaffirmed that the First Amendment of the Constitution ensures that the Church is to be given proper protection as it seeks to teach tenets about the family structure which have long been revered.
As the impact of today's Supreme Court decision will continue to be discussed and debated, we are also reminded that as members of God's holy family, we are to treat and engage one another in mutual and lasting respect.
