Jonathan LeMaster-Smith

With the passing of Calendar Item 535, we have completed our work on revising The Social Principles to be more reflective of our global denomination and more rooted in historical and biblical tradition.

This item includes the revision of the definition of marriage and human sexuality. We now have two different definitions of marriage to be interpreted in context. The new ¶161.D. reads: Within the church, we affirm marriage as a sacred lifelong covenant that brings two people of faith, an adult man and woman of consenting age or two adult persons of consenting age into union with one another…

This “double barreled” definition was brought forth by a non-US delegate to create a space for people with differing beliefs and different local and federal laws. Therefore, we now allow for different expressions of marriage for the diverse contexts in which we all live.

Again, no one is forcing a pastor to perform a marriage they do not want to perform, no one is forcing a church to hold a wedding it does not agree with, and no one is forcing you to agree with either definition (as this is not church law).

This feels right because because of our global nature, our willingness to be creative and connecting.