Same-sex marriage is now the law of the land, but that holds no bearing on individual religious institutions — they can marry whom they choose within their walls.
The Dispatch contacted churches of various denominations and faiths in the Golden Triangle last week to see who they will and won’t marry in their sanctuaries.
Rev. Rayfield Evins Jr. of the Southside Memorial Baptist said it is against the church doctrine to marry a same-sex couple.
“The trend that we see in our society — gay marriage — is not shocking,” Evins said. “It should have been expected in accordance to the logic and reason of the world. Society has made the ability of homosexuals to marry a civil rights issue. But since when has sexuality been a civil rights issue?”
Evins said that while consenting adults are welcome to do whatever they chose, he feels scripture tells him otherwise.
“According to the bible, marriage was ordained by God,” he said. “Therefore, God and not man or the Supreme Court governs what marriages should be supported by the church. As a pastor, I cannot support same-sex marriage.”
He also pointed out that he cannot support a marriage “between a Christian and a non-Christian.”
Seth Oppenheimer, the rabbinical student who presides over congregation B’nai Israel in Columbus, interprets The Bible in a different way. He said he would preside over a ceremony for a same-sex couple in his Temple.
“If I had a same-sex couple who went through the proper pre-marital counseling with me, then of course I would marry them,” Oppenheimer said.
He told The Dispatch he addressed his congregation about same-sex marriage following the Supreme Court decision, which made same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states.
“We are commanded by the Torah to treat people fairly and justly,” Oppenheimer said.
He advised his Temple to connect that call to the U.S. Supreme Court decision and said that afterward he received positive feedback.
Dr. Shawn Parker, senior pastor at First Baptist Church in Columbus, said thoughts about same-sex marriage have not changed within the Baptist church.
“It’s not something that we are considering doing at this time,” Parker, who serves a congregation of more than 1,000 in downtown Columbus, said.
Jody Gurley, senior pastor at First Assembly of God in Columbus, said his denomination’s doctrine forbids same-sex marriage.
“I know for a fact that homosexuals, or people struggling with that, have attended our church, and I have no problem with that,” Gurley said. “We love them the same.”
The United Methodist Church also will not be officiating any same-sex unions. First United Methodist associate pastor Tony Proctor said his congregation could have its credentials removed by the higher church body if they did.
“There has been a changing of sorts within the church,” he said of attitudes toward same-sex marriage.
Proctor has been an ordained pastor for 33 years, the last 13 of which have been spent in Columbus. He said while the issue does come up at the United Methodist General Conference, the official policy remains to not conduct same-sex marriages within the church.
The Episcopal Church made national headlines last week when it’s leaders said the denomination would be willing to conduct same-sex marriages. Individual congregations are left to decide for themselves whether to conduct the services or not. Rev. Anne Harris of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Columbus is out of county on mission trip currently and could not be reached for comment. Episcopal leaders in Starkville did not reply to Dispatch messages by press time.
Circuit clerk offices in Lowndes, Clay and Oktibbeha counties issued one same-sex marriage license last week.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 30 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.