On May 16 the California Supreme Court ruled that it is a violation of our state constitution to deny same-sex couples the right to receive a marriage license in this state. This ruling paved the way for same-sex marriage to begin in California on June 16, the day on which I am writing this article. Religious leaders in San Diego have responded to this ruling in different ways: some have welcomed this change, others believe that we should proceed with caution, and some have said they will never perform same-sex weddings. Our own Bishop, the Rt. Rev. James Mathes, issued a statement on the ruling that you can read on the diocesan website, under the “quick links” section at the bottom of the home page. In that statement, Bishop Mathes wrote these words, “I support the Supreme Court’s decision and oppose the likely effort to amend the constitution.”

I disagree with our bishop for the reasons I outlined in the fourth week of the May Centerpoint classes on “holy relationships.” For those of you who did not attend those sessions, you can listen to all four, here on our church website, on the Sermons - Audio page. In the last talk, I discussed four reasons why I still support the traditional teaching of the Christian Church that “sexual relations ought to be limited to those between men and women who are married to one another” (Phillip Turner, Men and Women). The first is scriptural: the consistent teaching of the Bible for me is that God established marriage between a man and a woman as the only proper context for sexual relations. The second reason is traditional: the arguments for changing the traditional definition of marriage to include same-gender relationship have not persuaded most Christians, whether Anglican or not. To be a traditional church means that we continue to honor the practices of those before us unless a clear consensus for change emerges. The third is communal: our sexual behaviors and marital practices are not private and personal, but ultimately affect everyone. In the words of the Anglican priest and poet John Donne: “No man is an island, no man stands alone.” And fourth, there is a pastoral reason: because I believe that changing the definition of marriage to include same-sex relationships is disobedient to God, I also believe that doing so will bring long-term harm to individuals and to our whole society.

At present, we are forbidden by the canons (laws) of the Episcopal Church from performing same-sex weddings. Bishop Mathes has said that he will not allow them unless those canons are changed by the whole church in convention and supported by a large majority of Episcopalians in this diocese. I suspect that change will happen next year at General Convention in Anaheim, clearing the way for same-sex marriages at some Episcopal churches in the San Diego area. As for me, I will continue to hold a tradition view of marriage and will not perform same-sex weddings. I hope that will also continue to be the case here at St. Dunstan’s Church.

Fr. David Montzingo