Area churches are divided on same-sex marriage ban
By John Canalis, Staff Writer
Press-Telegram, Long Beach, California
LONG BEACH - Rick McArdle, a self-proclaimed "street evangelist," disagrees that Proposition 8 would tread on the civil rights of same-sex couples.
The member of Parkcrest Community Church in East Long Beach supports the Nov. 4 ballot measure that would ban gay marriage by amending the state Constitution.
Just as they interpret Scriptures differently, Long Beach-area churches are not uniformly supportive of Proposition 8.
"God loves all people, and we think all relationships of committed love between people are good," said the Rev. Jerald Stinson of First Congregational Church in downtown Long Beach. "We have, for many years, done gay weddings, just without the license, and blessed those relationships."
Stinson said about 40 percent of his 500 members are gay, and that the church has taken a strong No-on-8 stance.
full article
Press-Telegram, Long Beach, California
LONG BEACH - Rick McArdle, a self-proclaimed "street evangelist," disagrees that Proposition 8 would tread on the civil rights of same-sex couples.
The member of Parkcrest Community Church in East Long Beach supports the Nov. 4 ballot measure that would ban gay marriage by amending the state Constitution.
Just as they interpret Scriptures differently, Long Beach-area churches are not uniformly supportive of Proposition 8.
"God loves all people, and we think all relationships of committed love between people are good," said the Rev. Jerald Stinson of First Congregational Church in downtown Long Beach. "We have, for many years, done gay weddings, just without the license, and blessed those relationships."
Stinson said about 40 percent of his 500 members are gay, and that the church has taken a strong No-on-8 stance.
full article
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