Board of Bishops Issue Official Statement Regarding Supreme Court Ruling on Marriage Equality

Board of Bishops Issue Official Statement Regarding Supreme Court Ruling on Marriage Equality Special to The Star � June 29, 2015 Statement from the Board of Bishops of The AME Zion Church Regarding the Recent Ruling from the Supreme Court on Marriage Equality "And may you have the power to understand, as all God�s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God.� (Eph. 3:18,19) In the aftermath of the ruling by the United States Supreme Court which grants the right to marry to all citizens including same-sex couples; it is necessary for us to reaffirm for some, and clarify to others the position of The AME Zion Church on the issue of human sexuality and marriage. God made humans to live our lives holistically and fully. Our sexuality is integral to who we are, however, it is not the totality of who we are. Because how we see ourselves matters, we do not believe that we can limit ourselves to descriptions that define human beings merely by sexual identity. We are - all of us - loved as God�s precious creation, bearers of God�s image. We recognize that much injury and pain has been caused by the sometimes caustic language used to describe children of God who deserved to be valued and treated justly. As "The Freedom Church" we cannot condone injustice against any of our fellow humans regardless of their religion, ethnicity, or sexual preferences. Social justice is a part of our spiritual DNA as we continue our more than 200 year struggle for the recognition of the full, albeit flawed, humanity of us all. With sincere hearts of contrition, we must confess an unhealthy and often hypocritical approach to human sexuality. The church has often engaged in labeling and ostracizing instead of loving and welcoming. There are no "big" vs. "little" sins. And "since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy" (2 Corinthians 4:1), we do not presume to deny this same grace and mercy we have received and from which we have all benefited to anyone. All humanity, in light of our shared brokenness, stands in need of God's radical and amazing grace. America is a multicultural, democratic republic with diverse religious, non-religious, and political perspectives, all of which must respected and not judged unfairly. Many voices and viewpoints clamor to be heard, and democracy guarantees them that right. As such, we insist that our voices, informed by our faith, be included and respected in the public square in a manner that protects human rights in a pluralistic society. The Supreme Court interprets the U.S. Constitution and that interpretation becomes the law of the land. We accept and respect that reality; for us however, there remains an authority higher than the Constitution and it is our conviction that divine law must guide our position and stance as the church of God. It is our task, as your Chief Pastors, to accept the weighty responsibility, in the interim of the General Conference, to state the official position of The AME Zion Church. Our position is shaped in light of the fact that Christian theology draws upon four sources: 1) Scripture, as our privileged source of authority, 2) Tradition, 3) Reason, and 4) Experience. This understanding, upon which we base our theology, is the synthesis of all these, and each acts as a "check and balance" of the other. The position of your Board of Bishops is not an attempt to win a debate, be it sociological or political; nor is it designed to impose our view upon others, demeaning those who have thoughtful opinions that differ from ours. It is, however, the stance of our Church; and as such, it is incumbent upon all of our clergy and lay leadership to conduct themselves, and ensure that our church facilities are used, consistent with this position. We continue to affirm as consistent with our scriptural and Christian tradition the understanding of marriage as being a sacred covenant between one man and one woman. While we acknowledge that each of us as Christians often fall short of that ideal, and that even as norms and standards evolve over time; it is not for us to negotiate the teachings of scripture to our proclivities, but to aspire to the high values to which we believe scripture invites us all. We call upon Christians everywhere, and especially across the AME Zion Church, to live our faith grounded in the ethic of love. We strongly encourage our members to foster a spirit of radical hospitality in our congregations, welcoming all persons with the amazing love of Christ. As followers of Jesus, we must model authentic love, grace, and integrity in all our relationships, speaking the truth in love to one another. May we all be both humbled and encouraged by the words of the Apostle Paul; "Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. Three things will last forever� faith, hope, and love�and the greatest of these is love.� (1 Corinthians 13:12&13) Your Servants in Christ; The Board of Bishops of The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church The Right Reverend George E. Battle, Jr. - Senior Bishop and President The Right Reverend Richard K. Thompson The Right Reverend Roy A. Holmes (Deceased) The Right Reverend Louis Hunter, Sr. The Right Reverend James E. McCoy (Deceased) The Right Reverend Kenneth Monroe The Right Reverend Darryl B. Starnes, Sr. The Right Reverend Dennis V. Proctor The Right Reverend Mildred B. Hines The Right Reverend W. Darin Moore The Right Reverend Seth O. Lartey The Right Reverend Michael A. Frencher The Right Reverend Joseph Johnson (Retired) The Right Reverend Marshall H. Strickland (Retired) The Right Reverend Nathaniel Jarrett (Retired) The Right Reverend George W. C. Walker, Sr. (Retired) The Right Reverend S. Chuka Ekemam (Retired) The Right Reverend Warren M. Brown (Retired)

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