Who will accept gay marriage and who won’t

OLYMPIA — Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen’s pastor applauded her decision this week to support legalizing marriage for same-sex couples.

But even if the law changes, Pastor Daniel Sailer won’t be performing weddings any time soon at Stanwood United Methodist Church where Haugen worships.

Not because he doesn’t want to do them. To the contrary, he does, but church rules bar him from doing so.

As a result, he and several other pastors in the Pacific Northwest must live with their belief in marriage equality and their inability to make it a reality.

“It really puts us in a conflict,” Sailer said. “It is a crisis of conscience for many clergy.”

Throughout the faith community and the wedding industry, the questions of who will marry same-sex couples and where ceremonies might be held are becoming relevant as Haugen’s dramatic announcement pushed lawmakers into position to make gay marriage legal.

The state Senate could vote on a bill requested by Gov. Chris Gregoire as early as this week. It would get sent to the House where a majority of support exists. With Gregoire’s signature, the change in law would take effect June 7 unless opponents succeed in getting a referendum on the November ballot.

In that instance, weddings could begin in December if voters uphold the law.

That’s plenty of time for religious leaders and business owners to figure out how they’ll respond. In a sampling of interviews this week, it seemed pretty clear most people already know what they’ll do.

Ready to go

At Temple Beth Or in Everett, Rabbi Jessica Kessler Marshall has conducted commitment ceremonies and looks forward to officiating at weddings of gay and lesbian couples.

The temple is part of the Jewish Reform movement which supports full equality under the law for lesbians and gays, including recognition of their relationships, she said.

“Judaism holds that we are all created b’tzelem Elohim, in the image of the Eternal,” she said. “These values of equality, justice and human dignity are cherished and I am honored to officiate at same sex marriages.”

Other socially liberal religious leaders say they’ll seek counsel of their congregants on whether to allow weddings within the walls of their houses of worship.

“I, as a pastor, would be honored to bless same-sex couples in marriage,” said Pastor Jocelyn Carson of Trinity Lutheran Church in Everett.

“We will talk about it as a community,” she said. “Trinity Lutheran Church has a long history of welcoming same-sex couples and we will continue to be welcoming as we talk together about how to live out this new possibility of blessing lifelong unions as marriages.”

It’s not personal, it’s the scripture

Marriages of same-sex couples will not be conducted nor celebrated in an abundance of churches where the teachings of the Bible trump the personal beliefs of those in the pulpit.

“All people are to be loved,” said Pastor Bill Walker who is in his 18th year at First Baptist Church of Arlington. “It doesn’t mean we condone what they do if it is contrary to scriptural teaching. To us it is clear — no matter what laws they pass.”

It’s a view echoed in many conversations with those ministering in Christian and Catholic churches.

“It is not up to me. It is up to the church and the church historically recognizes a marriage is between a man and a woman blessed by God,” said the Rev. David Sommer of St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Snohomish. It is part of the international Orthodox Christian Association.

In the teachings to which they adhere, homosexuality is a sin, he said. That makes it pretty clear he would not be able to perform a wedding nor does he want to do so.

An industry view

Hosting nuptials of same-sex couples is not only an issue for the faith community.

Wedding planners, officiants and owners of rental facilities are pondering the financial benefits of an expanded customer base versus the potential cost to one’s professional reputation for involvement in the exchange of vows by gay and lesbian couples.

It’s not a dilemma at all for Gene Brown, manager of the Knights of Columbus Hall in Everett.

The group rents the hall for weddings and receptions but wouldn’t to same-sex couples for those events, he said. While the law allows them to do so as a private membership organization, the real reason is it conflicts with building’s owner — the Catholic Church.

He said it’s only been an issue once. A person inquired about their group renting it for a party and when he learned about the group, Brown declined.

“I told them, ‘Sorry, your orientation conflicts with our beliefs’,” he said.

Commodore Steve Smith of the Everett Yacht Club paused before positing an answer on whether they’d make their facilities available.

“As far as I know, it wouldn’t be an issue,” he said. “It hasn’t been a policy to turn down people for any reason.”

At French Creek Manor near Snohomish, there have been commitment ceremonies and the owners are ready for the new opportunity a gay marriage law will bring.

“I’m in the business to put weddings on,” owner Cindy Sherwood said. “Personally, I don’t think I’ll have any backlash.”

Lynn Hallstrom, owner of A Chapel on Swan’s Trail in Snohomish, said she’s given it a lot of thought and will rent it out for weddings. She knows members of her community oppose the proposed law but is confident they won’t direct their anger at her and her business.

“What I fear most is something gets online and hurts the reputation of the business,” she said. “I’m all about people’s happiness. As long as the two people aren’t hurting each other and are doing it in love, that’s fine.”

The Rev. Darrel McLaughlin of Lynnwood received his ordination online and operates as a reverend-for-hire. He said he’s searched his soul on this since he started his part-time business of officiating at weddings six years ago.

“I’ve always taken the tack that it’s not legal so it’s a moot point,” he said. “Now that we’re getting it, I don’t expect to turn down anybody.”

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Rep. Suzan DelBene, left, introduces Xichitl Torres Small, center, Undersecretary for Rural Development with the U.S. Department of Agriculture during a talk at Thomas Family Farms on Monday, April 3, 2023, in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Under new federal program, Washingtonians can file taxes for free

At a press conference Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Suzan DelBene called the Direct File program safe, easy and secure.

Former Snohomish County sheriff’s deputy Jeremie Zeller appears in court for sentencing on multiple counts of misdemeanor theft Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Snohomish County Superior Court in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ex-sheriff’s deputy sentenced to 1 week of jail time for hardware theft

Jeremie Zeller, 47, stole merchandise from Home Depot in south Everett, where he worked overtime as a security guard.

Everett
11 months later, Lake Stevens man charged in fatal Casino Road shooting

Malik Fulson is accused of shooting Joseph Haderlie to death in the parking lot at the Crystal Springs Apartments last April.

T.J. Peters testifies during the murder trial of Alan Dean at the Snohomish County Courthouse on Tuesday, March 26, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Bothell cold case trial now in jury’s hands

In court this week, the ex-boyfriend of Melissa Lee denied any role in her death. The defendant, Alan Dean, didn’t testify.

A speed camera facing west along 220th Street Southwest on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Washington law will allow traffic cams on more city, county roads

The move, led by a Snohomish County Democrat, comes as roadway deaths in the state have hit historic highs.

Mrs. Hildenbrand runs through a spelling exercise with her first grade class on the classroom’s Boxlight interactive display board funded by a pervious tech levy on Tuesday, March 19, 2024 in Marysville, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Lakewood School District’s new levy pitch: This time, it won’t raise taxes

After two levies failed, the district went back to the drawing board, with one levy that would increase taxes and another that would not.

Alex Hanson looks over sections of the Herald and sets the ink on Wednesday, March 30, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Black Press, publisher of Everett’s Daily Herald, is sold

The new owners include two Canadian private investment firms and a media company based in the southern United States.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.