UCC TO ENDORSE GAY MARRIAGE?

The United Church of Christ is considering endorsing same-sex marriage.

My father-in-law was, and several good friends are, members of the UCC, and I always had the impression that it was a particularly conservative denomination, perhaps because they don't as a rule use musical instruments in their services. But apparently, the same goals of "(1) de-emphasizing denominational differences and being “Christians only,” (2) looking to the Bible only, instead of denominational manuals, to establish policy for worship and Christian living, and (3) attempting to restore the spirit and simple practices of Christianity depicted in the New Testament" that discourage the use of musical instruments have also led them to a leadership position among denominations in the area of love and tolerance:

But the church's support for gays and lesbians is not new. In the early 1970s, the church became the first major Christian body to ordain an openly gay minister. It also established a gay caucus.

Twenty years ago, the church declared itself to be ''open and affirming" of gays and lesbians, and since then, nearly 600 congregations have independently done the same.