It was a big step for a couple and a giant leap for inclusiveness.
A same-sex church marriage-a first in Labrador-was performed at Carol United Church in Labrador City June 1.
"The joy in those gathered here was almost palpable," Rev. Betty Parrell, said of the marriage ceremony she performed last Monday. "People were happy. People were relaxed. It was like, 'thank goodness we have open, public permission to celebrate this'."
Parishioners at the church, she added, have known the couple for a long time and she said she was happy to perform a ceremony that acknowledged the love between two people who've loved each other for a number of years.
Education process
Parrell explained the United Church of Canada has gone through a process of education about ministering people of different sexual orientations since Canada legalized same-sex marriages in 2005.
She said the question of whether or not to perform same-sex marriages locally was put to her congregation in 2008. The Labrador West congregation voted in favour of same-sex marriages.
"What this congregation has said is, 'we celebrate you as a person in your wholeness, including your sexuality'," she explained.
"It was a first for us and a first for Labrador; that was exciting, just because you can have only one first and hopefully you'll have a lot more after that."
Should've happened
20 years ago
She recognized such marriages haven't yet become ordinary but she hopes in the future they'll be accepted as any other marriage.
"Of course it should have happened 20 years ago," she said. "But of course, human nature is such that we have to face our fears around things, particularly sexuality."
"There's been damage done in the name of sexuality and because of bigotry throughout the church's history," Rev. Parrell assessed. "So the point of naming [identifying] it, is to move way beyond that to a place of love and inclusion."
She added that it makes no rational, spiritual, or theological sense to her when people quote different books of the Bible, and say that it applies to here and now, without doing further research or understanding the context.
She believes the Bible contains stories told in metaphor sometimes to try to explain God's presence in the lives of people at the time it was written.
She acknowledged that parts of the Scriptures can be harmful if not understood in the proper context and she believes just because a Bible verse resonates with her, it doesn't mean that it will resonate with everybody else.
"Everyone has stories about people they love and care for of all sexual orientations," she said.
The commitment
She understands there are still parishioners struggling with same-sex marriage but says she is encouraged that they're able to put faces to the issue and are talking about it.
"Individuals experience God's love through relationships," she said. "So, we celebrate with people in the presence of God when they choose to commit their lives to one another and we call that marriage."
"There's no difference in understanding a heterosexual couple being married and a same-sex couple being married in terms of our understanding of marriage," she added.
She said she hopes some day this will become the norm, much like women's right to vote, and people will get rid of old attitudes, biases, prejudices, bigotry and fear.
Parrell said she's proud to be leading the Carol United Church congregation, which has moved towards a different way of thinking about God as being in their midst and his spirit working through individuals.
A not-so-traditional wedding
Svjetlana Vrbanic photo/Rev. Betty Parrell performed the first same-sex marriage in Labrador at Carol United Church, Labrador City June 1.
- Published on June 7th, 2010
- Published on July 14th, 2010
-
Svjetlana (Lana) Vrbanic
Lesbians marry at Carol United Church
It was a big step for a couple and a giant leap for inclusiveness.
A same-sex church marriage-a first in Labrador-was performed at Carol United Church in Labrador City June 1.
"The joy in those gathered here was almost palpable," Rev. Betty Parrell, said of the marriage ceremony she performed last Monday. "People were happy. People were relaxed. It was like, 'thank goodness we have open, public permission to celebrate this'."
- Number of views : 852
- Rate
- Top of the page
Comments
-
- j
- - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:32
religions have come and gone, there have been hundreds of thousands in recorded history. its pretty conceited to think that the religion your parents forced upon you is the correct one. no body knows and I assure you the pope is in the same boat, just more conceited.
-
- ted
- - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:26
i still say it over and over again the lord did not put us in this world for this to be .what happin to adam and eve.we must have a new bible out there i did not read*
-
- Agreed
- - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:23
Agreed Chris .It's similar to saying two blacks or two Muslims or two cripples married .It takes one facet of the two persons,in this case their sexuality, and suggests that was all that was joined in holy matrimony.I believe it was unintentional though because the article otherwise was very positive .Best wishes to this couple and to the very courageous and open-minded Minister Rev. Betty Parrell.
-
- Resident
- - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:19
Ted, love thy neighbour.......and those who Live in glass houses........there are so many other things to worry about than who is marrying who.
-
- To Ted
- - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:14
Poor Ted .When will you realize that there are beliefs and there are beliefs , and yours trump none of the others for they are all just faith based ?In the meantime, live your own life and let others live theirs, especially those ( gays, Muslims, atheists, etc, ) whom you believe are hell bent because unlike you they will only get one life , this earthly one if ultras- pious Christians predictions come true . You get two ; they get one.So come on be a good Christian and give a little.Where's your spirit of generosity?
-
- Chris
- - July 14th, 2010 at 11:48:11
While I am supportive of same sex marriage, and was part of the movement to bring equal rights to those throughout NL. I am not sure it is acceptable that the Aurora used the heading they chosen, I think it would have been acceptable to say, Labrador celebrates its first same sex marriage, or something along those lines.. This heading was somewhat offensive to me when I opened the website.
.jpg)
.jpg)
TED--- I read a t-shirt once it said Straight but not narrow,.. dont be narrow minded,.. Everyone has the right to love and marry whomever they love,.. times change,.. the bible was written in times when slavery was ok too,.. embrace the love they shared and choose to live how u want to live without putting judgement on others,...