What does the Church say about same-sex marriage?

Answer 1

There is a full spectrum from full acceptance to complete rejection of same-sex marriage among Christian churches, although the general trend is towards rejection.

A few Christian churches will permit their clergy to perform a same-sex wedding in the church, but most will not. Some churches will ordain clergy who are parties to a same-sex marriage, but most will not. Some churches will permit a special blessing ceremony for a same-sex couple who have married civilly, but many will not. Some churches will refuse recognize same-sex unions of any kind, but still permit same-sex couples to participate fully in the liturgy.

Some churches are generally accepting of gay persons, but only with the understanding that they are to remain celibate. Some churches exclude (excommunicate, shun, etc.) anyone who represents that they are in a relationship with someone of the same sex. Some churches exclude anyone who identifies as gay. Some churches will even exclude anyone who is suspected of being gay or lesbian.

Answer 2

It really depends on the church. Like most political and religious blends, it becomes quite murky. There are many churches, and they have many different ideas.

Some thoughts:

• There are some extreme views, such as the media heavy Westboro Baptist. They that feel that it is so wrong, that God hates the person doing it. They picket with signs that say "God hates f*gs." The ironic thing is that in Proverbs 9, it says God hates a person that stirs up discourse in the community (but that is a different topic). Luckily, there are not many churches that go as far as this.
• Some churches do feel that it is a biblical sin, and they do not agree with it or condone it. They point to verses such as Corinthians 6:9 as instructions against homosexuality. They aren't hateful about it. That is just their view. They keep with the teachings of love one another, and love the person even if they feel they are sinning.
• Other churches openly embrace gay relationships and marriage. They do not feel it is a sin at all, and even point to stories such as David and Jonathan as possibly being homosexual relationships. They even allow gay marriages in their churches.

As far as statements from high standing church officials, there are a few quotes.

Pope Frances: "The family is threatened by growing efforts on the part of some to redefine the very institution of marriage, by relativism, by the culture of the ephemeral, by a lack of openness to life. "These realities are increasingly under attack from powerful forces, which threaten to disfigure God's plan for creation."

Joel Olsteen: "I'm not for gay marriage, but I'm not for discriminating against people."

Franklin Graham: "True followers of Jesus Christ, whose salvation is based entirely upon God's Word, cannot endorse same-sex marriage, regardless of what our President, the Congress, the Supreme Court, the media or the latest Gallup poll says about the matter."

David Gushee (on same sex marriage): "I will henceforth oppose any form of discrimination against you. I will seek to stand in solidarity with you who have suffered the lash of countless Christian rejections. I will be your ally in every way I know how to be."

Answer 3

Most churches agree that The Bible actually says nothing about same sex marriage and believe that if two people love each other they should be allowed to marry. Some fanatic churches hate everybody who is different and do not support same sex marriage or many other things.