 |
 |
| Rev. James Wilson of New Bethel Baptist Church said he does not
care how the District recognizes gay couples, so long as it is not called marriage.
|
|
|
| | |
| |
|
|
| | |
HOME > NEWS > LOCAL
By: LOU CHIBBARO JR. COMMENTS
 
continued...
black churches will come out strongly against
same-sex marriage and that the black community as a whole would vote in favor
of an initiative banning gay marriage.
“But at the same time, I feel the community would be more supportive
of same-sex unions and equal rights and equal benefits for same-sex couples,”
Stallings said.
Other local ministers said at least some black churches would decline to join
a bandwagon in support of an initiative to ban gay marriage.
“Our church supports the union of gays and lesbians,” said the
Rev. Rebecca West, assistant pastor of Plymouth Congregational Church of Christ
on North Capitol Street.
“We’re like any other church,” she said. “There are
mixed emotions about gays and lesbians. I firmly believe we are all children
of God and we are created in the image of God,” she said, adding that
she would oppose an initiative seeking to ban same-sex marriage.
Members of Christ Church on Capitol Hill, an Episcopal congregation, have said
their church welcomes gay men and lesbians and would most likely take a stand
against a ballot initiative banning same-sex marriage.
Although many D.C. churches are expected to support a gay marriage ban in D.C.,
Rev. Wilson, the assistant pastor at New Bethel Baptist Church, suggest he personally
is ambivalent over the issue, even though he opposes gay marriage on religious
grounds.
Wilson’s view is considered important because the Rev. Walter Fauntroy,
the pastor of New Bethel, is among the national leaders of an effort to pass
a federal marriage amendment seeking to ban gay marriage. Fauntroy could not
be reached for comment by press time to determine his view on a D.C. marriage
ban initiative.
“I can’t speak for the church,” Wilson said. “But for
me, I am not interested in fighting the gay people and what they want for themselves.
I fight for the higher authority.”
Added Wilson, “I don’t think you can legislate what people do morally.
No laws we have passed have stopped people from engaging in adultery. I advocate
that people come to grips with the fact that they are human beings who must
answer to a higher authority,” he said.
“If the law says that Joe can live with Moe and they have a right to
the legal benefits of living together, that’s fine. I’m just not
in favor of the term marriage being used.”
Lou Chibbaro Jr. can be reached at lchibbaro@washblade.com.
| 
