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Minute on Marriage Equality to Be Considered at August Meeting for Business

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In December of 2014, Ministry and Counsel was charged with finding a way for Friends at West Newton to discuss marriage equality. It was felt that the time was long passed for us to do so, since the issue was important both in our civic life as Friends, as followers of Jesus, and members of Western Yearly Meeting.

We undertook this discussion in an atmosphere of listening and learning from each other in a series of three facilitated adult Sunday School classes. The result was a potential minute that was to be seasoned by Ministry and Counsel and shared with our non-resident members to get their input.

Ministry and Counsel now feels, after communication with our non-resident members and months of seasoning, that the time is now right for us to take action. The following minute will be on the agenda for the August 16th Monthly Meeting for Worship with Attention to Business.

Proposed Minute on Marriage

West Newton Friends, after a season of discerning together, unites in the following as our understanding of God's will for us at this time:

Any couple, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identification, in a committed relationship that wishes to be married under the care of West Newton Friends Meeting will, along with West Newton Friends Meeting, follow the process outlined in Faith and Practice of Western Yearly Meeting of Friends Church (2005 edition).

Report Intentions: The couple shall report their intentions to the West Newton Friends Meeting.

Committee Appointed: West Newton Friends Meeting shall appoint a committee that shall make inquiry as to the qualifications of the parties for marriage, such as their clearness from other engagements, the consent of parents or guardians in the case of minors, and suitable provisions for the rights of children by a previous marriage, if there are such. The committee shall report to the next regular sessions of the monthly meetings or to a special session. If the report is found to be satisfactory, the parties will be at liberty to proceed accordingly.

Oversight of Marriage:  After a couple has been liberated to proceed with arrangements for their marriage, a committee of not less than two women and two men shall be appointed by the monthly meeting to attend the marriage and report to the following session of the monthly meeting as to whether it has been properly solemnized.

Marriage in Meeting: The marriage shall be solemnized in a regular meeting of the congregation or in a special meeting arranged by the monthly meeting at a time convenient to the contracting parties.

Certificate: Following the marriage a certificate shall be signed by the parties. It shall then be audibly read by a designated person. At the conclusion of the meeting it shall be signed by others attending as witnesses.

Assistant: A pastor or other minister may assist in the solemnization of a marriage within the meeting, if the couple so desires and is approved by monthly meeting.

"For the right joining in marriage is the work of the Lord only, and not the priests' or the magistrates'; for it is God's ordinance and not man's; and therefore Friends cannot consent that they should join them together, for we marry none; it is the Lord’s work, and we are but witnesses." George Fox, 1669

 

 

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