Melech 9,900 Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 "A group of Evangelicals controlling 719 parishes in west Germany have said they will start marrying gay and lesbian couples. The Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, Germany’s second-biggest territorial church, voted on the decision during their synod today (15 January). It is also the second territorial church area out of 20 to open marriage ceremonies to all couples; the Evangelical Church of Hesse-Nassau was first to adopt a similar change in church constitution. Only seven out of 211 voting attendees voted against treating same-sex marriages the same as their straight counterparts and allowing all couples to sign the church register. Until now, gay couples could only receive a consecration or blessing, which does not count as a religious ceremony. The new change in church constitution abolishes this separation. ‘I’m very happy about this decision, because it is inspired by what should be at the heart of marriage,’ North Rhine-Westphalia’s Minister of Emancipation, Barbara Steffens (Green Party), told queer.de. During a debate, members said there was ‘no legal or theological reason for a different treatment of married couples and those living in a civil partnership’ according to German public broadcaster SWR. With Cologne, one of Germany’s gay hubs and often named as Germany’s gayest city, at its heart, the Evangelical Church in the Rhineland has always been known to hold a liberal stance. In 2000, before same-sex couples could enter civil partnerships, they already offered a ‘liturgical companionship’. Most territorial churches are reportedly debating opening religious ceremonies to all couples, with the Evangelical Church of Berlin-Brandenburg expected to change their constitution to include same-sex couples in April." http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/700/#gs.L_xLwkg When the church is more tolerant than the state Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
kvnrp 48,353 Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 We could've had Gay marriage just shortly after Ireland had it, (almost) every party wanted to do it and even the states are for it and the public wanted it too. wtf is taking so long we even had a gay foreign minister Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
HANZ 4,380 Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 Germany sis, what is stopping you from begin openly gay? My Favs = Lady Gaga, Janet Jackson, Ricky Martin, AKB48 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
teo 609 Posted January 17, 2016 Share Posted January 17, 2016 That's amazing! Congrats! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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