Green Street Breaking New Ground

Green-Street-United-Methodist-Church

Green Street United Methodist Church in Winston-Salem, NC

During a recent QueerLab session on March 21st, Molly Brummett visited Elsewhere to share stories and experiences about Green Street United Methodist Church’s recent Public Statement on Marriage in support of equitable treatment for all those interested in marriage.

“On the matter of same-sex marriage, Green Street UMC sees injustice in the legal position of state government and the theological position of our denomination.  North Carolina prohibits same-sex marriage and all the rights and privileges marriage brings.  The Leadership Council has asked that their ministers join others who refuse to sign any State marriage licenses until this right is granted to same- sex couples.

Because the United Methodist Church prohibits its pastors from conducting same- sex weddings, excluding gay and lesbian couples from the holy sacrament of marriage, the Leadership Council has asked the pastor to refrain from conducting wedding ceremonies in our sanctuary for straight couples, until the denomination lifts its ban for same-sex couples.”

Molly talked to the group about Green Street’s mission of “radical welcome”, a mindset that includes compassion and consideration for everyone regardless of sexuality, gender, race, class etc. She explained that the announcement brought a lot of much needed media attention to an important issue and that Green Street will remain unwavering in their commitment to uphold values of social justice and equity for all persons. The I Don’t Do Boxes team also had a chance to reflect on their own relationship with the institutions of religion and spirituality, asking Molly about issues of exclusion, shame and difference that are often linked to those that identify as “queer” or something other than heterosexual.

Listen below to a segment of Molly’s chat with the I Don’t Do Boxes crew and you can download the entire Green Street statement here (PDF).

[audio: /wp-content/uploads/2013/03/IDDB-Green-Street-with-Molly-and-Carter-3-21-2013.mp3]

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Molly + Carter - Green Street

Molly Brummett and her friend Carter in Elsewhere’s Living Library