We gratefully acknowledge the generosity of Friends who have permitted
us to use material for this Faith and Practice.
marriage
and gender
Although Monthly
Meetings vary in belief and practice regarding
same-gender marriage, there is a growing acceptance of the
principle that gender and sexual orientation should not influence
Friends’ decision to take a marriage under its care. † It
is consistent
with Quakers’ historical faith and testimonies that Friends
practice
a single standard of treatment for all couples who wish to marry.
The same level of careful discernment should be used in
interviewing a gay or lesbian couple as a heterosexual couple. All
such ceremonies should be blessed occasions where life partners
join together in the presence of God.
Junior
Yearly Meeting has reached unity in supporting same sex marriages.
We reached this conclusion at a business
Meeting after two hours of deep worship-sharing. In our
decision of unity, Junior Yearly Meeting urges Pacific Yearly
Meeting to support the loving bond of marriage between two
people regardless of their gender.
pacific yearly meeting, 1996,
minutes of plenary vii
† Some
Meetings are not comfortable calling a same-gender union a
marriage. However, some will take under their care ceremonies of
commitment for homosexual couples.