O God, our God, as the Risen Christ made himself known to the disciples while on the road to Emmaus, accompany us, the United Church of Christ, as we embark on yet another journey toward more truth and more light. Therefore, this day, we join in prayer for the whole United Church of Christ as we embark on this courageous witness for justice, equality, and freedom, especially the free exercise of our faith, saying after each petition, "God of the Resurrection, free us to be a blessing." Let us pray:
On Monday, the UCC filed a lawsuit in North Carolina, where state law makes it a criminal offense, imposes fines and even possible jail time, if a clergyperson performs a marriage ceremony for anyone, regardless of gender, if the couple does not have a North Carolina marriage license.Īs a people who trace our history, in part, back to the Pilgrims who came to this land in order to more freely exercise their religious beliefs, the United Church of Christ has initiated this legal action to preserve and protect the rights of religious leaders and communities of faith, regardless of our individual perspectives on marriage, to be able to conduct worship services and offer pastoral care without government interference.
A Community Prayer following the United Church of Christ's filing of a federal legal challenge to North Carolina's marriage laws, based on the free exercise of religionĮarlier this week, the United Church of Christ became the first religious body to challenge in federal court the constitutionality of a state's restrictive marriage laws based on the First Amendment.
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