Examples of Church Policy and Press Release
In 2002, with the support of the Board of Directors of White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, our Minister, Victoria Safford, made public her decision to sign no marriage licenses for heterosexual couples until the rights and privileges such licenses afford are made available to gay and lesbian couples as well. We are mindful that while this stand may discourage some couples from holding their ceremony here, other couples – gay and straight – will find our setting all the more appealing as a result. We are happy to recommend court officials who can, for a reasonable fee, provide a legal marriage license if you wish.
For Release – January 2003
Unitarian Minister Commits to no Further Wedding Documents Until Laws Change
The Rev. Victoria Safford, with the approval of the Board of Directors where she ministers, will no longer sign final wedding papers for straight couples until laws change to recognize same-sex couples who make similar commitments.
“Of course I will continue to perform wedding ceremonies, as I continue to perform commitment ceremonies, but I cannot in good conscience continue to act as an agent of the state to bring legal sanction to some loving and committed couples while the state discriminates against others,” Safford explains.
Safford will perform services and celebrations but will no longer sign wedding documents. Straight couples for whom she officiates can obtain those documents by paying the fee to a judge or court official. In this way, Safford fulfills her primary duty as a religious leader bringing a community’s blessing to a couple beginning a committed life together, while declining to participate in state-sanctioned discrimination against gays and lesbians. Wedding documents carry legal benefits to wedded partners, such as a right to inherit from one’s partner, the right to Social Security benefits based on the couple’s life together, and the right to obtain health insurance as a couple. These and other rights enjoyed by wedded couples are denied to or not treated as rights for same-sex couples under current laws.
Safford is the minister of the White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church, which is recognized by the Unitarian Universalist Association as a Welcoming Congregation.
White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church
328 Maple Street, Mahtomedi, (651) 426-2369.
Charlotte Preston Media contact for WBUUC
651-426-2369 (Mon – Thurs, 9:00 – 5:00 Central time, USA)
