The Quakers Stand Up For Equality

Up in Minnesota a group of Twin Cities Quakers has decided to stop signing marriage certificates for opposite-sex couples until the state legalizes gay marriage. Paul Landskroener, clerk of the Twin Cities Friends Meeting, says, "We're simply trying to be consistent with the will of God as we perceive it. Everything else proceeds as it normally has, except that we will not sign the marriage certificate."

The congregation will continue to hold both opposite-sex and same-sex weddings at its meeting house, but will no longer sign the legal marriage certificate for opposite-sex couples. Instead, couples will need to have the certificate signed by a justice of the peace.

Unlike many churches, Quakers do not have ordained ministers. Couples are married by appearing before the congregation and speaking their vows to each other, after which several witnesses sign the marriage certificate to pronounce the couple legally married.

Now before all the wingnuts get their panties in a bunch, understand that the Twin Cities Friends Meeting reached its decision after three years of discussion. This wasn't some willy-nilly spur of the moment decision, and they plan to revisit the decision in three years.

Paul Landskroener: "The simplest way to say it is we feel very strongly and very clearly led that in the present time we simply cannot continue to participate in what we believe to be an unjust and inconsistent with our religious testimonies legal marriage procedure."

Doing what's right in the name of God.

Maybe it is the most wonderful time of the year after all.