Isle leader says
gay resolution
is not binding

Hawaii congregations will
discuss the contentious issue

The United Church of Christ's national convention supported same-sex marriage but that doesn't mean its 120 Hawaii congregations are required to agree, says a local church leader.

"This is not church policy. The resolution speaks to the churches, it doesn't speak for the churches," said the Rev. Charles Buck, Hawaii conference minister, who was one of nine island delegates at the denomination's general synod in Atlanta. The vote Monday was not unanimous on the convention floor, nor within the island delegation, he said.

"We are encouraging all church people to have this discussion," and Buck said he will do so with all congregations here, which include Central Union Church, Kawaiahao Church, Kaumakapili Church and others founded by the first Christian missionaries to Hawaii.

"The temptation is to say there are easy answers. To say 'What does the Bible say? What would Jesus do?' is just too simplistic in dealing with the issues of the day. We take the Bible so seriously that we must resist any simplistic answers to life's issues. That marks the difference between the UCC and many other churches," Buck said in a telephone interview from Atlanta.

Hawaii's delegation had a major impact at the three-day conference, which was attended by nearly 1,000 delegates from 39 area conferences in the United States.

» Buck was named to the committee that considered three resolutions on equal marriage rights. He was selected to be its chaplain and led the committee in Bible study of scriptural passages concerning marriage.

» Four local churches sponsored another major resolution that could lead to church investments being withdrawn from companies that appear to profit from conflict and violence in Israel. "We are concerned about the fact that there are American corporations profiting from the building of Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories outside of Israel," said the Rev. Neal MacPherson, pastor of Church of the Crossroads. "It calls for using economic pressure to bring about some change. It affirms socially responsible objectives of pension boards and the UCC Foundation. We are not under any illusion it will be the ultimate thing that changes the situation, but it could be a part of a growing opposition to what is going on."

Church of the Crossroads initiated the resolution calling for the church to use economic leverage in seeking peace and justice in the Middle East, with support from Iao Congregational Church on Maui, Hanapepe United Church of Christ on Kauai, and Kaanana Hou Church on Molokai. It does not call for pulling investments in all firms operating in Israel.

The finale of the conference yesterday was a vote urging Israel to take down the wall it is building around its borders to inhibit terrorism from the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

The United Church of Christ became the first mainline Christian denomination to support same-sex marriage. Public debate on the issue is often rancorous and accusatory but, Buck said, the church delegates engaged on the issue "with a great sense of compassion for one another, realizing we are not going to find unanimity on this issue. We realize that this is a real issue, not just in our church but in our society."

Buck, who supported the measure on same-sex marriage, said the resolution language encourages individual congregations to give "serious, respectful and prayerful consideration to the covenantal relationship of marriage and equal marriage rights for couples regardless of gender. After that prayerful, Biblical, theological and historical study, to consider adopting wedding policies that do not discriminate against couples according to gender. As we search scripture and talk together, the Holy Spirit will speak to us."