Now that the same-sex marriage bill passed, local churches working on plans
SYRACUSE -- Now that Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed a same-sex marriage bill into law, Central New York churches are trying to decide how to move forward.
Local Catholic leaders have already expressed disappointment with the law. Bishop Robert Cunningham, of the Syracuse Catholic Diocese, said lawmakers in Albany went too far, saying they had no right to redefine marriage.
"While we love and respect our homosexual brothers and sisters, we don't think that this Marriage Act is a good thing," Cunningham said. "We think it's a terrible thing."
However, for many churches, the decision isn't that clear cut.
At Park Central Presbyterian Church in Syracuse, Pastor Andrew McTyre says this is new territory.
Pastor McTyre says at the church everyone is welcome, and the church does have gay members. He is allowed to bless civil unions, but he says at this point, he doesn't know if he'll be able to bless same-sex marriages.
He says the church's board will likely meet in the near future to discuss the issue, and this is also an issue that could be approved by the national committee.
Pastor Beth DuBois, who works for Onondaga Valley and South Presbyterian, says she'd like to see the proposal move forward.
"I think that would be terrific," she says. "I know a lot of kids who would benefit from the rights and responsibilities and privileges they would get from having their parents married."
DuBois was one of six faith leaders who gathered at Plymouth Congregational Church in Syracuse Monday. All six say they're in favor of allowing same-sex marriage.
"We see it an an opportunity of justice and fairness, allowing couples to come to this beautiful sanctuary and have their vows before their friends and families and God," says the Rev. Kathleen Waters, the pastor at Plymouth Congregational Church.
Rabbi Daniel Fellman, of Temple Concord, says he's looking forward to blessing the union of a same-sex couple as he would any other union.
"We're thrilled," says Fellman. "This is an equality issue. Our country is one that celebrates equality, and to be able to do that and to help couples and families feel that connection is vital."
Thomas Luck, the Dean and Rector at St. Paul's Episcopal Cathedral just got approval from his Bishop Monday, and he says he's excited to get started.
"We have a number of gay and lesbian couples already at St. Pauls," says Luck. "We have them at every level, in our leadership, in our vestry, in our staff. So, it was really from that perspective that I was happy to see this happen."
Bonnie Shoultz from the Zen Center of Syracuse and Jean Wahlstrom from the May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society in Syracuse also voiced their support.
"It will be exciting," says Wahlstrom. "I'm sure the first marriage license that I sign for a New York same gender couple will be quite a milestone experience."
"We have a number of gay and lesbian people at all levels, also transgender," says Shoultz.
The same-sex marriage bill has already been signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo. It's expected to take effect at the end of June.
