As My Own Soul: The Blessing of Same-Gender Marriage
With the removal of sexual orientation as a bar to ordination in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), pending approval of a majority of presbyteries, and the Episcopal Church’s 2009 General Convention calling for the development of theological and liturgical resources for same-sex blessings, sexual orientation—especially with regard to marriage—is a central issue. Secularly, too, the topic is front-page news with the recent California same-gender marriage ruling and subsequent Proposition 8 vote...
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With the removal of sexual orientation as a bar to ordination in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), pending approval of a majority of presbyteries, and the Episcopal Church's 2009 General Convention, at which sexuality issues (ordination, rites for blessing of same-gender couples) will be debated yet again, sexual orientation, especially with regard to marriage, is a central issue. Secularly, too, the topic is frontpage news with the recent California same-gender marriage ruling and subsequent Proposition 8 vote and the update of the Massachusetts same-gender marriage law.This book sets forth the case for religious institutions' blessing of same-gender marriage, positing that same-gender marriage does not detract from the sacredness of heterosexual marriage, but rather enhances and nourishes the institution.Chapters include:"Claiming the Blessing," "Deeper ThanScripture," "Traditional Family Values," "TheSacred Source of Marriage," "Sex and the Bodyof Christ," "Marriage As a Spiritual Discipline""Marriage is a spiritual discipline in which we come to know ourselves as beloved, trustworthy, redeemed, forgiven, and blessed, and at the same time learn how to love, be faithful, redeem, forgive, and bless the partner as well as the community." -Chris Glaser
Introduction ixAcknowledgments xChapter 1 Claiming the Blessing 1Chapter 2 Deeper than Scripture: Taboo, Shame, and Sex-Negativity Biblical, Cultural, and Visceral Responses 23Chapter 3 Traditional Family Values: Marriage, Procreation, and Family 47Chapter 4 The Sacred Source of Marriage: Holy Origins and Sacramental Dimensions 73Chapter 5 Sex and the Body of Christ 101Chapter 6 As My Own Soul: Marriage as a Spiritual Discipline 125Selected Bibliography Related to Marriage 149
