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Bishop J.O. Patterson, Jr.
Chairman, General Assembly |
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Rev. James Hunt
Vice- Chairman, General Assembly |
Let it be known by men
everywhere, that the General Assembly of the Church of God in Christ,
Inc., has adopted this thirteenth day of April, year of our Lord,
two-thousand and four, in Memphis, Tennessee, this Proclamation on
Marriage.
Bishop Gilbert E. Patterson
Presiding Bishop |
Bishop Charles E. Blake
1st Assistant Presiding Bishop |
Bishop J. Neaul Haynes
2nd Assistant Presiding Bishop |
Bishop Wilbur W. Hamilton
Secretary
General Board Member |
Bishop Roy L.H. Winbush
Assistant Secretary
General Board Member |
Bishop Chandler D. Owens
Former Presiding Bishop
General Board Member |
Bishop Phillip A. Brooks, II
General Board Member |
Bishop Samuel L. Green, Jr.
General Board Member |
Bishop Leroy R. Anderson
General Board Member |
Bishop Levi E. Willis
General Board Member |
Bishop George D. McKinney
General Board Member |
Bishop Nathaniel W. Wells
General Board Member |
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We, the Presiding Bishop, the General Board and the Board of
Bishops of the Church of God in Christ, solemnly proclaim that the
institution of marriage was established and ordained by God (Genesis
2:24). Therefore "God created man in his own image, in the image of
God created he him, male and female created he them" (Genesis 1:27).
He created "the woman for the man" (I Corinthians 11:9). Therefore,
"marriage is honorable" (Hebrews 13:4).
We believe that since the beginning of recorded history, in most
cultures of the world; marriage has been defined as the lawful union
of one man and one woman. The traditional form of marriage is one of
the bedrock institutions of most societies. We, therefore, affirm the
preservation of the present definition of marriage as being the legal
union of one man and one woman as husband and wife.
We believe that, "Children are a heritage of the Lord; and the fruit
of the womb is his reward." (Psalms 127:3). In order to provide for
continuation of the species, God created within male and female the
potential for bearing children. The first commandment given to Adam
and Eve was to "be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth."
(Genesis 1:28). Marriage between male and female provide the structure
for conceiving and raising children. Compliance with this command of
God is a physical and biological impossibility in same-sex unions. We,
therefore, believe that only marriages between male and female, as
ordained by God, is essential for the procreation of mankind.
We believe that the homosexual practices of same-sex couples are in
violation of religious and social norms and are aberrant and deviant
behavior. We believe that these unions are sinful and in direct
violation of the law of God in that they are a deviation from the
natural use and purpose of the body. "For this reason God gave them up
to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for
what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use
of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men
committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty
of their error which is due." (Romans 1:26-27 NKJV). We believe that
to legalize such unions will signal ecclesiastical and social approval
of homosexuality and sexual deviancy as legitimate lifestyles.
Therefore, in spite of the progressive normalization of alternative
lifestyles and the growing legal acceptance of same-sex unions; we
declare our opposition to any deviation from traditional marriages of
male and female. Notwithstanding the rulings of the court systems of
the land in support of same-sex unions; we resolve that the Church of
God in Christ stand resolutely firm and never allow the sanctioning of
same-sex marriages by its clergy nor recognize the legitimacy of such
unions.
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