By an Anonymous Latter-Day Seeker
This year, in the 2023 World Conference for Community of Christ, there is a formal resolution titled “G-7
Resolution on Marriage” that is presented from the Council of Twelve Apostles. This resolution appears
to have been developed without including anyone in a non “traditional” marriage, ie there was no queer
representation in the construction of this resolution.
This lack of representation has resulted in the perpetuation of some harmful views, among them, the
meaning and interpretation of the sacred nature of marriage. The phrase “marriage is sacred” has been
used historically to deny the right of marriage to marginalized peoples. This phrase has been used to
exclude, rather than to build up.
The history of this phrase carries strong negative connotations. The conservative evangelical movement
uses this phrase to deny people the right to participate in the ordinance of marriage; a simple google
search shows that “marriage is sacred” largely returns articles from Christians arguing against LGBT+
marriages. Community of Christ also has a history of using “sacred” to deny rights, including the
Standing High Council’s Statement on Homosexuality in 1982:
“The church affirms that Christian marriage is a sacred covenant relationship, ordained of God
between a man and a woman. The sacrament of marriage has a long theological and
ecclesiastical history, and the symbolism is exclusively heterosexual. Homosexual unions are not
and should not be considered marriages in the sacramental sense.”
Community of Christ’s current stance on nonmonogamy mirrors the same reasoning and worldview, as
made clear in D&C 150:
“Monogamy is the basic principle on which Christian married life is built… The church must be
willing to bear the burden of their sin [nonmonogamous converts], nurturing them in the faith,
accepting that degree of repentance [for being in nonmonogamous relationships] which it is
possible for them to achieve, looking forward to the day when through patience and love they
can be free as a people from the sins of the years of their ignorance [nonmonogamy]… Continue
your ministry to those nations of people yet unaware of the joy freedom from sin can bring into
their lives.”
These verses decry loving relationships as a sin. They also appear to glory in the dissolution of the wrong
sorts of marriages, and repeat the same language on what “counts” as a Christian marriage. For those
familiar with the fight for LGBT+ marriage rights, this view will be painfully familiar.
Additionally, these verses have colonialist overtones, as they view the culture of marriage in other
nations and peoples as sinning out of ignorance. This idea that American cultural norms are the only
ones in line with God’s eternal views is not worthy of a worldwide church.
Sadly, these overtones continue into the Resolution that will be presented in this years’ World
Conference. The Council of Twelve Apostles furthers this exclusionary use of “sacred” in their proposed
resolution, which doubles down on denying the validity nonmonogamous relationships. The resolution
describes marriage as a “sacred covenant relationship of love and equality between two people”, and
provides yet another use of using the word “sacred” to deny legitimacy to marginalized people. It is time
that the word sacred no longer be abused to exclude.
There are roots in Community of Christ’s usage of the word “sacred” that could reorient our
understanding of the sanctity of marriage to be positive and uplifting. This outlook is already familiar in
Community of Christ’s approach towards the temple. The Temple is sacred in our community, and it is
open to all, instead of exclusionary. In fact, in D&C 163, the purpose of the Temple is made clear:
“The Temple calls the entire church to become a sanctuary of Christ’s peace, where people from
all nations, ethnicities, and life circumstances can be gathered into a spiritual home without
dividing walls, as a fulfillment of the vision for which Jesus Christ sacrificed his life.”
This open understanding of the meaning of “sacred” is powerful and uplifting. If this view is applied to
marriage, we could discuss the sanctity of marriage and focus on the importance of communication, a
commitment to honesty and fidelity, supporting partners during painful experiences, encouraging
personal growth, and expanding our knowledge and compassion. Because marriage is sacred, we should
support people who desire to be married, even if their marriage looks different than what we are
accustomed to. Because marriage is sacred, we should approach this divine institution with arms open
wide, remembering in humility the history of unfairly denying validity to those not deemed “Christian
marriages”.
I believe we need to broaden our understanding of the meaning and purpose of sacred ordinances,
understanding that the sacred nature of marriage is due to its potential to support and help us to grow.
Marriage is sacred. This holy union should be available for all of god’s children who desire to partake in
union with their loved ones.