What Your Church Needs to Do in Response to the Supreme Court’s Ruling

Religious Freedom,

Many people are asking what they need to do in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s same-sex marriage decision last Friday. First and foremost is protect people from the ruling’s most immediate, negative consequences.

Alliance Defending Freedom has produced some excellent material for churches if their First Amendment religious freedoms come under attack.

For starters, Alliance Defending Freedom highlights seven things every church needs in its by-laws. They are:

  1. A Formal Membership Policy
  2. Procedure for Member Discipline/Membership Revocation
  3. Procedure for Rescinding Membership
  4. Job Descriptions and Religious Grounds for Limiting Employment Opportunities
  5. Statement of Religious Belief Regarding Marriage
  6. Identify the Governing Body that is the Sole Authoritative Interpreter of Scripture
  7. Due Diligence Requirement for all Volunteers and Staff Who Work with Children

ADF also offers suggested wording for a statement of faith regarding marriage as well as some of the policies listed above. You can read it here.

Additionally, Alliance Defending Freedom recommends every church adopt a policy governing facility use; this may decrease the possibility of a church or religious organization being forced to open its property for an activity it finds objectionable. You can read ADF’s suggested facility use policy here.

Why is This Important?

It is important for churches to articulate their biblical views of marriage and sexuality as well as the role their staff and volunteers play in the church’s ministry. If a church is sued because, for example, the church refused to make its property available for a same-sex ceremony, a clear statement of faith regarding marriage coupled with a facility use policy can help verify the church is simply seeking to operate according to its sincerely-held religious beliefs.

Just as important as adopting policies, however, is consistently following those policies. 

These resources cannot prevent a church or religious organization from being singled-out for its religious principles, but they may provide additional layers of protection.

You can find these and other resources for free on Alliance Defending Freedom’s website.

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Unpacking the U.S. Supreme Court’s Marriage Decision

Marriage, , ,

On Friday the U.S. Supreme Court issued one of its worst rulings in the court’s history. The court’s opinion in the case of Obergefell v. Hodges struck state marriage laws and amendments nationwide defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman. In so doing, the court legalized same-sex marriage in all fifty states.

However, that is not all the court did. With this ruling, the court:

  • Fundamentally undermined American democracy;
  • Asserted itself as a legislative arm of government;
  • Took liberties with its interpretations of the U.S. Constitution and its amendments;
  • Paved the way for polygamy and further redefinition of marriage in America;
  • Recklessly placed religious liberty at risk.

Unfortunately, these are not exaggerations or wild claims. These are the logical outworkings of a very bad ruling–and they are concerns expressed by other members of the court. (more…)

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Supreme Court Marriage Decision Exemplifies Judicial Tyranny

Marriage, , ,

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, June 26, 2015

Today the U.S. Supreme Court ruled states do not have the constitutional authority to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman.

Family Council President Jerry Cox released a statement, saying, “Today’s ruling exemplifies judicial tyranny. Voters in more than three-fifths of the country democratically passed laws and amendments defining marriage in their respective states. Today’s U.S. Supreme Court ruling sends a very clear message that five unelected justices believe they have the power to disenfranchise fifty million American voters. It’s unthinkable.”

Cox said today’s ruling deepens divisions among Americans regarding marriage. “Unfortunately, this ruling does nothing to bring Americans willingly to any consensus on marriage. The court has offered its definition of marriage through this ruling, and that’s a definition tens of millions of voters still reject. This does not unite the nation. It further divides us.”

Cox said the court’s ruling is unprecedented. “The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled time and time again that the government has the power to define and regulate marriage. When it struck part of the federal Defense of Marriage Act in 2013, the court did so on the basis that marriage is something regulated by state government—not the federal government. Today the court has essentially said that state governments cannot regulate marriage, either. If the federal government cannot define or regulate marriage, and if state governments cannot define or regulate marriage, then tell me who can.”

Cox said today’s ruling calls into question the very meaning of marriage and family in America. “The question this ruling raises is ‘What is a marriage, and what is a family?’ If marriage can be between two men, why can’t it be between three or five? What is the logical argument for limiting it to just two people? We’re eliminating the very definition of marriage, and in so doing we are redefining the family as well.”

Cox said Family Council will work with attorneys and lawmakers to protect people of faith from discrimination as a result of today’s ruling. “Now that this ruling has been handed down, I believe a tidal wave of litigation is bound to unfold as gay activists try to force people of faith to violate their deeply-held religious convictions by aiding and participating in same-sex ceremonies in Arkansas and all across the country. We plan to work with our friends to ensure the freedoms of speech and religion are not squelched. One thing is for sure: This situation is far from over.”

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