Our little church, my husband, and I all got mentioned and quoted in a recent article in the Ann Arbor News:

http://www.mlive.com/news/aanews/index.ssf?
/base/news-0/10987160985700.xml

The article, titled “Ballot issue has spiritual side: Amendment defining marriage seen differently among congregations”, looks at the impact of Proposition 2
 on folks in various religious communities, and some of the theological and denominational issues involved.

Here is the section which quotes me:

[Northside's Pastor] Booker-Hirsch disagrees with the Presbyterian Church (USA)’s refusal to ordain “practicing” homosexuals, and believes it should make the marriage liturgy available to gay couples. (Commitment ceremonies are allowed.) So Northside uses the same standards for all marriages and makes the marriage liturgy available to all, regardless of sexual orientation.

Kiste and Spolarich exchanged marriage vows at the church, witnessed by many of its members. For the couple, it’s a done deal - a lifetime arrangement.

Even if the Presbyterian General Assembly “were to wake up, and their hearts were moved enough to rescind all the juridical crap from 20 years ago,” said Spolarich, “it wouldn’t change the fact that Alan and I have a religious marriage. It happened three years ago on Sept. 15. It’s efficacious; it can’t be undone.”

I’m curious what the reaction is and will be from other Presbyterian pastors and congregants in the area. This is pretty bold language (I was intentionally using “church-speak” with the whole “efficaceous” reference — I do believe that my marriage to Alan has bestowed grace on me and our life together), and is sure to push someone’s buttons. I wasn’t trying to be provocative, but those were the words that came to me when we were talking to the reporter. I was speaking from my heart (which often gets me in trouble).