The Rev. Gay Clark Jennings, president of the House of Deputies of The Episcopal Church, issued this statement in response to the United States Supreme Court’s rulings that the Defense of Marriage Act is unconstitutional and that same-sex marriage can resume in California:
“I join with millions of Christians across the country in celebrating today’s Supreme Court rulings that extend equal protection under federal law to all marriages and allow marriage equality to resume in California. We are moving ever closer to civil laws that recognize the God-given dignity and equality of our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers.
“Today’s rulings will allow more people of all faiths to see what we in the Episcopal Church have seen for decades: Same-sex couples and their families are evidence of the goodness of God’s creation. They bless our congregations and communities immeasurably, and we have all learned from their steadfast love for one another and the evidence of God’s goodness that they show us.
“We are not done yet. We will not be done until the laws of the entire land and the whole church of God recognize the dignity of every human being and the equality of all faithful couples. Today, however, we are closer to the justice God calls us to seek.”
The House of Deputies is one of the two legislative houses of General Convention, the governing body of The Episcopal Church that meets every three years to set the church’s mission priorities, budget and policies. At the 77th General Convention of The Episcopal Church in 2012, Jennings was elected president of the House of Deputies by her peers. She is the first ordained woman to hold the position.
