Pilgrim UCC hosting series on Amendment 1

BY DAWN BAUMGARTNER VAUGHAN, Durham Herald-Sun

DURHAM – Pilgrim United Church of Christ  will host a community series this month on “Faith and the Marriage Amendment,” about the proposed North Carolina Amendment 1. If the ballot measure passes May  8, the only valid domestic union recognized by the state will be marriage of a  man and a woman.

Pilgrim UCC’s series kicks off Sunday with keynote  addresses at 3 p.m. at the church, 3011 Academy Road. Speakers are Jimmy Creech,  author of the memoir “Adam’s Gift,” and former United Methodist minister  defrocked after blessing a gay union; and Brent Childers, executive director of  Faith in America. Childers is a lifelong conservative evangelical Christian who  once derided gays and lesbians and now opposes religion-based  bigotry.

The rest of the series will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m.  Tuesdays, March 6 through March 27. Those who attend are asked to gather at 6:15  p.m. for heavy hors d’oeuvres. On Tuesday, family law attorney Sharon Thompson  will speak on “Legal Perspectives of Amendment 1,” followed by Duke Divinity  School theology professor Mary McClintock Fulkerson March 13 on “Theological and  Biblical Perspectives on Amendment 1.” The rest of the series includes a panel  discussion, “Personal Perspectives,” featuring those who will be directly  affected by the amendment on March 20; and “What People of Faith Can Do to  Oppose Amendment 1” on March 27 with speakers Ryan Rowe of the Coalition to  Protect All North Carolina Families, and the Rev. Rollin Russell, retired UCC  minister and volunteer with the N.C. Council of Churches.

The Rev. Ginger  Brasher-Cunningham, pastor of Pilgrim UCC, said the issue is dear to her church  because they believe all people are treated equally, and “we can’t imagine  voting yes for this amendment would serve anyone.” She said they are hosting the  series to share why a ‘no’ vote is important for civil rights and justice for  all.

Brasher-Cunningham said they hope to reach anyone who has a question  about why the amendment is important. “It crosses all kinds of boundaries – many  people will be harmed by this,” she said, mentioning that heterosexual domestic  partnerships will also be impacted.

“We don’t think we should legislate  how people should be in relationship with one another,” Brasher-Cunningham  said.
For information on the series, call Pilgrim UCC at (919) 489-1381.  Child care will be provided for all events.

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dvaughan@heraldsun.com; 419-6563