Should Your Church Change it's By-laws on Marriage?

[righteousdude2]

With the recent victory by the LGBT community gaining the right to marry in California, as well as other states approving gay marriage, there seems to be a rush by churches to change their by-laws to protect them should they deny a request to marry a gay couple and be sued.

Do you think your church should change, or update their by-laws to reflect your right to marry only one man and one woman?

SEE:http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/08/24/churches-changing-bylaws-after-gay-marriage-ruling/

 

[Gregory Perry Sr.]

My Opinion...

I'm of the opinion that it doesn't matter what your church by-laws say about this matter. I believe if the church by-laws stand against same-sex marriage and the matter makes it into a civil or government courtroom then any decision rendered by that court may go against us anyway if the prevailing "public-policy" of the land/government favors same-sex marriage (which is increasingly becoming the case). This Government and the sitting Supreme (so-called) Court has an increasing disdain and lack of respect for either traditional Constitutional rights (and the interpretation of WHAT they are)OR real religious freedom. It is the signs of our times.
That said, I have no problem with churches making proper adjustments to their "by-laws"....nothing wrong with taking a declared stand for what is right!....I just don't think it will do much good in the legal sense if and when it is put to the test. I HOPE I'm wrong...but I don't think so.

Bro.Greg:saint::tear:

 

[Tom Bryant]

Whether it means that we won't get in federal trouble isn't really the issue. We ought to make our by-laws reflect how we are doing business as a church and that would include the issue of the definition of marriage.

 

[go2church]

We don't have any by-laws to change.

 

[Yeshua1]

Whether it means that we won't get in federal trouble isn't really the issue. We ought to make our by-laws reflect how we are doing business as a church and that would include the issue of the definition of marriage.

We don't have any formal definition of marriage, other than we would never sanction any other than one woman to one man!

 

[Salty]

We don't have any by-laws to change.

Wanted to ask why no by-laws - but as to not go off OP, I started a new thread

But back to the OP - what would you do if a hom0sexual couple asked you to marry them in your church.

 

[Yeshua1]

Wanted to ask why no by-laws - but as to not go off OP, I started a new thread

But back to the OP - what would you do if a hom0sexual couple asked you to marry them in your church.

Nope, as the Lord has already forever ordained that it can ONLY be between one woman and one Man!

 

[Revmitchell]

Yes it needs to be done and it matters greatly. Failure to do so opens the church up to all kinds of problems.

 

[go2church]

Wanted to ask why no by-laws - but as to not go off OP, I started a new thread

But back to the OP - what would you do if a hom0sexual couple asked you to marry them in your church.

I could not in good conscience marry this couple as I believe it violates the clear teaching of scripture. I have told the church as much and made it a matter of record. If told I must or lose "something", then I am prepared to lose that "something"

 

[Gregory Perry Sr.]

Specifics Please.....

Yes it needs to be done and it matters greatly. Failure to do so opens the church up to all kinds of problems.

Bro.Mitchell...what kind of "problems" are you referring too? What is the real value of a document known as "By-Laws"...and is there a Biblical precedent for having such a thing? Not being a smart-aleck here. Probably most churches I have ever attended had one...but it just occurred to me that I'd never really paid much attention to the issue.

Bro.Greg:saint:

 

[Tom Bryant]

I could not in good conscience marry this couple as I believe it violates the clear teaching of scripture. I have told the church as much and made it a matter of record. If told I must or lose "something", then I am prepared to lose that "something"

The problem is that it is not just you who would lose something. It could open your church up to law suits.

The question is not whether we would marry 2 gay people. I doubt anyone on here would, it's about protection for the assets of the church should a lawsuit go against you.

 

[Revmitchell]

Bro.Mitchell...what kind of "problems" are you referring too? What is the real value of a document known as "By-Laws"...and is there a Biblical precedent for having such a thing? Not being a smart-aleck here. Probably most churches I have ever attended had one...but it just occurred to me that I'd never really paid much attention to the issue.

Bro.Greg:saint:

No there is no biblical precedent. But that does not make it wrong or unbiblical. If you do not have a defined membership then anyone can just legally show up to business meetings and vote to make decisions. That creates issues in a whole plethora of areas. Unfortunately not everyone wants to handle things on the up and up and we need clearly defined areas to keep everyone accountable.

 

[Tom Bryant]

We don't have any by-laws to change.

So you don't have anything that would determine who a member is, how a pastor is chosen, how to deal with church discipline, how to purchase or sell property, etc

By laws are not needed until there is a disagreement or a problem. Then, written bylaws that actually reflect how your church operates the "business" of the church will be a huge help.

 

[Revmitchell]

I have seen a church without by laws and it is a mess and allows for all kinds of infighting.

 

[Gregory Perry Sr.]

The REAL Question is....

The problem is that it is not just you who would lose something. It could open your church up to law suits.

The question is not whether we would marry 2 gay people. I doubt anyone on here would, it's about protection for the assets of the church should a lawsuit go against you.

Beyond the issue at hand (gay marriage), The question for churches is...will a document such as a "church covenant" or "by-laws" actually have any standing in a secular court of law. Will that court recognise it? We are living in a day where even the "intent" of the founding fathers of our country in the Constitution that they gave us is being re-interpreted by the secular-progressives in our Government and our legal system. Thus we have this mess of Constitutional MIS-interpretation known as "separation of church and state" which the founders NEVER intended. It is only going to get worse as this nation comes more and more under the judgement of our Holy God. We are beginning to get what we deserve due to our national wickedness and spiritual apathy. Sad but true. "Protecting our assets" is just another form of the kind of modern materialism that is symptomatic of what we have become in the Laodecian church age. IMO

Bro.Greg:saint:

 

[Gregory Perry Sr.]

We Need To Be Daniels...!

Simply put...we need to stand for the truth of God's Word no matter what it may cost us in the material sense. Are we really willing to do that? Dare to be Daniel...or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego....! God is no respecter of modern political correctness.

Bro.Greg:saint:

 

[Revmitchell]

Beyond the issue at hand (gay marriage), The question for churches is...will a document such as a "church covenant" or "by-laws" actually have any standing in a secular court of law. Will that court recognise it?

Bro.Greg:saint:

Yes it does. If you contact the Christian Law Association they will tell you how fool hardy it is not to have a set of recently revised by-laws. They also assist churches in setting up by-laws for themselves. They will also tell you that legally it is foolish not to be incorporated.

 

[Revmitchell]

Simply put...we need to stand for the truth of God's Word no matter what it may cost us in the material sense. Are we really willing to do that? Dare to be Daniel...or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego....! God is no respecter of modern political correctness.

Bro.Greg:saint:

It is not about political correctness. It is about legality and protection of individual church members.

 

[Salty]

...If you do not have a defined membership then anyone can just legally show up to business meetings and vote to make decisions. ....

More specifically, if a person was to give a donation (offering) - depending on State/commonwelth law, he may than have a legal right to vote.

Best to have an attorney look at your church Constitiution.

 

[Tom Bryant]

Simply put...we need to stand for the truth of God's Word no matter what it may cost us in the material sense. Are we really willing to do that? Dare to be Daniel...or Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego....! God is no respecter of modern political correctness.

Bro.Greg:saint:

Bro Gregg,
This is not the issue. I take as strong a stand against gay marriage and against the gov't's stamp of approval on an evil practice as anyone. I am willing to make a stand and have. But if i can also protect the church's assets, by making a position clear, I will.

We protect ourselves dotrinally by having a statement of faith. This is just an outgrowth of our beliefs.

And do you really think RevMitchell cares about political correctness. :laugh: