Congratulations to the Very Rev. Justin Lindstrom, dean of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral in Oklahoma City for helping to leaven this story in The Oklahoman about the response of religious leaders in that state to a federal judge striking down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.
Carla Hinton writes:
Meanwhile, The Rev. Justin Lindstrom, dean of St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, said he views the federal judge’s ruling as positive.
“I’m excited about the ruling because I think it is a win for equal rights,” Lindstrom said. “It won’t destroy the integrity of marriage. I think it will actually build on it — the importance of recognizing relationships.”
Lindstrom said last year, his historic downtown Oklahoma City church went through a monthslong process to gain the approval of Oklahoma’s Episcopal bishop to host same-gender covenant relationship blessings at the church.
Such blessing ceremonies would not be recognized as legal marriage because of Oklahoma’s ban on same-sex marriage.
One complaint I have about this story is that it leaves unchallenged the assertion that people whose lives are guided by Scripture cannot support marriage equality. It just isn’t true.