Lutheran Church open to discussing same-sex unions

By Mikko Heikka
     
      Gender-neutral marriage laws have been passed in several European countries. There have been calls for similar legislation in Finland as well.
      In the debate that has taken place views have been put forward that a gender-neutral marriage law would be something negative from the point of view of the Church. There have been very critical views of the possibility that homosexual couples might be married.
      The matter is actually not quite that straightforward. From the point of view of the ethos of the Church, promoting the rights of same sex couples is a good thing. There are also strong theological points of view that favour marrying couples of the same gender.
     
The emphasis in the debate has been that the Church has traditionally been linked with the classical tradition of natural law in which marriage is an institution between a man and a woman. Arguments against homosexual marriage have also included that the Lutheran concept of marriage is built specifically on a male-female relationship.
      However, in the Protestant Church the view that is constantly gaining strength is one that interprets marriage in the frame of reference of modern natural law, according to which the structures of natural law are not unchanging, and that they can be reinterpreted in changing cultural contexts. The Swedish Church approved the marriage of people of the same gender in accordance with this tradition.
      The Lutheran concept of marriage has also come under reassessment. The thinking has been that marriage is not built significantly on the genders of the parties involved. Instead, key characteristics of marriage are love, commitment, and fidelity. Accordingly, couples of the same gender would also fit within the framework of the Lutheran concept of marriage.
     
A view that follows the lines of modern natural law is not new in the Finnish Lutheran Church. The Church has given up on classical natural law by accepting contraception and abortion. The Church as also accepted divorce and the remarriage of those who are divorced. In the new Family Book, the bishops took a cautiously positive view of cohabitation. Also in evaluating homosexuality, decisions have been made that follow the lines of modern natural law.
      However, the predominant view in the Finnish Lutheran Church at the moment is one of classical natural law and the traditional Lutheran concept of marriage. Although the modern view is growing stronger all the time, it is not realistic to think that the Church could change its concept of marriage without serious consequences. A split in the Church would also have profound impact on all of society. The Church needs time for an internal discussion and the evaluation of various options.
      A majority of Finns still want to solemnise their marriages within the Church. Wise decision-makers take this into consideration. Some have said that Church weddings are a formality, and that those getting married do not genuinely want the blessing of the Church. They feel that everyone should first have a formal ceremony before a state official, and then, those with a “genuine conviction” could get a blessing in church.
      Those who put such views forward do not respect the wishes of the couple getting married. It is the strong view of the Church that married couples genuinely appreciate marriage in church. It is not a question of formality, but one of commitment.
     
The rights of couples of the same gender can be advanced by developing existing couples legislation. Another option is that they would first seal a civil marriage before a state official. These kinds of solutions would also be in line with the ethos of the Church, because it considers human rights and equality to be important. The Church wants to advance the rights of same sex couples.
      The Bishops’ Conference decided in February that it would be possible to hold a moment of prayer in connection with the registration of a civil union. If a decision were made to develop existing legislation on civil unions, it would be important for the moment of prayer put forward by the Bishop’s Conference to be approved by the Synod. If civil marriage of same sex couples is introduced, a civil wedding could also be concluded with a moment of prayer. In this way those who have had a civil wedding would get a prayer and blessing of the church.
     
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 21.8.2010
     
The writer is the Lutheran Bishop of Espoo


Previously in HS International Edition:
  Gay rights organisation praises enlightened voices from Lutheran Church (23.8.2010)
  Supporters of gender-neutral marriage say church can choose whom it wants to marry (20.8.2010)
  Proposal for gender-neutral marriages puts future of church weddings in doubt (2.8.2010)
  Lutheran bishops take cautious stance on same-sex couples (11.2.2010)
  Church rejects complaints against Espoo minister who blessed same-sex couple (30.9.2008)

See also:
  Two women - one a Finn, another a lesbian - ordained as Church of Sweden bishops (9.11.2009)