Shir Tikvah Rabbis Refuse to Sign Marriage Licenses Until Same-Sex Couples Can Legally Wed
Rabbi Michael Adam Latz speaks about the Rabbinical decision made by Shir Tikvah to stop signing wedding licenses until same-sex couples are offered equal rights under Minnesota law.
There was more than one rainbow-threaded yarmulke worn at Shir Tikvah’s Friday evening Shabbat service. When Rabbi Michael Adam Latz explained that he and Rabbi Melissa Simon will no longer sign marriage licenses for a state that denies same-sex couples the right to legally marry, the sanctuary erupted in applause.
This night came after many steps. It started with a passionate Rosh Hashanah Evening D’Var Torah (sermon) from congregant Elaine Frankowski, followed by conversations with the synagogue’s Board of Trustees and finally, a December letter to all congregants and friends. “I could no longer waver or wait” after hearing Frankowski’s stirring words in September on behalf of same-sex unions, Latz said.
“As your rabbis, we will continue to officiate at religious weddings (in which at least one of the two adults being married is Jewish), on the bimah, beneath the chuppah, signing your ketubah, and shouting 'mazal tov' when you smash the glass,” the letter explained.
Those getting married by the Shir Tikvah rabbis will have to take the extra step of finding a legal officiant to sign the state’s marriage license. “I would never seek to inconvenience anyone, but when the choice is between stopping engaging in an injustice or inconvenience, injustice wins," said Rabbi Latz.
Shir Tikvah, on 50th Street at Girard Avenue, serves over 390 households and is affiliated with the Union for Reform Judaism. The congregation is expressly committed to non-discriminatory policies and practices as well as issues of social justice. Rabbi Latz is gay and has two children with his partner.
Reactions from outside the temple
“Just now the media is picking it up and so we’re just starting to see and have it broadcast," said trustee member Klibanoff. "I know the rabbi has been to a meeting, a rabbi council and has announced it there. So, it’s just beginning to hit the street.”
Local support came from Temple Israel’s Associate Rabbi Jared Saks, who personally attended the Shabbat Service. Also, the non-profit Project 515, which seeks equality under the law for same-sex couples and families, is headed by a member of the Shir Tikvah congregation, Ann Kaner-Roth.
Support is also coming from outside judaism. “I applaud their bold step. We did the same thing four years ago," said Mayflower Church’s Reverend Sarah Campbell in an email response. "At the same time two other UCC (United Church of Christ) churches in Minneapolis did the same thing."
The Lyndale United Church of Christ, Twin Cities Friends Meeting, White Bear Unitarian Universalist Church and First Congregational Church are some other area religious institutions that have taken a similar position regarding marriage licenses.
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church, just down the street from Shir Tikvah, did not return any inquiries on the subject.
On the other side of the issue, the Minnesota Catholic Bishops distributed a DVD against same-sex marriage to the state’s Catholics this fall.
Some on the political right are unswayed. “The great thing about America is freedom of speech, so they have the right to speak their mind," said Jeff Davis from the conservative group Minnesota Majority. "But, it sounds like an effort to garner publicity. To try to change the definition of marriage is difficult because it’s contrary to natural law and contrary to the vast majority of people in Minnesota.”
And the effect on legislation?
Marriage between same-sex couples is presently banned in Minnesota, despite legal nuptials in Iowa and domestic partnerships allowed in Wisconsin. In the meantime, various bills have been introduced by people on both sides of the issue, but none have succeeded.
State representative Phyllis Kahn stated that she is, “Basically in support,” of Shir Tikvah. "I will certainly introduce a bill again, but there is zero chance of it passing in the current legislature," Kahn said, although she remained hopeful that the issue would be resolved in the future. "This is very much a generational issue and will totally disappear in the future.”
But as for Shir Tikvah’s announcement, Davis from the Minnesota Majority predicted it wouldn't impact the state legislature. "There will still be some people who agree with them but there’s not a majority of people anymore in either branch,” he said.
Reaching a larger audience
Rabbi Latz shared suggestions for action on the issue of same-sex marriage within his sermon. With the quote, “Pray as if everything depended on God and act as if everything depends on you,” he explained the close relationship between Judaism and promition of social justice.
The congregation offered a sheet of "Marriage Equality Resources" that listed ways individuals can take action.
Teenagers from the Columbia Heights High School Gay Straight Alliance listened to his message. Rabbi Latz had visited their school, so they came to the Shabbat service. “I thought it was really inspirational,” said Ryan, one of the students.
“I don’t mean to put things out there, but specific religions seem to be against [being gay]," added Vivian. "Here it’s really fun and everyone is so friendly."
The high schoolers are just the beginning. News of Shir Tikvah’s stance is spreading.
“We’ve gotten emails from all over the country from rabbis and pastors and people who are supportive and creating change, said Latz. "There’s a national Jewish organization called Keshut out of Boston that is talking to us about taking this to the next place."
In This article
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Shir Tikvah
5000 Girard Ave S, Minneapolis, MN -
Mount Olivet Lutheran Church
5025 Knox Ave S, Minneapolis, MN -
Mayflower Community Congregational UCC
106 E Diamond Lake Rd, Minneapolis, MN
Sandra Teel Trainer
2:34 pm on Monday, January 10, 2011
If we truly believe in equality for all, in civil rights, and in the human race, there should be no question as to what is "right". I have yet to hear one explanation as to how gay marriage hurts
anyone. But there are a lot of ways not having that right hurts gays. Think of rights of property, being able to be at the bedside of a partner in a hospital, and just general acceptance. I applaud the actions of the Shir Tikvah Rabbis! STT
M
3:23 pm on Monday, January 10, 2011
www.keshetonline.org is the organization that Rabbi Latz is referring to
Douglas Harris
4:40 pm on Monday, January 10, 2011
It's great to see the media covering this important stand taken by the rabbi's at Shir Tikvah. This is the kind of news I want to see. I hope their efforts get noticed by synagogues and churches all over the country, enough to make a difference. Thanks for the article, I personally know a lot of people who could be affected by this.
Tom Bates
12:52 pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Tom Bates
You would think that we would have bigger fish to fry than to fret over something like this. Since when is who is sleeping who up there with Thou shall not kill? This is the land of the free. If you do no harm to others there is no harm. We have two wars on. The country is broke. We are in a depression. Lets talk about real solutions to real problems and let these rainbow folks do as they want.
Kega
1:47 pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
I am in agreement with Sandra. How does a same sex marriage have any effect on heterosexual marriage? How does it change the vows one took and the fidelity of the marriage bond? Gays want to have the same rights as does the rest of the human population. Remember when it was against the Law for blacks and whites to marry? When that changed, how did it affect white marriages? You want to see mockery of marriage, look at those celebrities who divorce after 2-6 months and then marry again for the third or sixth time. Look at the infidelity of some sports figures. Seems to me that heterosexual marriage would not be any worse off if gay folks were added to the mix!
Kris Janisch
2:04 pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
What ever happened to all the Bachmann supporters when she was trying to define marriage as between one man and one woman only? She could get thousands at the Capitol for a rally, but the issue died once she gained higher office.
Jon Collins
3:39 pm on Tuesday, January 11, 2011
The Southwest Minneapolis legislators I spoke to this week were sure that a constitutional gay marriage ban will be an issue this session in the newly Republican legislature.
Another article I read cited Minneapolis Rep. Phyllis Kahn, who said she'll introduce a bill to allow gay marriage, although she wasn't optimistic about its possibility of passage.
JazzMN
5:20 pm on Saturday, January 15, 2011
While I agree with the sentiment behind the symbolic action of not signing the Marriage licenses, I do find fault with two basic principles. First, and I know both Rabbi's, to politicize the sanctity of a house of worship and the sanctity of marriage is unfortunate. To not sign the marriage licenses of heterosexual couples who are not at fault for the failings of our system is punitive. To punish those couples is not fair. Second, I believe that we attend houses of worship to find spiritual and divine guidance and inspiration -- last time I checked our divine inspiration was neither Democrat or Republican -- therefore it is my hope that that argument stay out of our worship services. To educate is one thing -- have a class, to preach about something that has become political instead of natural is something completely different. I fully support equality in the right to marry to all individuals, and I support the clergy of Shir Tikvah, both of whom this applies to personally, the right to feel as strongly as they do. But the act of not signing marriage licenses for those couples engaged in what is supposed to be a nonpolitical event in their lives drags those couples into an argument that is not their's. I have many friends who attend Shir Tikvah -- I just wish that in light of the 'rhetoric' discussion of this past week, we find other, non punitive ways of expressing our displeasure with the issue! I'm saddened by the further politicization of this issue...
Michelle
7:15 pm on Tuesday, January 18, 2011
I'm interested in JazzMN's perspective because it raises two important points. First, about whether the decision of Shir Tikvah and other congregations "politicizes" marriage. Civil marriage is a contract overseen by the state. When a clergyperson signs a marriage certificate, s/he is acting as an agent of the state. Whether or not a couple or a clergyperson intend for a legal marriage to be a political act, it is political by definition. It's neither Republican or Democratic, left or right, conservative or liberal - it's simply within the realm of politics. The second question is one of avoiding complicity in systems of oppression - acting in solidarity. Whether we like it or not, all of us participate at some level in the systems of oppression around issues of gender, race, sexuality, etc that are bigger than any one individual. I do my best to avoid participating in them and I'm sure I fail daily. But here is an opportunity for a community to say "we choose not to participate in oppression" that does not harm a couple in question and, in fact, can educate them about systems of oppression in which they may not wish to participate. A non same-sex couple can, in fact, have a legal marriage *and* bless their union in the sight of God, by jumping through one additional hoop - that of finding a civil judge to sign the marriage certificate. What better way for a community to stand in solidarity with brothers and sisters who cannot legally (yet!) marry?