do gay rights compromise religious rights?

No, by being official "members" they are thus part of a PRIVATE organization and not subject to state discrimination laws. As part of that membership, there will be some disclaimer against behaviors or lifestyles the private organization disagrees with.

The issue is that most churches don't require this type of membership to perform their state marriage function. That will be changing soon.

 

They could have, sure, but most people aren't litigious assholes. Activists and the ACLU are licking their chops, though.

 

Not my church and many churches around where I live. If we would deny them membership, we would also deny them in regards to performing a "commitment" ceremony. Also, its not about prejudice, its about our church upholding the beliefs of The Bible in that we believe homosexuality is an abnormal & abhorrent "lifestyle", and is something that is not ordained by God himself.

Since we're an Independent Baptist church, thank God we dont answer to the junk like the churches that belong to the Southern Baptist Convention, American Baptist Convention, etc.. do. But if the homosexuals want to push it, we're defended by the Christian Law Association, which will defend our 1st Amendement rights & CLA Attorney David Gibbs & crew are very good at defending churches that get caught up in this type of stuff.

Big Vito is right, I know many pastors that wouldn't marry a couple if the man and/or woman are openly living in sin - my pastor included. So if they wouldnt marry a man and/or woman living in sin, what do you think they'd tell the homosexuals?

 

Yet more evidence of the logical necessity to remove the religious component, and the "sin" criteria," from state-recognized, legal civil unions.

 

Then you might as well remove the 1st Amendment and even the entire Constitution in favor of whatever type of beliefs you and your liberal friends believe. With what you just stated, you're more in favor of communism instead of democracy. Imposing state-recognized marriage of homosexuals and forcing all churches & pastors to marry them, seems more fitting of a communistic society instead of one of freedom, liberty, and the right of protest to take a stand for what is right and for what is wrong.

Another reason you spew ill-founded rhetoric like this is because people like you dont like being labeled as a sinner. It just digs inside of you and you dont like it.

Romans 3:23, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God."

Romans 5:12, "Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:"

Romans 5:20, "...But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:"

 

It is, at least in the eyes of the law. I'm not even saying that you're wrong because I respect the fact that you're acting on what the Bible says (as opposed to those who try to rewrite the Bible however they see fit).

Unfortunately you will lose. I wish you wouldn't because I think it's wrong to force churches to accept homosexuality, but they won't have an option in areas where homosexual marriages are legal. That's one of the main reasons why legalization has to be stopped.

 

What seem to forget is that the church is not discriminating against the gay person. The church will marry that gay person as long as they are marrying someone of the opposite sex just like everyone else.

 

That's a good point.

 

Oooh, I feel my skin burning...

Lawd, Save me from mah Sins!

 

That's not a good point. Why must a legal union be of a particular sex ratio? Notice I did not say "marriage." Churches can keep their concept of marriage. The differentiator is that a civil union is going to grant a particular legal status, whereas a marriage will be of a religious status.