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Same-Sex Marriage

Same-sex marriage has highlighted high-profile relationships between theology, church, state, and society. In June 2015 the Supreme Court issued its Obergefell v. Hodges decision, which ruled that states must allow same-sex couples to marry. A Pew Forum poll before the decision found that most Americans (57%) thought same-sex marriage should be legal, but less than a third of evangelicals agreed. Many are now asking questions about the difference between civil and religious marriage, the place of religious dissent on same-sex marriage, and pastoral care.

Editorial
Six Things To Do after the Supreme Court Decision on Gay Marriage
Now is not the time to sulk.

Mark Galli / June 26, 2015
Editorial
Sex Without Bodies
The church’s response to the LGBT movement must be that matter matters.

Andy Crouch / June 26, 2013
Is The Gay Marriage Debate Over?
What the battle for traditional marriage means for Americans—and evangelicals.

Mark Galli / July 24, 2009
CT Classic
What God Hath Not Joined
Why marriage was designed for male and female.

Edith M. Humphrey / September 1, 2004

More on Same-Sex Marriage

Gleanings
ChristianMingle Lawsuit Forces Site to Add Options for Gay Daters
For the first time in 11 years, same-sex couples can find “God’s match for you” on the site.

Kate Shellnutt / July 6, 2016
Gleanings
Methodists Won’t Vote on Gay Marriage This Year After All
(UPDATE) With a narrow vote to pass same-sex questions to committee, Methodists band-aid over rumors of split.

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra / May 19, 2016
Speaking Out
What Jen Hatmaker Gets Right about Christian Love
Reactions to her message to LGBT people highlight how confused we are about love and repentance.

Katelyn Beaty / April 27, 2016
Cover Story
Is It Time for American Christians to Disobey the Government?
When to practice civil disobedience.

David Koyzis / March 18, 2016
Gleanings
Episcopal Church Suspended from Anglican Communion over Same-Sex Marriage
(UPDATED) US province demoted to ‘observer status' for three years. Conservatives still want more sanctions and repentance.

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra / January 14, 2016
Gleanings
The Top 20 Most-Read Gleanings of 2015
The 50 countries where it's most difficult to be a Christian, 'The Boy from Heaven' retracts his story, Elisabeth Elliot passes through gates of splendor, and more.

Joshua Wood / December 23, 2015
Cover Story
How Christians Can Flourish in a Same-Sex-Marriage World
By many accounts, orthodox Christians have lost the culture wars. How they can live well—not vanish—in a time of retreat.

Michael Gerson and Peter Wehner / November 2, 2015
Speaking Out
We Should Expect Non-Christians to Share Our Morals
Both natural and civil law, as God designed, tell us why.

Daniel Darling and Andrew T. Walker / October 27, 2015
Crisis Averted: Christian Colleges Avoid Split over Same-Sex Marriage
Eastern Mennonite U and Goshen College leave CCCU, rather than cause more dissension.

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra / October 26, 2015
Interview
John Danforth: I'm Not Absolutely Right, and You're Not Absolutely Wrong
The former senator and United Nations ambassador says religious people should be the leading voices for political compromise.

Interview by Jake Meador / October 26, 2015
Interview
A Pastor's Journey from Gay Pride Parades to the Pulpit
How Caleb Kaltenbach shed his anti-Christian upbringing.

Interview by Morgan Lee / October 14, 2015
Under Discussion
Can the Baker, the Florist, the Photographer, and the Clerk Win?
Experts weigh in on religious liberty challenges to same-sex marriage.

Compiled by Bob Smietana / September 28, 2015
Gleanings
Peace Church Out: Mennonite Schools Leave CCCU to Avoid Same-Sex Marriage Split
Consortium consulted more than 120 member presidents on what to do about Eastern Mennonite University and Goshen College.

Jeremy Weber / September 21, 2015
The Exchange
Morning Roundup 7/29/15
Bible in "Watchman"; Diverse Religions; Gay Marriage and Religious Freedom

Ed Stetzer / July 29, 2015
Gleanings
Two CCCU Colleges to Allow Same-Sex Married Faculty
(UPDATED) CCCU board invites member presidents to 'discuss the issue.'

Bob Smietana, Morgan Lee, and Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra / July 28, 2015
The Exchange
Morning Roundup 7/27/15
Donald Trump's Faith; Burning Man 2015; Evangelicals and Gay Marriage

Ed Stetzer / July 27, 2015
The Exchange
Morning Roundup 7/15/15
Evaluating Your Church; Divorce Surge is Over; Talking with Kids About Love

Ed Stetzer / July 15, 2015
The Exchange
Morning Roundup 7/14/15
United Church Aids Palestinians; Post-Christendom; Ranking Religions Acceptance of SSM

Ed Stetzer / July 14, 2015
The Exchange
Morning Roundup 7/13/15
Supporting Same-Sex Marriage; Humility in Evangelism; Leadership Development in the Local Church

Ed Stetzer / July 13, 2015
A Clash of Church and Cake
10 questions about the Oregon bakers fined $135K for not baking a same-sex wedding cake.

Bob Smietana / July 10, 2015
Hope College and Belmont University to Offer Benefits to Same-Sex Spouses
Baylor, Fuller, Gordon, and other colleges affirm traditional sexual ethics.

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra, Morgan Lee, and Bob Smietana / July 8, 2015
The Exchange
Morning Roundup 7/8/15
Apocalypse Now?; Overworked, Underpaid; Marks of a Kingdom Church

Ed Stetzer / July 8, 2015
The Exchange
Morning Roundup 7/6/15
Orthodox Church; Christians React to Same-sex Marriage Ruling; Past and Future Church

Ed Stetzer / July 6, 2015
Gleanings
Struggle over Same-Sex Marriage's Religious Liberty Ramifications Begins
(UPDATED) Liberty Institute sees good news, but other Christian legal groups disagree.

Bob Smietana / June 29, 2015
Sodom, Leviticus, and Obergefell: The Bible After Friday's Decision
Scriptures searched and tweeted in response to the Supreme Court's same-sex marriage order.

Stephen Smith / June 29, 2015
Her.meneutics
Gay Marriage, Abortion, and the Bigger Picture
Living out God’s will requires us to look beyond single issues.

Karen Swallow Prior / June 29, 2015
'Outrage and Panic' Are Off-Limits, Say Evangelical Leaders on Same-Sex Marriage
(UPDATED) Groups say the gospel requires different reactions.

Sarah Eekhoff Zylstra and Morgan Lee / June 26, 2015
Speaking Out
Here We Stand: An Evangelical Declaration on Marriage
More than 100 leaders respond to Supreme Court legalizing same-sex marriage.

June 26, 2015
The Most Popular Bible Verses for Debating Gay Marriage
What Scripture stats reveal about evangelicals' shifting rhetoric.

Stephen Smith / June 26, 2015
The Exchange
Same-Sex Marriage is now the Law of the (U.S.) Land: What Now for Christians?
The Supreme Court has taken action on same-sex marriage, and now the church needs to take its own action.

Ed Stetzer / June 26, 2015
Gleanings
Here's What Supreme Court Says about Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Freedom
(UPDATED) Justices disagree whether one paragraph gives enough protection.

Morgan Lee and Jeremy Weber / June 26, 2015
Editorial
Six Things To Do after the Supreme Court Decision on Gay Marriage
Now is not the time to sulk.

Mark Galli / June 26, 2015
Interview
Kirsten Powers: The Rise of the Intolerant Left
The commentator says we are in a new McCarthyist era—and that the Americans quashing free speech are the ones who have typically heralded it.

Interview by Katelyn Beaty / May 11, 2015
What to Expect After the Supreme Court’s Marriage Decision
We will see more challenges to the florists, the bakers, and the pizza crust makers. And more opportunities for witness.

John Inazu / April 28, 2015

ChristianMingle Lawsuit Forces Site to Add Options for Gay Daters
For the first time in 11 years, same-sex couples can find “God’s match for you” on the site.
Methodists Won’t Vote on Gay Marriage This Year After All
(UPDATE) With a narrow vote to pass same-sex questions to committee, Methodists band-aid over rumors of split.

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