I am voting with God's definition of marriage. Dubose's stance may make him feel good, but it's against the word of God. Strange that a pastor can look past the many references in the Bible and turn away from scripture. Does he then also agree that it's not fair to limit marriage to just one person, those under 16, or blood relatives? Does he hope this act will help reverse declining membership? This sadly reminds me of the Church of Ephesus. Please read Acts 20: 17–39. I'll pray for him and the members of his church.

Separation of church and state - voting yes is to vote to discriminate against a specific group of people. Marriage between two persons of the same sex is already illegal in this state. We do not need to pass an amendment to make it permanently illegal.

To WIll and Julie...My God loves me the way I am. My God loves you, too. Please don't YOU forget what Julie put so well..."we need to remember that someday our souls will be presented before God, who will be judging our decisions and lifestyles."

I honestly and truly believe that God loves everyone and it doesn't matter whether they are gay or straight. Marriage should be a way of telling those important to you how much you love the other person...no matter if they are a man or a woman! Yay Pastor Ed! You rock...see you in church on Sunday! :)

I feel the amendment is inappropriate, as it mixes the voices of politics and religion. I likewise am frustrated by a pastor's input on a political ballot for the same reason, even if our positions are the same.

Freedom would be a lot more secure if politics wouldn't take direction or lpressure from religion, and if politics wouldn't take direction or pressure from corporations.

Where can we read his handout?

Politics and religion have to be mixed. You can't ask a government official, or a citizen to check their beliefs at the door. All laws are based off some moral foundation, you can't ask a consequentialist to do the same. If you do this there is no longer a reason to take a stance on anything, no purpose to why someone votes.

Isaac, There is a difference between religion and beliefs. One can hold the latter without the former. While religion helps form the values that one holds, its dogma, liturgy, and rituals are problematic when it comes to government, legislation, and laws because each person's religion and faith are different--even those who attend the same church. Most people feel that their religion is the one true religion. It's impossible to say who is correct because we don't have evidence; ultimately it's a matter of faith, which by definition is is what we believe beyond evidence.

Therein lies the problem with mixing religion with politics and government. Laws should be passed largely by evidence, just as they are enforced and prosecuted based on evidence. For example, I'm glad it takes a calibrated radar gun to prove that I've been speeding rather than a police officer just believing that I was going too fast.

In the case of gay marriage, the preponderance of evidence shows homosexual behavior is found in nature and thus is normal, and it presents no societal harm except that it goes against some people's religious beliefs. But if that alone is its rationalization, one could justify prohibiting sale and consumption of pork,shellfish, alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine likewise should be prohibited, among other things.

This vote has nothing to do with who God loves-it's about redefining marriage. This article is on a "pastor" preaching to his congregation about why they should vote no. This is very disturbing coming from a pastor. Kelly states that God's definition of marriage is "obviously open to interpretation" and Paul says "the Bible has MANY definitions of marriage" (huh?). In the Bible, JESUS said, "Haven't you read that at the beginning the Creator made them male and female. For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife and the two will become one flesh." (Matthew 19:4-5) This can also be found in Genesis 2:24 and Ephesians 5:31. I don't know how this can be misinterpreted. There are absolutely NO references in the Bible to 2 men or 2 women beinging married; the Bible clearly says "he" and "she" or "husband" and "wife". God created Adam and Eve-not Adam and Steve! The Bible was given to us as an example of how we are to live our life. I'm choosing to follow what Jesus said, not what's culturally hip to some people.

This vote also has nothing to do with not loving or accepting others. I have a gay relative and love this person dearly. This issue is about changing the definition of marriage. I feel that the Bible is very clear on this. When Jesus states something, who are we to redefine it?

Religion and politics will be mixed because God is in charge and has control over all things...even a pastor who's misrepresenting the Truth.

I am not sure the pulpit is the place to tell how to vote, though I can certainly understand that we have to discuss issues of the day. Should the Church have been silent on civil rights back in the 1960's etc? I know we can argue the biblical passages until the end of time, but it seems to me the essence is this. If we have to feel good about ourselves by putting down somebody who is different from us and can't let others have the same happiness as the rest of us, then we are living by something other than the grace of God.

I am really concerned that a pastor can stand before his congregation to preach and pass out a 3 page article that he wrote, encouraging them to vote no. A pastor has the responsibility of teaching his congregation the truth from the Bible. Where in the Bible are there references to a man being married to a man or a woman being married to a women. I don't understand how this pastor can mislead the congregation in this way. I would be concerned what other things he is saying in the name of God that isn't in the Bible anywhere.
I have heard that this church is struggling and that the membership numbers are low. Nothing would be better than if all churches would be growing and thriving -- but this won't happen if the church is not filled with the Holy Spirit. This issue isn't about loving or not loving Gay people it is about what the Bible says about defining marriage. Who are we to rewrite the Bible.. however I do understand that if the Bible isn't your foundation then there is no grounds for commonality.

Chris and Angelina, you make my point exactly, while ignoring my argument altogether. Who are you to say that that Rev. Dubose is wrong in his interpretation of the Bible? Chris, there are no references to a marriage being between a man and a man. There are no reference to Wii or baseball either. During the time when the books of the Bible were written, it was generally held that the earth was the center of a three-tiered universe, and that God lived above the sky. There certainly was no notion that the Earth orbited the Sun, and no one knew about germs and bacteria, only that sickness was punishment.

I'm concerned that the lack of serious scholarship has caused people to make literal interpretations of the Bible, when in fact some of the books of the Bible were edited and re-edited over a long period of time until they were considered worthy of the Bible, while some have never made it at all. Even version printed today have words and interpretations that not only vary from versions published 40 years ago, but vary from publisher to publisher...

But I'm not here to castigate either the Bible or its believers. Rather I, one, don't think literal adherence to the Bible justifies discrimination or the application of a strict moral code as legislation; two, the definition of marriage has changed over the centuries and varied from culture to culture; and three, the application of religious custom on our laws based on Biblical interpretations is wholly inappropriate because we have never been a Christian nation (Read the Treaty of Tripoli) and there are myriad religions, belief systems, and spiritual if not religious people comprising our nation. Our nation's laws are governed by the Constitution and Declaration of Independence, not by the Bible, the Book of Mormon, or Shariah Law. To deny gays the same rights as heterosexuals is not only unconstitutional, but it is unpatriotic. If you want to live in a theocracy, then move to Iran. I for one am eternally grateful that we do have commonality, Angelina: We needn't believe in a Bible to respect, value, and protect an individual's inalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

Thanks to everyone who commented on this story. I want to clear up two misconceptions in the comments.

First, I did not tell the congregation how to vote. For 30 years in ministry I've always told everyone to simply vote. What was different about this sermon was that for the first time, I told them how I was voting on a particular issue. I did ask everyone to vote, whether they agreed with me or not. I truly believe democracy does not work unless everyone participates.

Second, Spirit of Hope is not a failing congregation. In five years we have gone from about 165 per Sunday in worship to about 210. The number of children in our programs has gone from less than 10 to over 70. We are considering adding a second service.

Spirit of Hope is a radically inclusive congregation. We welcome and include all people regardless of their sexual orientation. Its true that many of our people were opposed to the marriage amendment, but we also equally welcome those who would have supported it. The only requirement for participating in this congregation is to treat others respectfully.

The article I wrote is about why Spirit of Hope is a Reconciling congregation. You can read it here:

http://mytakeonministry.wordpress.com/

Thanks again for your thoughtful responses. I would love to get to know all of my community neighbors. We worship on Sundays at 10:00 am.

Be at peace,
The best is yet to be,
Rev. Ed DuBose

Pastor..does not matter if you have 50 or 5000 people in your church, clearly your moral and Christian principles are falling. You can't clasify the sins. God loves the sinner but He doesn't loves the sin. Leviticus 18:22. "Do not have sexual relations with a man as one does with a woman; that is detestable" .1 Corinthians 6:9
"Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men". I'm very sad to drive by your church and see the gay flag on the front. I hope God speaks to your heart and open your eyes. God made ​​marriage between a man and a woman. That's it! this is biblical. You have to love the gays and reprimand the satanic spirit of homosexuality. But don't put a gay flag in your church, it is an offense against the Holy Spirit. God must be very sad to see churches like this.
God bless you
Read this article
http://www.sexualidentityinstitute.org/sexual-identity-therapy