Same-sex pastors marry, in a first for France’s Protestant Church

Pastors Emeline Daude and Agnes Kauffmann just got married -- becoming the first gay or lesbian clergy members to marry within the United Protestant Church of France (EPUdF). 

 

Although same-sex marriages within the EPUdF have been allowed since 2015, they remained a very controversial subject among Church leaders and members, and not all parishes or pastors will (or are required to) perform them. Heterosexual Protestant clergy members, on the other hand, have long been encouraged to marry.

 

According to a release, Daude told France’s AFP that “LGBT people need to see other committed LGBT people, including in the religious sphere.” 

 

So far, 30 of the world's Protestant churches allow same-sex marriages of their clergy, the EPUdF’s spokesperson, Daniel Cassou, told reporters. 

 

The EPUdF has an estimated 450 pastors, 960 congregations, and over 250,000 members. 

Get the full scoop in this AFP release on France 24 News (Paris). 

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Churches are changing, but can they change fast enough? 

 

A growing number of churches support both same-sex marriage and openly LGBTQ+ clergy members, but marriage between same-sex and LGBTQ+ clergy members remains a hotly-debated issue. 

 

Outdated concepts of what qualifies someone for the pulpit, or for any place at the head of a spiritual community, are evolving with the times, but slowly.

 

Fewer Americans than ever before identify with a specific church or religion. More and more, people are identifying as spiritual but not religious, non denominational, or non religious. 

 

This collective move away from the strict confines of conservative religious organizations makes sense. These organizations have long discriminated against anyone who can’t conform to oppressive ideas of gender and sexuality, but people of all faiths want to be appreciated, accepted, loved, and treated with compassion as their authentic selves, while creating loving families and happy lives.

 

That’s why AMM is an inclusive, interfaith, non denominational church.

 

And it’s why we ordain ministers regardless of gender, race, sexuality, class, and ability. We believe that not only do all couples have the right to marry, but that they also have the right to choose who solemnizes their wedding... Because every couple deserves a wedding officiant who will treat them with respect while planning and celebrating their wedding day. 

 

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You might also like: 

 

 

• When his church discriminated, this Minister turned to American Marriage Ministries

 

• AMM ordains people of all faiths -- from pagans to monotheists, atheists to agnostics!

 

• A queer Tennessee Minister talks about the importance of online ordination, and the state’s discriminatory new law

 

• Tips on Gender & Pronouns for Inclusive Wedding Officiants

 

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