Inter-'Ideological' Marriage in the Redwoods

Fairfax -- July 8, 2005

The Rev. Gayle Pickrell of Christ Church UM in Santa Rosa married her nephew and his bride from Nebraska in the redwood groves of Deer Park Villa on July 2. Ryan had wrestled for a while, Rev. Pickrell said, with how to acknowledge in the ceremony that he and his wife are privileged by the rules of our society to form a legal partnership, but his gay and lesbian friends are not.

Ryan and his wife had met as AmeriCorps Volunteers, fulfilling a mutual concern for helping those in need and for social justice issues. But how to acknowledge social justice issues for the LGBT community with perhaps half of the attendees -- including the bride's Nebraska family -- not agreeing? "The couple didn't want to make their wedding a political statement," Pickrell said.

Pickrell affirmed in the ceremony that the couple's values "for establishing equality in relationships for inclusiveness...will continue to be primary" in their lives. "You recognize you are privileged to be able to stand before friends and family and publicly profess your love and commitment." She omitted, as too pointed, the next contemplated statement: "You recognize that many do not have that right and privilege." But she did say, "I recognize how privileged I am, as Ryan's aunt, who is also a United Methodist minister, to officiate in this special ceremony, and then sign the document that makes your marriage official when it is recorded in the Hall of Justice...You also recognize how important it is for all who are in covenant relationships to keep their friendship and support of the other strong."

Pickrell believes at least half of the attendees "got it."