A reflection on the blessing of gay couples

Reflection by Eric Noffke, Pastore Valdese, sent to Gionata.org on 17 September 2007

We have received, we will gladly publish, a reflection of the Waldensian shepherd Noffke who helps us better understand the current discussion in the Valdese Church and Methodist on the blessing of homosexual couples.

Dear friends, dear friends, I only point out a correction to what you write. It is correct to say that the Waldensian and methodist churches I agree to consider sexual orientation a private question and, therefore, irrelevant to the full welcome in the church. The question of blessings is, however, still very controversial among us for another reason: in our Church there is no possibility of blessing a marriage that has no civil value, because in the seventies we wanted to underline the fact that for us the Marriage is not a sacrament but a civil institution (therefore, there is no "Christian" marriage).

Now, the question of many is: if we not bless unmarried heterosexual couples, why should we do it with homosexual ones? Others' response is: because it is right to give a form of recognition to the will of two people to exchange mutual commitment to build a new life together, when this possibility is (I would add "shamefully") denied by the state.

The question, however, cannot be solved so simply, because now, on the basis of this need, we must redefine what we mean with blessing, marriage etc.

You understand that this is not a question that can be resolved in a short time and that a long debate will be necessary. For this reason (and also, perhaps above all, in order not to definitively close the relationship with the Battiste churches) I believe that at the Assembly-Synod (editor's note in Rome) the discussion will not arrive at any concrete decision.

Thank you for the attention, I greet you cordially and I wish you a good job.

Eric Noffke, Waldensian shepherd