The Episcopal denomination has now decided that even if a local priest does not agree with gay marriage his local church must find a way to accommodate such a request. If the local priest does not want to conduct the marriage ceremony he is to find a colleague who is willing.
No doubt this follows the well worn path of interracial marriage. It's hard to swallow that a large swath of Christianity once thought interracial marriage went against Christian principles. Preachers preached against it and those who disagreed we said to not be true Christians.
Since there is no biblical teaching against gay marriage preachers who oppose it are free-lancing Christians. They may not like homosexuality and are grasping at something in their faith to justify this dislike.
With churches closing, there are plenty of preachers around to take jobs at prosperous churches. I'm wondering if Episcopal priests who oppose gay marriage put that on their resumes when they are shopping for a new parish. I think they would have to limit job searches to rural areas and parts of the South.
There has been a concern expressed that when gay marriage became the law of the land preachers would be forced to perform gay marriages and stop preaching about homosexuality as sin. I've not heard of preachers being forced to do this but in time the market will require enthusiastic participation in gay marriages. Preachers have already adjusted, so I have heard, to the preferences of those in the pews not to preach so heavily about sin, damnation and hell. Sunshine Jesus is now the preferred theology.
With gay marriage now approved by the Episcopal church its place in mainstream Christianity is approaching.
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