UU Fellowship offering Free Same-Sex Marriages

In celebration of the Californai Supreme Court decision on marriage equality, the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Santa Cruz County is offering free wedding services to same-sex couples through mid-July, 2008.

Three couples were married through the fellowship on Tuesday, June 17, 2008, the first day gay and lesbian couples could be married in California, including the fellowship’s minister Rev. Deane Oliva and her partner Karen Genter.

Ministerial services by Rev, Oliva will be offered free of cost through July 16, 2008. Some use of the Fellowship facilities is also available free of cost. Contact the administrator (administrator [at] uufscc.org or 831 684 0506) for more details.

“This momentous decision has been joyously awaited,” says Rev. Deane Oliva. "Unitarian Universalists have been standing on the side of love for a long time. That’s what this decision is all about, love and fairness. Freedom to marry is about all California citizens being treated equally under the law. The time has come.”

Unitarian Universalists have been on the forefront gay and lesbian rights. The first recorded celebration of commitment in a Unitarian Church is the late 1950’s.

The Santa Cruz fellowship is designated a “Welcoming Fellowship”, a commitment to being inclusive and expressive of concerns of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at every level of congregational life.

“For UUs, celebrating same-sex marriages is a way to affirm our first principle, the inherent worth and dignity of every person,” says Deborah Pembrook, a member of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Santa Cruz County.

The fellowship has is located on a wooded setting. Two of the fellowship hall walls are glass with ample sunlight and facing a view of the natural setting. Kitchen and patio is also available with seating up to 100.

More information is available from Rev. Deane Oliva at 831-684-0506 and administrator [at] uufscc.org.