As you may have heard, Thursday, May 15 the California Supreme Court opened the door towards marriage equality in the state. The Northern California Nevada Conference affirmed the California Supreme Court's ruling and celebrated the step towards equality for all. The ruling has opened the door to many questions that we have to ask ourselves as people of faith. Some questions are practical issues that we face, while other questions begin to address personal emotions and prayerful attitudes about what it may mean for people in progressive faith communities to become activists for an issue that they have spoken up for for many years.

Equality and radical hospitality is one of the many reasons that I am glad to be a member of the UCC, and glad to identify myself as a progressive Christian. Yet I found that when it came to my local church and our role in marriage equality, I wanted answers to more pointed questions. My local church has been Open & Affirming since 1995. Since that time, we have changed pastors and so I found myself asking: Will my pastor conduct same sex marriages? Will the congregation support same-sex marriages within the church building? How might we respond to the wider faith community in town?

I am also a member of an ecumenical campus ministry, supported by denominations that have not come out in support of marriage equality, as the UCC has. As we move from talk to action, how can our campus ministry support same-sex marriages? Will we allow ceremonies to take place on the property? Will my campus minister conduct the ceremonies? How does our ecumenism tie into a potential desire for radical hospitality?

This is the hardest part for many people. After years of affirming marriage equality, praying and communing about the role of faith in the search for equality, California, and I believe the nation, is at a turning point. As soon as June 16, legal ceremonies could begin, and this reality poses new questions and, with many communities, new concerns. I encourage all campus ministries to discuss how they might move from talk towards action. In 2007, the winning Campus Chaos entry was Mock Marriages at UC Santa Cruz. Members from the campus ministry, in honor of marriage equality, conducted "mock marriages," ceremoniously uniting couples who sought recognition. What might it mean for your local group to take such a stand?

There is a struggle ahead. In California there may be a constitutional amendment on the ballot in November that would ban same-sex marriages. This would override the Court's decision. There are also many faith communities who are not prepared to approach this issue. I encourage those communities to begin the dialogue, using tools from groups such as the UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns http://www.ucccoalition.org/, and the DOC GLAD (Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples) http://www.gladalliance.org/.

We walk together on this journey, and through the hardships, hold each other in our hearts and prayers.