QUESTIONS? CALL: 317.773.6477

Indiana Ministries

Indiana Ministries

Indiana Ministries of the Church of God
Monday - Thursday
(9:00a-4:00p)
Friday (Closed)

T (317) 773-6477, F (317) 773-6570
Email: info@indianaministries.org

Indiana Ministries
13300 Olio Rd Suite 303 Fishers, IN 46037

Open in Google Maps
  • HOME
  • ABOUT US
    • Our Mission & Vision
    • Our Team
    • Find a Church
    • Boards and Committees
    • Indiana Ministries News
    • Upcoming Events
    • Location & Contact Info
  • MINISTRIES
    • Students
      • Discover State Youth Convention
    • Credentialing & Ordination
    • Consulting
  • MULTIPLICATION
    • Crossroads 37
    • Midwest Multiplication Initiative
  • MISSION 120
  • THRIVE
  • RESOURCES
    • Leadership Development
    • Recordings & Videos
    • Upcoming Events
    • COVID-19 Response Resources
    • Racism and Prejudice Resources
    • Disaster Relief
    • Open Positions
    • Pulpit Supply List
    • Ministry Connector
    • MORE Resources
DONATENOW
  • Home
  • IM News
  • A Letter From Doug Talley & GA Resolutions

A Letter From Doug Talley & GA Resolutions

Indiana Ministries
Wednesday, 10 December 2014 / Published in IM News

A Letter From Doug Talley & GA Resolutions

December 10, 2014

Dear Church of God Congregation and/or Church of God Minister,

You are probably aware that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned state laws that ban same-sex marriages in Indiana, Oklahoma, Utah, Virginia, and Wisconsin.  By doing so, the Supreme Court has basically established a new legal precedent that legalizes gay marriage.  A couple of years ago the Pentagon informed military chaplains that they are allowed to conduct same-sex marriages in states that recognize gay marriages.

As a result of these legal decisions, it is only a matter of time before gay and lesbian couples will be approaching Church of God pastors to perform their same-sex marriages and will request to have them conducted in one of our local church facilities.  In light of this reality, our national offices at Church of God Ministries – after consultation with standing legal counsel Dungan & LeFevre Co., LPA – wants to ensure that our credentialed ministers and military chaplains have clarity and are well equipped to deal with legal questions that may arise concerning the issue of same-sex marriage.  In an effort to provide support for ministers and congregations across the Church of God, we are sharing this vital information.

Church of God Ministries has asked Indiana Ministries to send the following information to each credentialed congregation and minister regarding Same-Sex Marriages and Facility Protection.

There are several pieces of information that are included and should be reviewed by you and your board.

  1. This past June (2014) at the Church of God 96th General Assembly, a resolution was adopted regarding the officiating/hosting of Same-Sex Marriages. The resolution is attached in this information for your review.
  2. Credentialing Manual changes regarding same sex marriages. Two wording changes were made to sections 6.11 and 7.31. Please see attached.
  3. Frequently Asked Questions – info that will prepare you for questions that you will get from your community.

Indiana Ministries has asked our legal counsel to review the info that Church of God Ministries has suggested as a model policy statement specifically for our congregations in Indiana. After their review, we highly recommend that you add this section to your congregational bylaws:

RESTRICTION ON USE OF FACILITIES

The (insert here the name of church) Corporation reserves the right to restrict the use of all properties owned from any event or program (including same-sex weddings) judged by the (insert here your congregation’s top decision making board) to be at odds with the mission or teachings of the congregation and/or with the Church of God movement (Anderson, IN), represented formally by the actions of the movement’s General Assembly in United States and Canada.

Please contact our offices if you have further questions regarding this issue.

Sincerely,

Doug Talley

Executive State Minister

August 2014 Communication to the Regional Pastors re the 2014 GA Resolution

FAQs to Accompany the Communication to the Regional Pastors re the 2014 GA Resolution

Resolution Ministerial-Facility Protection Against Forced Officiating-Hosting of Same-Sex Marriages adopted by the 96th GA of CHOG – June 26 2014 2nd copy

  • Tweet

What you can read next

jeff-2
Exponential Reflection by Jeff Matas
There is More…
doug-1
Unreasonably Reasonable

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recent Posts

  • IM Board of Directors Announces New State Pastor

    By Doug Talley The Board of Directors for India...
  • State Pastor Announcement

    Click here to read the full letter from Chairma...
  • Christmas…already?!!!

    By Jeff Matas I suffer from seasonal low testos...
  • Midwest Multiplication Initiative

    Our Developing Story By Tom Planck In summer of...
  • Reflections

    By Doug Talley The 2022 Ordination Service and ...

Recent Comments

  • Don Smith on IM Board of Directors Announces New State Pastor
  • Eleanor A Talley on Commitment to Multiply
  • Iris Cole on Vacation Time for Pastors
  • Alyne on Chief Cornerstone Christian Center
  • Alyne on Getting Perspective in 2022

FOLLOW US

over a year agoNews From Indiana Ministries https://t.co/mbBn6CdmbV
over a year agoChurch Finance 2017 Workshop https://t.co/VEs8NDP9LC
over a year agoBe sure to check out this E-News! Do not want to miss out! https://t.co/VeSjcIEMym
Follow @IndianaMin

CONTACT US

13300 Olio Rd Suite 303
Fishers, IN 46037
P: 317.773.6477
F: 317.773.6570
  • GET SOCIAL

© 2017 Indiana Ministries

TOP
X