Religious Institutions hold varying views on same-sex marriage. Arguments both for and against same-sex marriage are often made on religious grounds and/or formulated in terms of religious doctrine. Although many of the world's religions are opposed to same-sex marriage, the number of religious denominations that are conducting same-sex marriages has increased since 2010. Religious views on same-sex marriage are closely related to religious views on homosexuality.
Religious support
Buddhism
Due to the ambivalent language about homosexuality in Buddhist teachings, there has been no official stance put forth regarding the issue of marriage between members of the same gender. There is no official Buddhist position on the issue of same-sex marriage.
In 1997, the Dalai Lama said, "We have to make a distinction between believers and unbelievers, [...] From a Buddhist point of view, men-to-men and women-to-women is generally considered sexual misconduct. [...] From society's viewpoint, mutually agreeable homosexual relations can be of mutual benefit, enjoyable and harmless."
On October 11, 1995, some religious leaders gave testimony to the Commission on Sexual Orientation and the Law in support of same-gender marriages. Robert Aitken, co-founder and teacher of the Honolulu Diamond Sangha, a Zen Buddhist society established in 1959, with centers in Manoa and Palolo, gave written testimony on the subject of same-sex marriage. Aitken explains that by applying the Four Noble Abodes (loving kindness, compassion, joy in the attainment of others, and equanimity) to the issue of same-sex marriage, he finds compassion for and with the gay or lesbian couple who wish to confirm their love in a legal marriage. Aitken cites a precept about sex which Zen Buddhists inherit from earlier classical Buddhists teachings.
It is one of the sixteen precepts accepted by all Zen Buddhist monks, nuns and seriously committed lay people. He understands this to mean that self-centred sexual conduct is inappropriate, and he vows to avoid it. He believes that self-centred sex is exploitive sex, non-consensual sex, sex that harms others. It is unwholesome and destructive in a heterosexual as well as in a homosexual context. He goes on to explain that The Legislative Reference Bureau compiled a formidable list of rights that are extended to married couples in Hawai'i, but which are denied to couples who are gay and lesbian.
He argued in 2021 that gay and lesbian unions would be "settled even more" if they were acknowledged with basic married rights. Aitken says, "A long-standing injustice would be corrected, and the entire gay and lesbian community would feel more accepted. This would stabilize a significant segment of our society, and we would all of us be better able to acknowledge our diversity. I urge you to advise the Legislature and the people of Hawai'i that legalizing gay and lesbian marriages will be humane and in keeping with perennial principles of decency and mutual encouragement."
Christianity
Support and affirmation of marriage rights for same-sex couples generally comes from certain Christian denominations that are considered theologically liberal. Some examples of religious organizations voicing their support for same-sex marriage include the:
Metropolitan Community Church United Church of Christ United Church of Canada Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Episcopal Church of the United States Anglican Church of Canada, Evangelical Lutheran Church In America, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada, Church of Denmark (including the Church of Greenland), Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, Church of Sweden, Church of Norway, Protestant Church in the Netherlands, United Protestant Church of France, United Protestant Church in Belgium, Icelandic Church, Swiss Reformed Church, Protestant Church in Baden, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bavaria,Bayerischer Rundfunk.de: "Trauung für alle": Bayerns Protestanten trauen nun alle Paare Evangelical Church in Berlin, Brandenburg and Silesian Upper Lusatia, Bremen Evangelical Church, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Brunswick, Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Hanover, Protestant Church in Hesse and Nassau, Evangelical Church of Hesse Electorate-Waldeck, Church of Lippe, Evangelical Church in Central Germany, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Northern Germany, Evangelical Lutheran Church in Oldenburg, Evangelical Church of the Palatinate, Evangelical Reformed Church (Germany), Evangelical Church in the Rhineland, Evangelical-Lutheran Church of Saxony, Evangelical Church of Westphalia, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Methodist Church of Great Britain, Scottish Episcopal Church, Quakers, Old Catholic Church Quakers United Methodist Church, Unitarian Universalists church. There are progressive congregations within mainline Christian denominations, such as More Light Presbyterians, and Dignity USA that voice support for same-sex marriage.
United Church of Canada The United Church of Canada (600,000 members) was active in the campaign that led to legal recognition of same-sex marriages in Canada. The United Church of Canada now allows individual congregations to decide whether or not to perform these marriages. Likewise, in the Protestant Church of the Netherlands, where same-sex marriages have been legal since 2001, individual congregations decide if they will perform these marriages.
In 2000, United Church of Canada, in its 37th General Council said, "human sexual orientations, whether heterosexual, bisexual or homosexual, are a gift from God." In 2003, the Church called for the federal government to create a civil framework that treated heterosexual and same sex couples equally.
Episcopal Church of the United States The Episcopal Church (as of 2015: 7,115 open parishes and missions; 2,009,084 active baptized members) at their 2009 General Convention declared that: "bishops, particularly those in dioceses within civil jurisdictions where same-gender marriage, civil unions, or domestic partnerships are legal, may provide generous pastoral response to meet the needs of members of this Church." On July 9, 2012, the Episcopal Church passed a resolution that was to be voted on later to approve an official liturgy for blessing same-sex unions. This liturgy, called "The Witnessing and Blessing of a Lifelong Covenant," would enable priests to bestow the church's blessing on same-sex couples; priests could refuse to perform marriages, and bishops could prohibit same-sex marriage in their diocese. Denial would come without penalty, but the priest or diocese would have to direct same-sex couples they decline to another church or priest willing to perform the ceremony. The resolution was confirmed on July 9, 2015 (three years later) on a 129 for and 26 against (with 5 abstaining) vote.
United Methodist Church The United Methodist Church did not permit same-sex marriage or the ordination of LGBT people until May 2024. At the 2024 General Conference, 93% of delegates voted to lift existing bans on the ordination of LGBTQ+ people, and the hosting of same-sex marriages. The General Conference removed restrictions and created a series of affirmations and agreements treating all persons with respect regarding their gender identity and sexual orientation.
Metropolitan Community Church The Metropolitan Community Church (43,000 members) sees its mission being social as well as spiritual by standing up for the rights of minorities, particularly those of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. MCC has been a leading force in the development of Queer theology.Edward R. Gray, Gay religion By Scott Thumma, Alta Mira Press, 2005 As such, the MCC is notable for publicly supporting same-sex marriage as early as the 1960s. Notably in 1970 Troy Perry, the church's founder, filed the first lawsuit in the U.S. seeking legal recognition for same-sex marriages. Perry lost that lawsuit but launched the debate over same-sex marriage in the U.S. Today, MCC congregations around the world perform more than 6000 same-sex marriage ceremonies annually.
Presbyterian Church USA The Presbyterian Church USA General Assembly Permanent Judicial Commission ruled in 2006 that same-sex ceremonies are not forbidden, as long as they are not considered to be the same as marriage services. Debate on the issue within the church evolved over the years. In 2000, the General Assembly had approved language for the church constitution that stated church teachings were that people were "to live either in fidelity within the covenant of marriage between a man and a woman or in chastity in singleness.," and barred church officers and property from being used for blessing or approval upon any other form of fidelity relationship, but ratification for this language was never obtained by the presbyteries. By 2014, the General Assembly passed an Authoritative Interpretation permitting pastors to sign marriage licences for same-gender couples where permitted by civil law in the states where their church was found, which took immediate effect.
On March 17, 2015, ratification by a majority of presbyteries was reached on a constitutional amendment passed by that same 2014 General Assembly, which broadened the definition of marriage in the Directory for Worship from only being between "a man and a woman," to "two people, traditionally a man and a woman," thus giving official sanction to, while not making it mandatory for, any congregation's pastor to preside over and bless marriage ceremonies for same-gender couples.
United Church of Christ The United Church of Christ's General Synod (998,906 members) passed a resolution affirming "equal marriage rights for all people regardless of gender" in 2005. The church allows but does not require pastors to perform same-sex weddings.
Christian biblical scholarship