In Brief... World News Review: Rabbis Sanction Gay "Marriages"
Rabbis in America's largest Jewish movement have declared that they can officiate at same-sex unions.
Rabbis in America's largest Jewish movement have declared that they can officiate at same-sex unions, but stopped short of calling them marriages.
The decision was made in secret after a debate by members of the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the rabbinical arm of the liberal group known as Reform Judaism, which has more than 1.5 million members.
The resolution backed any rabbi's decision to preside over affirmation of a gay union using any "appropriate Jewish ritual." In a compromise that made passage of the measure possible, the group recognized its divisions of opinion by agreeing also to support any rabbis who choose not to officiate at such ceremonies.
Other American Christian and Jewish denominations are to debate homosexual weddings in the coming months. The issue will be opposed by the Presbyterian, United Methodist and Episcopal churches.
Until now, only the Unitarian Church and the United Church of Christ, both small Christian groups, have formally allowed clergy to officiate at same-sex unions. Two Jewish groups, the Conservative branch and the Orthodox movement, remain firmly opposed to the idea as contrary to Jewish law. The Torah calls homosexuality an abomination.
The vote reflects the spirit of the Reform movement, founded in the 19th century. Its members do not consider themselves bound by traditional Jewish law. Rather, they believe that rules, such as those governing the Sabbath and diet, should be more in keeping with the times. (The Times of London, March 31, 2000.)
An Article from:
World News and Prophecy: April - May 2000
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Darris McNeely
Darris McNeely works at the United Church of God home office in Cincinnati, Ohio. He and his wife, Debbie, have served in the ministry for more than 43 years. They have two sons, who are both married, and four grandchildren. Darris is the Associate Media Producer for the Church. He also is a resident faculty member at the Ambassador Bible Center teaching Acts, Fundamentals of Belief and World News and Prophecy. He enjoys hunting, travel and reading and spending time with his grandchildren.
John Ross Schroeder
John died on March 8, 2014, in Oxford, England, four days after suffering cardiac arrest while returning home from a press event in London. John was 77 and still going strong.
Some of John's work for The Good News appeared under his byline, but much didn't. He wrote more than a thousand articles over the years, but also wrote the Questions and Answers section of the magazine, compiled our Letters From Our Readers, and wrote many of the items in the Current Events and Trends section. He also contributed greatly to a number of our study guides and Bible Study Course lessons. His writing has touched the lives of literally millions of people over the years.
John traveled widely over the years as an accredited journalist, especially in Europe. His knowledge of European and Middle East history added a great deal to his articles on history and Bible prophecy.
In his later years he also pastored congregations in Northern Ireland and East Sussex, and that experience added another dimension to his writing. He and his wife Jan were an effective team in our British Isles office near their home.
John was a humble servant who dedicated his life to sharing the gospel—the good news—of Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God to all the world, and his work was known to readers in nearly every country of the world.
