After the Supreme Court’s 5-4 ruling in favor of same-sex marriage, two Lubbock churches opened their doors for two very different reasons Friday night.
St. John’s Methodist Church held a celebration of the Court’s decision with music, food, and joyful speeches.
“It’s a good day, it’s a good day for America, it’s a good day for the Constitution, it’s a great day for, to be a mom of gay sons, which I am,” Grace Rogers, a PFLAG member, said.
“I’m happy for all my gay friends. I used to feel guilty because I could be married with my beautiful wife, and I see a lot of my friends in this state doesn’t recognize their marriage, and I know if they’re sick, they’re spouse could be denied access to their hospital room,” Oren Grossman said.
The mood at Southcrest Baptist Church was the opposite. Texas Senator Charles Perry led a somber prayer in front of a crowd of approximately 50.
Those in attendance prayed for the future of the United States in the wake of what they called a “disappointing result.”
“I’m a man of faith. Anybody that knows me, I’ve never hid from that- ran from that. I’m a man of faith before I’m a politician, or a CPA. When I see things that don’t align with my faith I have no problem with being outspoken and bold and courageous in that. It’s what we’re called to do,” Perry said.
Also there Friday night was Ronnie Johns, who said he had mixed emotions on the issue.
“What really bothered me is I felt that we Christians probably haven’t shown the right message. We’ve let a lot of our rights as Christians, as believers, as religious followers, go by the wayside by thinking that it was the right thing to do be quiet,” Johns said.
“On a political level we have a process. And in a republic government, minority has a voice, and we should listen and hear, and maybe influence the debate. But on this issue, the minority voice took front and center and controlled. The self-professing faith based people honestly got left on the sideline from day 1 in this discussion,” Perry said.
EverythingLubbock.com spoke with several local business owners from the wedding industry on Friday. One woman said she would not cater a wedding for a same-sex couple if she was asked, but most others said that their business practices would not change after the Court’s ruling.
