Marriage is not Religious. If it were, then it would not require a license nor be legally recognized. A child's name is not legally changed when he goes through the Catholic right of confirmation because that is a religious ceremony. Marriage is a state contract between people who want to share and care for one another, with all rights and privileges allowed by having proof of familial status. The right to care for one's family should not be restricted to a person's religious background. It should be decided by the those who so choose to unite as a family unit.

Check this out. This guy comes on introduced as Rev, an ego title, as opposed to, say pastor, which implys humility and servutude. We hear a slice of sermon. It's delivered in a phony retro style, really more white hillbilly than black halielujah. Then 8 min in he's a schollar of Aramaic, explaining mistranslations as reason for modern confusion @ bible/homosexuality. Really? What is it we mis-translated? This is not abstract/philosophic stuff. The words are "man with man". Like it or not. It be what it be. This guy's a phoooooony.

I have never heard ANY religious leader speak on a level of such pure love and acceptance of all people. It's our job to love and accept and the judgement to come from a higher level, and I don't mean politicians, although many would think I was referring to them. The Mt. Ennon Church is so fortunate to have someone so well spoken and loving leading them. Bravo.

This is the first time I've heard a member of the American Christian church speak so reasonably.

I grew up Christian but left the church in part because of its political activism, which I find inappropriate and completely mis-prioritized by my understanding of Jesus' mission and the New Testament. I have used the Reverend's phrase "hierarchy of sins" many times in the past in my take on why the modern church has it wrong (gay marriage over feeding the poor? really? please re-read the book of Matthew) - it was so refreshing to hear someone from the "inside" say it.

If I were in Maryland I'd visit this church, no question. (note this, churches everywhere - I'm sure many more people would agree.)

If I lived in Maryland I would run to join reverend Coates church. As a gay black male I left the church decades ago because of the churches intransigence on this issue. Coates is spot on with his separation of public policy and personal theology argument.

Bravo reverand Coates

Karl Jones

The key - the "takeaway" if you will - of his position is that today's majority is tomorrow's minority, and equality of law should preside over shifting theologies and majority opinions.

What a fabulous segment with the brave Reverend. I love the notion of living rather than legislating your faith. Archbishop Desmond Tutu, another brave religious leader, has been at the forefront of this openness in South Africa, once going as far as to state: "If God, as they say, is homophobic, I wouldn't worship that God."