The First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego will join 64 other Unitarian Universalist congregations across the state of California to host a special worship service focused on the theme of “Standing on the Side of Love” on Sunday, Feb. 13. The services will begin at two different times: 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. at 4190 Front St. across the street from UCSD Medical Center.

The Reverend Arvid Straube will lead the service, which will honor all couples, including same-sex partners.

“We are doing this, however, as a result of the events that are happening right now in California around same-sex marriage because a lot of our members and friends who are in marriages, not legally recognized of unfortunately, are feeling threatened, oppressed and discounted as human beings,” said Straube. “The Sunday before Valentine’s Day we want to let them know that here their relationships are cherished and encouraged and accepted.”

The special Valentine’s Day weekend service will feature music including a newly commissioned hymn, “Standing on the Side of Love,” by Nashville composer and Unitarian Universalist minister Jason Shelton.

Rev. Straube will conduct the sermon, “The Four Horsemen of the Marital Apocalypse: A Valentine Sermon” and will discuss issues that break apart marriages.

“I’ll be talking about some behaviors that have been shown to be deadly to marriages. We’re going to have a liturgical drama group in having couples portray those behaviors, so we have one same-sex couple in that skit,” said Straube. “The issues are very similar if not identical in terms of what it takes to keep a committed relationship going for year after year.”

There will also be a reception complete with wedding cake honoring the unions of same-sex couples, as well as an opportunity to make Valentines in support of marriage equality. The special Valentines will be delivered to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger asking him to “Stand on the Side of Love” and support civil marriage rights for all Californians. The participating congregations hope to send 1,000 Valentines to the governor symbolizing the more than 1,000 benefits denied to same-sex couples in domestic partnerships or committed relationships.

The Sacramento-based UU Legislative Ministry of California (UULM-CA) and the Boston-based Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) organized the yearlong “Standing on the Side of Love” campaign.

According to UULM-CA’s executive director, Rev. Lindi Ramsden, UULM-CA is a statewide justice ministry that serves to empower the moral voice of Unitarian Universalist values in the public arena. Unitarian Universalism has historical roots in Jewish and Christian traditions and is a liberal religion, which keeps an open mind to the religious questions people have struggled with throughout time.

The religion’s history in North American is traced back to the first Pilgrim and Puritan settlers, with five U.S. presidents among some of its members. More than 1,000 congregations in North America belong to the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA).

Unitarian Universalists have long supported marriage equality across the U.S. Two California ministers participated in the National Marriage Equality Express, an interfaith cross-country bus caravan that started in California and ended in Washington, D.C., stopping in 10 cities last October.

Straube said the Unitarian Universalist congregation took its majority stance on same-sex marriages even though members have different political affiliations such as Republican, Democrat, Independent and Green.

“Last spring the congregation as a whole voted overwhelmingly to support the idea of same-sex marriage,” said Straube. “It takes a super, super majority to speak for a congregation on a social issue, so that was a significant vote.”

Unitarian Universalist members and clergy made national headlines in Massachusetts this past year. Four of the seven plaintiff couples in the historic Massachusetts court decision were legally married last year in ceremonies officiated by Unitarian Universalist ministers on May 17. Unitarian Universalist ministers have been officiating union services for same-sex couples for over 30 years.

UUA president, the Rev. William G. Sinkford, is a recognized nationwide leader among clergy in advocacy of marriage equality.

“Unitarian Universalists will continue to do all we can to work for marriage equality. ‘Standing on the side of love’, our ministers will preach for equality, our congregations will mobilize for equality, and our Association will voice support for marriage equality in the public arena,” said Rev. Sinkford in a press release. “For Unitarian Universalists, this is a matter of justice. And in the long run, I know justice will prevail.”

For more information about the “Standing on the Side of Love” service at First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego, call (619) 298-9978 or log onto http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to the First Unitarian Universalist Church of San Diego web site.

For more information about California Unitarian Universalists’ “Standing on the Side of Love” campaign and events throughout 2005, contact Rev. Ramsden at lramsden@uulmca.org, call (916) 441-0018, or log on to http://www.gaylesbiantimes.com for a link to the UULM-CA web site.