Pennsylvania became the 19th state to legalize same-sex marriage on May 20 when U.S. District Court Judge John E. Jones III overturned an earlier ban.

So gay and lesbian couples can now exchange marriage vows anywhere in Pennsylvania. But does that mean a same-sex marriage can take place inside a church or be recognized as a marriage by a church?That depends on the denomination and the congregation.The Rev. Alan Miller, conference minister for the Penn Northeast Conference of the United Church of Christ, said, "Historically, the general synod has always voted for the equality and rights for gay and lesbian persons, including the question of ordination and same-gender marriage. That doesn't mean every congregation supports that stance. They make up their own minds," he said.So if a UCC minister is willing to perform a same-sex marriage but his or her church's stance is against it, the minister cannot perform the marriage in that church. The minister could perform the marriage elsewhere, if he or she is so inclined.The Rev. Suzanne Brooks-Cope, pastor at St. Matthew's UCC in Kunkletown, says the UCC has been ordaining gays and lesbians for decades and was the first denomination to do so."Also, 10 years ago, the general synod of the UCC passed a same-sex marriage resolution allowing UCC churches and pastors to conduct same-sex marriages. But the UCC is a congregational polity so every church and pastor is free to decide for themselves whether or not they will perform a same-sex marriage," Brooks-Cope said.Her situation is a little different from most UCC pastors.She is a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church, so she needs to follow the Book of Order and Constitution of the Presbyterian Church USA.Thursday, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church voted to look into redefining the definition of marriage. This will now go out to all those presbyteries to vote on it. They have a year to do so. If they vote in favor of a new definition of a marriage, it will then become a part of the Book of Order, but not until a year from now."For the moment, marriage in my denomination is defined as the covenant between a man and a woman. Ministers in the Presbyterian USA are not allowed to perform a 'marriage' between two men or two women," Brooks-Cope said.She said that Presbyterian pastors are allowed to marry a same sex couple in a state where it is legal, without fear of being taken to trial.Backed by BibleThe Pennsylvania Catholic Conference, the public affairs agency of Pennsylvania's Catholic bishops, issued a statement on May 20 which decries the ruling."The redefinition of marriage enshrines in law a denial of the rights of children to a mother and a father united in marriage. Catholic opposition to same-sex marriage is not a statement about the worth of human beings who experience same-sex attraction, but a statement about the nature of marriage itself. Marriage is beautiful indeed, and the Pennsylvania Catholic Conference does not support this judge's redefinition of this fundamental human institution.The Catholic conference is hoping for an appeal.With that in mind, the Rev. William Campion, pastor of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Palmerton, said, "Marriage is between a man and a woman. Marriage has two aspects, unitive (the union of a man and a woman) and procreative (to have children). Same-sex couples would never be able to procreate. That's how God made us. But that doesn't mean we don't have compassion or an open spirit to those who have different opinions," Campion said.The Rev. Robin Fisher, pastor of Effort United Methodist Church, said even though state law has changed, the "2012 United Methodist Book of Discipline" states "Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches."The Rev. Stuart T. Szmaciasz, senior pastor of Cornerstone Community Church in Kresgeville, said its church follows the Baptist theology."As far as other Baptist churches go, most are independent so it's hard to give you an exact figure. If I were to guess I would say 90 percent would say homosexual activity is sinful, and therefore they would not endorse gay marriage.""At Cornerstone Community Church we believe that homosexual acts are one of many sexual sins mentioned in the Bible and that Jesus clearly taught that marriage was between one man and one woman. Therefore, we would not endorse or participate in gay marriage," he said."Personally, I would not be willing to officiate at a same-sex marriage ceremony because it would be encouraging people to continue in their sin and therefore not acting in love toward them," Szmaciasz said.Supporting same-sex marriages"Same-sex marriages have been discussed and debated for many years by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. In 2009 it was agreed that Christians can disagree and leave it up to the individuals and each congregation. It's now recognized in Pennsylvania, and if the congregations see support that same-sex marriage is something they want to do, it's their choice," says Pastor Catherine Ziel, executive associate of the bishop of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Synod Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.The Rev. Deb Scheffey of Salem St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Kresgeville said she would perform a marriage ceremony of a same-sex couple after premarital counseling, which is something all couples do.Adam Bond, Missioner for Communication of The Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, said that as early as 1976, the general convention of the Episcopal Church declared that "homosexual persons are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons upon the love, acceptance, and pastoral concern and care of the Church.""Since then the Episcopal Church has been at the forefront of the debate on LGBT rights. In 2003, for instance, the Episcopal Church consecrated its first openly gay bishop, Gene Robinson of New Hampshire, and in 2009, the general convention resolved that God's call is open to all."As of 2012, a provisional rite of blessing for same-sex couples was approved by the Episcopal Church. This rite has been used already in many churches around the 14 counties of the Diocese of Bethlehem in northeastern Pennsylvania," he said.The Rt. Rev. Sean W. Rowe, bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania and Bishop Provisional of the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem, said, "The Episcopal Church has struggled faithfully with the issue of same-sex relationships for more than three decades, and in that struggle most of us have come to understand that same-sex couples and their families are blessings to their communities and to their neighbors and friends."The Rev. Jane Arrington Bender, rector of All Saints' Episcopal Church in Lehighton was also pleased by the ruling."Our bishop, Paul V. Marshall, was the leader in the national church on same-sex unions because marriage was not possible until the recent ruling. Marshall wrote the text for the same-sex blessing, authorized since 2004," said Bender, who has officiated at a same-sex union."We do not expect everyone to agree with this, but we are moving forward in the inclusion of same-sex couples and in the blessing of these unions. I am personally thankful to be a part of the Episcopal church leadership in moving forward with this."Father Abraham Valiath, pastor of St. John's Episcopal Church, Palmerton, added, "I personally agree of the concept of equality, with the law and with the social community."