Hundreds of people were expected for an interfaith service Friday evening at St. Luke's Episcopal Church, which is celebrating the marriage equality decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.
"This is a watershed moment for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters - and for our country," said the Rev. Dan Matthews Jr., rector of St. Luke's. "We at St. Luke's feel it is important to take the time to celebrate and to give God thanks for this leap forward."
The church invited members of the Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus and the Atlanta Women’s Chorus to join the church choir for the service.
In addition to offering thanksgiving for the court ruling, Matthews said the occasion allows St. Luke's to emphasize that its doors are open to all people seeking God. "Our hope is to make an important statement to the gay community, which has been so injured by the church in the past," he said.
The evening's program was to include readings from Langston Hughes, Bishop Desmond Tutu, and the Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, a woman of "elastic gender," who, at 66, became the first African-American woman ordained by the Episcopal Church. She was recognized as a saint by the church in 2012.
The service was to begin at 7:30 p.m. For information: 404-873-7630, www.StLukesAtlanta.org
