Congratulations on finding the love of your life and deciding to take the step to wed. At MCCA we perform close to 50 weddings a year, for same-sex couples and heterosexual couples!
A Holy Union is the spiritual joining together of two persons in a holy covenant. It is a Rite in Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) administered by licensed clergy. At this time a Holy Union has no legal significance and is not considered a marriage in the State of New Mexico, however we believe it has great significance to God.
You will be issued a certificate signed by the clergy officiating, the parties joining together and two witnesses. Should either or both parties wish to discontinue the covenant relationship, it will require a Dissolution of Holy Union through MCC.
The ceremony can be modified to accommodate special requests, or you may submit a ceremony of your choice to the clergy officiating at your service. The ceremony can be performed at a variety of places. There is a building usage fee if you wish to have it at MCC of Albuquerque and a separate honorarium for the clergy performing the service. Music can be live, CD, or DVD and we can accommodate video presentations.
You will receive a great resource book with information on the ceremony including sample vows and ring exchanges. Our worship space is a beautiful place to hold a ceremony and our celebration hall and backyard offer a place for you to continue your celebration. Our facility has refrigerated air which makes a huge difference!
Pastor Judy has performed over 200 wedding ceremonies and will work with you to make sure your ceremony is unique and a reflection of you as a couple! Your first step is to call her to make an appointment to come in and schedule the day you would like for your ceremony.
Upon request, a sample of a standard ceremony is available for your review. You may also ask to view the MCC of Albuquerque Function and Building Usage document. Our fees are reasonable and we will work with you to make sure your day is special! For information concerning a Wedding or a Holy Union, you may email Rev. Judith Maynard or call the church office at (505) 268-5252.
Holy Unions at Albuquerque Pride
Each year at Albuquerque Pride, Pastor Judy performs Holy Unions for our community. If you would like to have your ceremony at Pride (second Saturday in June), please call her to get more information.
Your Freedom to Marry
For more than 35 years, the predominantly GLBTQ MCC churches have worked to make legal marriage rights available to all people, including gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender persons.
Each year MCC churches perform more than 6000 same sex weddings – weddings that are recognized by God and by our GLBTQ communities, but not by the civil authorities. In acts of “civil disobedience” for the unjust discrimination against our community, cities in the United States have begun to issue same sex marriage licenses.
While we celebrate these steps, we know there is much to be done and we will continue to work with other agencies so that our community has the same rights as all people.
Facts
The US Supreme Court has declared marriage a fundamental right under our constitution.
Without the legal right to marry, same sex couples do not have rights like health coverage, pension plans, and tax benefits. There are 1,046 rights given to opposite sex couples when they marry!
Tradition can no longer justify discrimination. At MCC of Albuquerque, we will continue to offer to our community a wedding ceremony, which we call a Holy Union. Or, if you are able to travel to another country or city that is giving equal rights to our community, you may want to consider having a service locally for families and friends to attend.
If you are in a relationship that is of the deepest importance to you and if you would like to have a wedding that is recognized by God and our community, please call us.
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