CLEVELAND, Oct. 25 /U.S. Newswire/ -- A United Church of Christ executive in Cleveland is hailing a New Jersey Supreme Court decision on Oct. 25 that moves the Garden State a significant step closer to legalizing same-gender marriage.

"Today's decision by New Jersey's Supreme Court is good news for the citizens of New Jersey," said the Rev. Michael Schuenemeyer, the UCC's national minister for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender concerns. "The decision has honored the freedom of religion, refusing to allow one narrow view of marriage to be the law of the land, while preserving the right of religious institutions to continue to perform their own religious marriage ceremonies according to their traditions."

In 2005, the General Synod of the 1.2 million-member United Church of Christ affirmed its support for same-gender marriage equality, making the UCC the largest Christian denomination in the United States to support civil marriage rights for gay and lesbian couples. The UCC was also represented in an amicus curiae brief filed in support of the plaintiffs in the New Jersey case.

"The court has rightly understood the role of the state on the issue of marriage by affording all of its citizens, including its gay, lesbian and bisexual citizens, equality under the law," Schuenemeyer said.

The unanimous consensus of the court affirmed the equality of same-gender couples and instructed the New Jersey legislature to reverse an injustice that violates the rights of same-sex couples and their families, denying them equal access to the same rights, benefits and responsibilities offered to heterosexual couples.

"The hope that emanates from this decision is for the day when this is how it is not only in New Jersey and Massachusetts but throughout this country," Schuenemeyer said.

The UCC, formed in 1957 with the union of the Congregational Christian Churches in America and the Evangelical and Reformed Church, has 5,700 congregations throughout the United States.

The UCC's social policy statements related to LGBT issues are available at http://www.ucc.org/lgbt/statements.htm

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