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Holy Union

Holy Union

Holy union in the Philippines. Same-sex marriage n the Philippines.

The Rite of the Holy Union is one of the Rites of the Metropolitan Community Churches all over the
world as stated in Article III, Section C, paragraph 3 of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan
Community Churches Bylaws and it says:

The RITE OF HOLY UNION is the spiritual joining of two persons in a manner fitting and proper by a duly
authorized clergy, Interim Pastoral Leader (Lay Pastoral Leader) of the Church, Ministry leader or Deacon
or UFMCC Elders. After both persons have been counseled and apprised of their responsibilities one
toward the other, this rite of conferring Gods blessing may be performed.

The essence of the Rite of Holy Union is the vow, the pledging of deepest fidelity of each other. It is the
spiritual joining of two persons regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. It is a celebration of
love witness and affirmed by their friends, family, and the Church.

Freedom of Religion

As of the present time there is no State Legislation or Jurisprudence as of yet (2017) in the Philippines
recognizing the Union of people of the same sex. There is also such state recognition or law yet
recognizing the union of Transgender persons with their partners who might be construed by society and
state also as a same sex union.

The Holy Union conducted by Open Table MCC is a religious ceremony that blesses, celebrates and
affirms the love and commitment of persons wishing to declare their vows of life-long loving partnership
and loyalty to one another.
As such, the Philippine Constitution guarantees that the Freedom of Religion is protected, in Article III,
Section 5 of the Bill of Rights states that:

No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.
The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or
preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political
rights.

The essence of the rite of the Holy Union is the exchanging of the vows of two loving persons that
promise to be together for the rest of their lives with or without the legal papers. This is a private
ceremony to be conducted purposely for the celebration of love.

What Holy Union Is Not

It is NOT a Marriage

The word marriage is a legal term that denotes the government and its laws and through its agencies
recognize a particular union or partnership. As of yet, since there is no law yet in the Philippines
recognizing and protecting the union of same sex or same gender couples, the Holy Union is therefore
not a Marriage.

It is NOT a solution to broken and problematic relationships

There is no magic formula or prayer or incantation that can make a bad relationship a good one. Union
ceremonies are ritualizations and celebrations of what is already true and real in a relationship.
Therefore, a problematic relationship entering into a Holy Union will only create more problems. Holy
Union ceremony is not the solution nor the bandage to heal a problematic and conflicted relationship. In
the Filipino saying which we paraphrase Nasa Diyos ang awa at pagpapala, nasa mag-asawa ang pag-
gawa.

It does NOT provide assurance of Forever

While it is the hope and the prayer of the ceremony that the couple will last for a lifetime or to
whichever time period they wish to be with, there is also NO magic formula that binds a couple forever.
There is no assurance that after the ceremony, the couple will last. The longevity of the relationship is
NOT dependent upon the ceremony. The longevity of a relationship is in the commitment and effort of
each partner to make the relationship work every single day. The blessing comes from God and the effort
and work is with the couple.

(Nasa Diyos ang pagpapala nasa couple ang gawa)

http://opentablemcc.ph/about/holy-union/