March 24, 2004

Lesbian couple married in Ashland

By Steve Zimmerman
Ashland Daily Tidings

The couple proceeded to the altar with the Rev. Patt Herdklotz singing, "Love, love, love, love, each of us was made for love. Love each other as ourselves, for we are one."

	The Rev. Patt Herdklotz (seated) of Ashland's Unitarian Church marries Margery and Kristina Saunders, who traveled from Syracuse, N.Y., for the ceremony. Submitted photo

But this was not just any marriage ceremony performed by Herdklotz, of the Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. She performed the marriage of Margery Saunders (a member of the Unitarian Church) and Kristina Hinesley (now Saunders), of Syracuse, New York on Sunday, at 9 a.m. Despite years of doing same-sex holy unions, this was Herdklotz' first officially recognized by the state government.

All celebrants were mindful of the historical significance of this very special wedding here in the Rogue Valley.

"I have been performing weddings for same-sex couples since my ordination in 1983, with the official authorization of the Unitarian Universalist Association," Herdklotz said. "As a minister, I have chosen to perform weddings for any couple who are genuinely making a lifetime commitment of love to one another. For 20 years, I have struggled with the civil legal language, but always honored it. It was wonderful to use equitable language in this wedding this morning - to pronounce Margery and Kris as married was a joyous moment."

The Saunders couple obtained a marriage certificate from Multnomah County and asked Herdklotz to perform the marriage ceremony here in Ashland.

"They were in a committed relationship for many years," Herdklotz noted. "They started in California and did a Fed Ex to get their marriage certificate. Margery is a Unitarian in Syracuse. They looked at Unitarian congregations once they entered Oregon and called our church and talked to me and I told them I would be pleased to do it."

Logistics almost prevented the ceremony from taking place in Ashland.

"They only had a limited number of days available and I was getting ready to leave town on spring break," Herdklotz said. "We were doing this sharing of vows as we were hearing of New York ministers that have been arrested who happened to be Unitarian and knowing that court activities were starting to come into view in Oregon.

"I have told every couple that I have done a service of Holy Union, which is what we had to call them in other states, that I would be happy to sign certificates the day they were recognized and perform a redo."

Saunders and Hinesley had already had a ceremony in New York. This ceremony was a renewal of their vows and an opportunity for the couple to have their marriage recognized on a marriage certificate.

"We reblessed their rings and they said marriage vows," Herdklotz noted. "We did all that is required in a marriage from the vows to one another and our witnessing that to my offering a blessing and pronouncing them married. I used their formal names in the service so it was all about making this a legitimate marriage where there is equitable treatment in the law."

Witnesses for this special event included a newly-married couple from Portland on their honeymoon - Bruce Suttmeier and Jason Coryell - plus RVUUF Director of Religious Education Deana Hoffer, and RVUUF Vice President Bob Lindsay, who also served as church photographer.

After the ceremony, the couple were presented with flowers and two golden origami cranes - symbols of longevity and steadfast, happy marriages.

Then it was time to make the ceremony public to the entire church congregation.

"I sang the same chant I had sung during the wedding ceremony at the beginning of our church service," Herdklotz said. "And then raised the marriage certificate and joyfully announced to the church we had hosted a same-sex marriage that morning. And there was great celebration in the sanctuary."