Holy Union

In the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts, The Blessing of a Holy Union service is public celebration of a commitment to a life together between two persons, at least one of whom is a baptized Christian, and both of whom desire to live out their commitment in a Christian community. In the service, a priest may bless a same-sex civil marriage or preside at and bless a same-sex union. In either case, the same liturgical rite is used.

In the presence of God and the couple's Christian community, the rite includes a declaration of the couple's intent to join their lives together and a celebration of their commitment to a life together. The rite also:

• recognizes the reality of the couple's relationship,
• confers the community's authority upon the couple to conduct themselves as formal and public participants in such a relationship,
• establishes a communal context of responsibility, accountability and privilege,
• and petitions God to allow the partners with all such grace and strength necessary to fulfill the vows and commitments being made.

At Trinity Church, a Blessing of a Holy Union service must be attested to by at least two witnesses and conform to the guidelines of the parish.

The service as a whole, and the vows in particular, are taken from A Rite for the Celebration of Commitment to a Life Together, a study document of the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts. No other forms are used at Trinity Church. For more information, contact Lauren Lukason, 617-536-0944.