September 12, 2007
Ocean Grove slaps gays in the face
When I was a kid growing up at the Jersey Shore we made jokes about “Ocean Grave” and how they locked the town gates on Sunday and forbade driving and shopping (and how they’d probably outlaw breathing if they could get away with it). Those bans were ruled unconstitutional in 1979, but the town of Ocean Grove still hasn’t learned its lesson. This past Labor Day weekend the whole place—one square mile—was buzzing about its newest controversy. It was the first conversation I overheard on the boardwalk.
. . .
I knew immediately that he was referring to the two lesbian couples who wanted to have their civil union ceremonies in the boardwalk pavilion and whose requests were denied by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, the Methodist group that founded the summer retreat in 1869. They own the pavilion, which is used for worship services and other activities, including the weddings of straight couples.
. . .
Politeness reigns in Ocean Grove, and politeness kept things friendly and civil for years between the Methodists and the gay and lesbian home and business owners who helped revive the decaying Victorian resort. … We stupidly thought the town was a risky investment. But the climate changed dramatically in the 1990s, and then whenever we visited, we noticed more and more gays and lesbians. Now we seem to be everywhere.
. . .
… When I saw that the Reverend Dr. James Forbes from New York’s Riverside Church was preaching, my friends and I decided to attend. …
Since I knew Riverside was famously liberal, I prayed the visiting minister would address the conflict. Even though he was not on his home turf, the Reverend Forbes got right into it and said, “So, I’ve been reading in The New York Times about some trouble here in Ocean Grove.” I elbowed my friend. “Everyone is God’s children,” he continued, “and that includes gays and lesbians.”
“Yes,” I said aloud, and started to clap along with about 50 other people in a room with about 500 worshipers. …
See also:
Gays only welcome if they know their place
Filed under: Marriage, Methodists, New Jersey
