US: Pastors down the road from Westboro Baptist Church are ready to marry gay couples
Several church pastors in Topeka are preparing to marry same-sex couples, just five minutes away from the notoriously anti-gay Westboro Baptist Church.
Same-sex marriages have commenced in some parts of Kansas, after a judge struck down the state’s ban on same-sex marriage and the Supreme Court refused to halt the ruling.
With marriages expected to begin across Shawnee County, where the homophobic hate group are based, a number of Topeka pastors have offered their services.
Reverend Joshua Longbottom of Central Congregational United Church of Christ – 1.8 miles from the ‘God Hates Fags’ church – has expressed his intention to marry gay couples from Monday, telling CJ Online: “I would be very happy to officiate same-sex marriages.
“It’s been so long for people who have been marginalized. It’s a new day for equality.”
Meanwhile, also just down the road is Reverend Tobias Schlingensiepen of the First Congregational United Church of Christ – who is prepared to marry gay couples just 1.4 miles from the anti-gay group.
He said he was following the example of Jesus by being accepting, adding: “God’s love is for all people.”
Of course, if couples find that the first two churches are too busy, The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Topeka – 2 miles from the WBC – is also available to wed same-sex couples.
For members of the Westboro Baptist Church who wish to marry their same-sex partners, we enclose the following walking directions to Central Congregational United Church of Christ:
* Head north on Churchill Rd
* Turn right on to 12th Street, walk 1.5 miles.
* Turn right. You have reached your destination.
