Gay Wedding at United Church of Christ's 29th General Synod

(Originally written on 06/30/13): The United Church of Christ is holding its 29th General Synod. That's where people from all corners of the denomination get together for worship, fellowship, and denominational business. This General Synod is being held in Long Beach, CA.

I have been away at a family reunion for most of this weekend so I really haven't had much of a chance to do much as far as monitoring the happenings at General Synod 29. I got home about an hour ago and checked my Twitter feed and learned that the United Church of Christ is hosting its very first wedding at a General Synod tonight -- and it's a gay wedding!

Apparently, a male couple named Dave and Jay was given approval to get married in front of interested General Synod 29 guests. There were several of the Twitter updates of the event:

A LARGE media presence for #daveandjaygettingmarried#uccgs29#equality#lgbt @ UCC General Synod 29 http://t.co/DFWrL4Q9tN
— UCC (@unitedchurch) July 1, 2013

A #rainbow scarf aisle for #daveandjaygettingmarried to walk down after the "I dos" #uccgs29 @ UCC… http://t.co/OUrdj01TJK
— UCC (@unitedchurch) July 1, 2013

Standing room only for #daveandjaygettingmarried#uccgs29 @ UCC General Synod 29 http://t.co/7v6giVWpMi
— UCC (@unitedchurch) July 1, 2013

The voices of all General Synod just said "we will" in supporting and upholding the marriage of Dave & Jay! #daveandjaygettingmarried
— UCC (@unitedchurch) July 1, 2013

The sun shining upon #daveandjaygettingmarried! Beautiful and moving!! #uccgs29 @ UCC General Synod 29 http://t.co/ErEFEzVVaS
— UCC (@unitedchurch) July 1, 2013

"How could we not share this moment with the people who love and support us!?!" #daveandjaygettingmarried#uccgs29
— UCC (@unitedchurch) July 1, 2013

Our VERY FIRST wedding at General Synod. Blessings, congrats, love and support to Dave & Jay!... http://t.co/JG8xkDO8GP
— UCC (@unitedchurch) July 1, 2013

I don't know much of the details behind this gay wedding, but I'll keep my eyes and ears open and share more if/when I learn more.

In the meantime, congratulations to Dave and Jay on your new marriage!

Updated on July 1, 2013: I found out more information about the new grooms from the UCC website. The new grooms are Rev. Dave Sigmund and Jay Greave of Torrance, CA. Rev. Sigmund is a pastor at Seaside Community UCC, also in Torrance, CA. They have been together as a couple for 10 years. They were already planning a big UCC wedding once Prop 8 got struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court and decided to run with the idea of a "flash mob" wedding given the timing of these court decision and General Synod 29. The couple plans to honeymoon in Hawaii in September.