Voters in Arizona and California will decide a few days from now whether to change their state constitutions to ban same-sex marriage. In California, Proposition 8 would reverse a recent court decision that allows same-sex marriage. In Arizona, where same-sex marriage is not legal, Proposition 102 would prevent it from being allowed in the future.

Almost immediately, several religious organizations, including Catholics, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and several evangelical Christian groups, took official positions in support of both propositions, while several other religious groups such as Methodists, Episcopalians and the United Church of Christ, urged members to vote against them.

Many Seventh-day Adventists have wondered how to vote, feeling that a vote to ban same-sex marriage would be contrary to the church's teaching on the separation of church and state, while a vote against the propositions would be contrary to the Bible's teaching on marriage.

In the October issue of the Recorder, Alan Reinach, director of the Church State Council, which serves Adventists in Arizona, California and other Western states, urged members to approve the bans on same-sex marriage, arguing that "either morality or immorality will prevail, and we all get to decide the outcome." To read more, go to churchstate.org or the Recorder archives at pacificunionrecorder.com.

Reinach argues that voting to ban same-sex marriage does not violate separation of church and state or freedom of conscience because marriage, as administered by the state, is not a religious activity, and banning it for same-sex couples does not establish any religion or require or prevent any religious belief or practice.

But even before the October Recorder arrived in mailboxes throughout the union, it became apparent that not all Adventists agreed. A website appeared in late September that called on Adventists to oppose the California amendment, not because the sponsors favor same-sex marriage, but because the amendment "breaches the spirit of religious liberty, separation of church and state, and non-establishment of religion that Adventists have long cherished." To read more, go to adventistsagainstprop8.org.

"So far, I have been pleased with the Christian spirit in which the discussions have proceeded," says Ricardo Graham, president of the Pacific Union. "As Seventh-day Adventists, we are committed to following God's plan for marriage as described in Scripture, we are committed to the separation of church and state, and we are committed to treating everyone with the same respect and dignity that God shows toward us."

Graham continues, "I urge all church members in Arizona and California to prayerfully study the issues and vote the way you believe will best uphold the values our church stands for."

To read the official statements of the Seventh-day Adventist Church on marriage, homosexuality, same sex union and many other topics, visit www.adventist.org/beliefs/statements/index.html.

*This story is scheduled to appear in the November 2008 print edition of the Recorder. However, because the November issue arrives in homes only a few days before the election, we wanted to give readers an opportunity to access the information earlier.