In reply to Paula.

Paula, the church is not a democracy. The wishes of the members don't change our theology. God has only sanctified one relationship - of all the varieties that exist. There is no formal ceremony of friendship. We do not require a formal blessing for business associations. We don't stand before our congregation, friends and family to say, 'this person is my girlfriend'. Marriage, and marriage alone, is recognized before the church. When Jesus is asked about marriage he says, "...at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’?

He didn't say, "the Creator made them male and male," or "a woman will leave her father and mother and be united to her wife." There is no biblical basis for same-sex relationships - romantic or otherwise - to be recognized by the church.

Furthermore, the church is not a tool to be used by man to fulfill his own selfish desires. The church belongs to God. It's tools are to be used to His glory alone.