Great Smoky Mountain Journal-Eugene Peterson, Author of "The Message" Bible Retracts Statement Saying He'd Perform Same-Sex Marriage




The Great Smoky Mountain Journal Staff Reports Posted: Monday, January 01, 2018 12:25 PM
Eugene Peterson, Author of "The Message" Bible Retracts Statement Saying He'd Perform Same-Sex Marriage
Popular Christian author and former PC (USA) pastor Eugene Peterson set off a firestorm within Christian circles this week when he said he would perform a same-sex marriage if asked to. Now, the man behind “The Message” Bible translation has retracted that statement. Peterson made the initial comments in an interview with Religion News Service’s Jonathan Merritt. “If you were pastoring today and a gay couple in your church who were Christians of good faith asked you to perform their same-sex wedding ceremony, is that something you would do?” asked Merritt. Peterson simply responded “Yes,” to Merritt’s question. He also said in the interview that he knew some gay people who “seem to have as good a spiritual life as I do.” The criticism of Peterson and his view on the controversial subject of gay marriage was swift. Now, however, Peterson has penned an article in the Washington Post retracting his stance and clarifying his viewpoint.