Ocean Grove United - After-The Boardwalk Pavilion Controversy

Working for Civil Rights for All Ocean Grove Residents

Sign the Motion - Help us overturn the ban on same-sex unions in the Ocean Grove boardwalk pavilion

CMA says "No" but Mother Nature says "Yes!"

On an April day, after the rain, Lynn Heywood Scott of Ocean Grove spotted a rainbow over the beach near her home. She ran back to get her camera then remembered that the battery was dead. Sensing that this was a one in a million photo, Lynn gave it a try. She positioned the camera and pressed the shutter. Lynn was right!

"AFTER"

After the wind
And the rain
After the thunder
And the lightning
After the darkness
And the storm
After the sun
Broke through clouds of gray
That was the day
The Rainbow and the Cross
Embraced one another
Creating something
Far more beautiful
Together
Than they ever could,
Apart.

Ruth Hobson Kruge
April 2008

"Same-sex civil union ceremonies should be allowed in the Ocean Grove boardwalk pavilion. This is a civil rights issue and not about gays or lesbians. It's about the rights of individuals to be full members of all of their communities."

Randy Bishop
Mayor
Neptune Township

"The Camp Meeting Association receives federal services and funds. Therefore, they don't have any right to be exclusionary. I don't believe they have a leg to stand on legally with this case. They have to reverse this decision."

Frank Pallone, Jr.
U.S. Congressman
6th District of NJ

"The Camp Meeting Association's policy of discrimination against gays and lesbians wishing to hold their civil unions in the Ocean Grove boardwalk pavilion is shameful. It is a violation of civil rights and an affront to all members of the community and to justice and equality. This policy does not reflect the Ocean Grove community that we know and love."

Mary Beth Jahn
Committeewoman
Neptune Township

"Why are some kinds of prejudice acceptable? Would Ocean Grove forbid African-Americans or Asians or people with handicapping conditions from use of the pavilion? Of course not. To forbid gays and lesbians use of this space is not only illegal, it's ethically wrong."

Reverend Julie Parker
Ordained Minister
United Methodist Church

"Not only does this blatant and plainly unchristian policy of discrimination fly in the face of the biblical prophets' passion for social justice, but it is clearly contrary, it seems to me, to the open-hearted, inclusive spirit of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism."

Reverend David Parker
Retired Minister
United Methodist Church

"Discrimination and prejudice are never acceptable-but they are especially disturbing when they come covered by a veneer of religiosity. Since the Ocean Grove boardwalk pavilion serves all people and is in no sense 'a church,' same-sex civil unions should be permitted the same way that weddings have been allowed."

Reverend Robert Kriesat
Retired Lutheran Minister
Vice Chair of Garden State Equality