Love and inclusion.

Dear editor,

One day in June 2004 I looked across the street at the happy bride and groom emerging from London's St. Paul's Cathedral, which is my parish church. However I was in the Grand Theatre across from St. Paul's enjoying another wedding reception. My gay son Bruce had just been married to his partner Dennis in a meaningful ceremony performed by a Unitarian minister. It was attended by 170 of their friends of many faiths and sexual orientations. I had the privilege of welcoming a new son-in-law into my family.

I reflected that four of my older children had been able to be married in the church of their choice (three in the Anglican church and one in a United church). I am a very fortunate father to have five married children, all in loving and stable relationships. I enjoy visiting my same-sex family and find them to be productive citizens in a meaningful stable relationship. They are supported by their parents, siblings and 11 nieces and nephews.

I do not pretend to know the doctrine of our church on this issue. But I do feel that the reason Christianity is special is that it embodies the concept of love and inclusion as a foundation for its structure.

Gord Sellery

London, Ont.