Marriage is a civil matter
When the state of Washington authorizes a marriage by issuing a marriage license, it is for a civil contract. All couples who receive a state marriage license, and who return it after a ceremony to be recorded by the government, are united under a legal and binding contract with rights and responsibilities defined by the state.
If a religious group does not want to authorize or sanctify gay marriage, that is perfectly fine. They don’t have to within the context of their religious beliefs. However, it is the civil contract through the state that makes the marriage legal, not religious approval.
Valerie F. Adams
Spokane