Obergefell v. Hodges: Questions for Orthodox Christians

by John A. Jillions

On June 26, 2015, the nine justices of the Supreme Court of the United States issued a slim-majority decision that is profoundly reshaping American law and society. In a vote of 5 to 4, the court ruled in Obergefell v. Hodges that same-sex marriage is a legally protected right throughout the United States. This brief essay will deal with a few of the issues stemming from the Supreme Court decision with the aim of contributing to discussion within the Orthodox Church.

John A. Jillions

The Very Rev. Dr. John A. Jillions is the former chancellor of the OCA and the founding principal of the Institute for Orthodox Christian Studies in Cambridge, UK. He has taught at Saint Paul University (Ottawa), St. Vladimir’s Seminary, and Fordham University. He holds degrees from McGill University, St Vladimir’s, and Aristotle University of Thessaloniki. He has served parishes in Australia, Greece, England, Canada, and the United States. He is vice-president of the Orthodox Theological Society in America and the author of Divine Guidance: Lessons for Today from the World of Early Christianity (2020).

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