When Donald Schmidt and Donald Osmer returned to the United States after their wedding in Canada, they had to fill out some paperwork at the border — nothing unusual — but whereas couples in heterosexual marriages would be given one set of paperwork, they were given two sets.

While some people would just view the extra forms as a hassle, this also showed Schmidt and Osmer that their country does not view their marriage as valid.

Schmidt shared this story with the Swedenborgian Spiritual Community during the church’s service last Sunday, which was held at DanceWorks Studio at 16641 Redmond Way in Redmond. As the pastor at Admiral Congregational United Church of Christ in West Seattle, Schmidt came in as a special speaker on the topic of same-sex marriage.

“Our heritage as Christians is to be inclusive,” he said about acknowledging and accepting same-sex marriages.

An example of Admiral Congregational’s inclusiveness is the church recognizing Schmidt and Osmer’s marriage. Osmer is currently between jobs and as a result does not have an employer to provide him with health insurance. However, his husband works for Admiral Congregational, so Osmer receives insurance through Schmidt’s benefits plan with the church.

Osmer said being gay is a non-issue for them at church, and with this equality, his commitment to his community is stronger.

“What can I give back now that I belong?” he asked.

Paul Martin, the minister of the Swedenborgian church, said while they have addressed inclusiveness in a more general way, Schmidt’s visit and service was the first time they directly tackled the issue of same-sex marriage. He said with Referendum 74 — a measure that would make same-sex marriage legal in Washington — on the upcoming ballot, it is important for them to show their support. People use religion as a guide to lead their lives and Martin said his religion sees discrimination — such as rejecting same-sex marriage — as immoral.

Michael Robbins, a member of the Swedenborgian church, said addressing the topic is “particularly important for a church to do so” because a number of churches have come out against same-sex marriage and it gives the world a false impression of Christianity without love or compassion.

While the Swedenborgian church has come out in support of Referendum 74, others in the community have spoken out against it.

Redmond resident Claudine Gallacher, who submitted a letter against Referendum 74 to the Redmond Reporter a few weeks ago, said it is not because she is against same-sex couples. She just does not like the idea of legislating and creating public policy that would call heterosexual relationships and same-sex relationships the same, when they are not.

“Rather than calling domestic partnerships ‘marriage,’ let us be willing to add more rights to the current domestic partnership law,” Gallacher stated in her letter. “If same-sex couples would like the right to a legal name change, the right to a military burial next to one another, the right to federal social security, or any other rights that pertain to their relationship as adults, I would not be opposed. But let’s not call a same-sex legal union marriage.”

In her letter, Gallacher said marriage is the beginning of a family and heterosexual couples offer children something same-sex couples cannot: “a parental relationship both with someone who is the same gender and someone who is the opposite gender of the child.”

Gallacher acknowledged that due to divorce, death or other circumstances, many children grow up in single-parent homes, as well, but said she does not know any child who is raised without a mother or father who would call it “the same.” She said Referendum 74 would be doing just that with same-sex couples — equating same-sex parenthood with heterosexual parenthood.

“We are legislating that the roles of motherhood and fatherhood are expendable,” she said in a phone call Thursday afternoon.