Same-sex couples who obtain marriage licenses in Shawnee County won’t have to look far to find members of the clergy willing to perform their wedding ceremonies.

Two ministers in the United Church of Christ denomination stand ready to do the honors.

"I would be very happy to officiate same-sex marriages," said the Rev. Joshua Longbottom, pastor of Central Congregational United Church of Christ, 1248 S.W. Buchanan. "It’s been so long for people who have been marginalized. It’s a new day for equality."

Longbottom was one of about a dozen members of the clergy who took part in a news conference Thursday morning in the sanctuary of Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ in downtown Lawrence.

Pastors — most of them from United Church of Christ congregations — came from several towns in northeast Kansas.

Longbottom said the news conference was a way to "show the broad clergy support of gay marriage" in northeast Kansas.

He said it was time for the Christian church to "take the first step in equality" for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender couples as it pertains to marriage.

"One thing people don’t think about is the pastoral care aspect," Longbottom said. "There are so many people who have been fighting their sexual identity and their faith for so long. It’s an important job of the church to help people reconcile their gender identity and their faith."

Longbottom said same-sex couples would be able to participate in a marriage ceremony at 5:30 p.m. Monday at Plymouth Congregational Church, 925 Vermont in Lawrence.

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Topeka, 4775 S.W. 21st, also is opening its doors from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Monday to anyone interested in getting married and celebrating those who were married elsewhere.

In addition to Longbottom, the Rev. Tobias Schlingensiepen took part in the Thursday morning news conference in Lawrence.

Schlingensiepen, pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ, 1701 S.W. Collins, said recent court rulings paving the way for same-sex marriage was cause for "celebration."

He cautioned that the "hearts and minds of many people will still need to be persuaded" regarding same-sex marriage and equal rights for those in the LGBT community.

Schlingensiepen pointed to the example of Jesus, who he said reached out to the marginalized members of society in his day, showing that "God’s love is for all people."