The Rev. John Farrell says he will sanctify gay unions at Christ Episcopalian Church of Bay Ridge, as soon as his 12-member vestry approves performing gay unions within the 150-year-old house of worship.

And that approval is expected tomorrow.

"I see it as a justice issue - and my church is taking the lead in this matter," Farrell said.

Farrell said he had performed many same-sex ceremonies - but never in public and certainly never inside a church.

A spokesman for Brooklyn District Attorney Charles Hynes - who said during his 1998 gubernatorial campaign that he would recognize out-of-state gay marriages - said, "If there are any laws broken we will investigate."

On Monday, two Unitarian Universalist ministers were charged with solemnizing 13 same-sex marriages without a license for performing marriage ceremonies in New Paltz in the wake of Mayor Jason West's highly publicized marriage blitz.

Ulster District Attorney Donald Williams told The Post it's a misdemeanor "for any public official or religious leader authorized to preside over ceremonies to solemnize or presume to solemnize the ceremony when the participants have not obtained a marriage license."
But Farrell said he doesn't fear being arrested: "It's about as much of a concern to me as it was to the people 40 years ago who were arrested for marching for civil rights."

The minister said fellow Episcopalian priests are looking forward to being given the opportunity to perform same-sex nuptials once the Diocese of Long Island - which covers Brooklyn - writes up an official ceremony similar to a "traditional" marriage.

The Episcopal Church gives dioceses authority to sanctify same-sex unions. Long Island Bishop Orris Walker is working on a liturgy - or formal ceremony - for gay unions. Such nuptials would not be considered official marriages, pastors said.

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