Rob Bell, controversial author and former pastor of Mars Hill Bible Church, affirmed and openly endorsed gay marriage Sunday at San Francisco's Grace Cathedral in response to a question regarding same-sex marriage, the Christian Research Network reports. Bell said: "I am for marriage. I am for fidelity. I am for love, whether it's a man and woman, a woman and a woman, a man and a man. I think the ship has sailed and I think the church needs -- I think this is the world we are living in and we need to affirm people wherever they are." Bell went on to say that while it used to be fair to equate evangelicals with social conservatism, that assumption no longer holds true. "I think we're witnessing the death of a particular subculture that doesn't work," he said. " ... [W]e have supported policies and ways of viewing the world that are actually destructive. And we've done it in the name of God and we need to repent." Bell is known for questioning, challenging and redefining the beliefs of orthodox Christianity. His book Love Wins caused a stir by discounting the existence of hell and his newest book, What We Talk About When We Talk About God, is said to "tackle misconceptions about God."
