The Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund has gone to prove that hate isn’t a family value.
Crossposted at The Suicidal Cactus Hour, with more puzzling and odd formating issues…
Yes, Iowa went and legalized same sex marriage–though, there is still opposition, and the folks that say that they’re all for “Family Values” except when it has to do with icky people are still gearing up to try to get up a Constitutional amendment to ban same sex marriage–and on Februrary 16th, the Interfaith Alliance of Iowa Action Fund sent out this letter in support of the state upholding the rights of its citizens.
I especially think that this is important, because too many times we hear people of faith screaming about how terrible it is for folks to love one another, and use twists and turns of Biblical logic to try to support their claims, and worse, pass it off as if they are the ONLY folks of faith who count.
This interfaith effort shows that not all faiths consider the right to marry to be a matter of strict dogma. It also underscores my own belief that we should oppose efforts to try to get our government to interfere in matters of marriage on what are essentially grounds of dogma, and interceding on the behalf of only certain ministries and congregations, which is a violation of the 1st Amendment, and one of our oldest principles of reasoned and fair governance.
The move to use our government to restrict rights of citizens, especially under the aegis of protecting only some ministries, is in direct contravention of our legal tradition as well.
If folks want to keep members of their own ministries or congregations, then they certainly have the right to refuse to perform those ceremonies, and I fully support their right to practice their religion in that fashion. It is entirely in each ministry’s purview to approve or disapprove of the rites and services that they provide, and at no time should a ministry be forced to perform a ceremony that it does not believe to be valid.
Which is why Baptists aren’t required to perform a bris. Unfortunately, there are those who think that Baptists should have wide approval of what ceremonies and teachings that other churches and ministries subscribe to. And therein lies the rub.
While the matter of equality under the law was addressed by the Iowa Supreme Court in this matter, I hope that we can strike down the arguments against same sex marriage with a much stronger case–and that is simply, that opposition to same sex marriage on what amounts to differences in theological dogma means that no law proscribing same sex marriage can be ratified in any state that ratified the US Constitution. Period.
You don’t want to have a gay marriage? Don’t have one. But like my Grandma used to say: Don’t like? Don’t eat it. But never mind what anyone else has on their plates…
Here’s the letter that was sent, and good on them.
February 16, 2010
Dear Senators and Representatives,
As clergy representing a broad spectrum of theological beliefs, we join together to state our public support of civil marriage equality for same-gender couples and our opposition to any current or future legislation diminishing the marriage rights rightfully given by Iowa’s Supreme Court. We are compelled by our deepest beliefs to stand for fairness in our common civic life. We oppose the use of sacred texts and religious traditions to deny equal protection and responsibility under the law for gay and lesbian couples.
From a religious perspective, marriage is about a couple entering into a holy covenant with their God and making a long-term commitment to share life’s joys and sorrows. Moreover, as many faith traditions affirm, where there is love, the sacred is in our midst. This belief is the same for couples comprised of a man and a woman, two women, or two men. As such, a marriage based in love and commitment must be honored and supported.
Civilly, marriage is commonly valued in society because it creates stable, committed relationships; provides a means to protect and be responsible for each other; and nurtures the individual, the couple, and children. All families must be supported in building stable, empowering, and respectful relationships. Marriage equality is a means to strengthen families and is especially beneficial to children who are raised by gay and lesbian couples.
We affirm freedom of conscience in this matter. Marriage equality honors the religious convictions of those communities and clergy who officiate at, and bless, same-gender marriages. We recognize the state does not and should not require clergy or religious traditions who disagree with same-gender marriage to officiate at, or bless, the ceremonies of gay and lesbian couples. The state must respect the convictions of all religious groups and individuals, while also allowing the fundamental right of marriage to be granted fairly to all people.
As clergy, we stand together in support of civil marriage equality for ALL families. We ask for your support of civil marriage equality and ask that you oppose any resolution or attempt to diminish the marriage rights of Iowa’s families.
Bishop Alan Scarfe; Bishop; Episcopal Diocese of Iowa
Rev. Dr. Rich Pleva; Iowa Conference Minister; United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Richard Guentert; Former Regional Minister of the Upper Midwest Region (retired); Christian
Church (Disciples of Christ)
Rev. Charles Ager; ELCA (retired); Strawberry Point
The Rev. Alexander A. Aiton, Jr.; Rector, St. John’s by the Campus Episcopal Church & Student Center; Ames
The Rev. Dr. James Altenbaumer; United Church of Christ; Cedar Falls
Rev. Nancy L. Anderson; Zion United Church of Christ; Hubbard
Rev. Michael N. Armstrong; Senior Minister; First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Davenport
Rev. Paul S. Bengtson; ELCA (retired); Storm Lake
Rev. Steve Bibb; First United Methodist Church; Fort Dodge
Rev. Anna Blaedel; United Methodist Church; Osage
Rev. Ramona S. Bouzard; St. Paul Lutheran Church; Waverly
Rev. Dr. Walter C. Bouzard; Waverly
Rev. Stephen L. Bowie; Member, Presbytery of Des Moines; Bloomfield
Pastor Brad Braley; First Presbyterian Church; Cedar Falls
Rev. Kenneth E. Briggs, Jr.; Chaplain, Lt. Col, USAF (retired); Altoona Christian Church (DOC); Altoona
The Rev. Jeanette Brodersen; Associate Minister, Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ; Des Moines
Rev. Barbara Bullock; United Church of Christ (retired); Ankeny
The Rev. Dr. Sean D. Burke; Luther College; Decorah
Rev. Christopher C. Burtnett; Schleswig United Church of Christ; Schleswig
Rev. Linda M. Butler; Collegiate United Methodist & Wesley Foundation; Ames
The Rev. Dr. Robert A. Butterfield; Urbandale United Church of Christ; Urbandale
Rev. Eva S. Cameron; Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk County; Cedar Falls
Reverend Tom Capo; Peoples Church Unitarian Universalist; Cedar Rapids
Pastor John Chaplin; Licensed Pastor; Central Association of the Iowa Conference of the United Church
of Christ; Des Moines
Rev. Kathleen Clark; United Methodist Church (retired); Des Moines
Priest Richard Cleaver; Saints Ephrem and Macrina Mission, Orthodox-Catholic Church of America; Grinnell
Rev. Dr. David Cline; Evangelical Church in America; Polk City
Rev. Milton Cole Duvall; Episcopalian; West Des Moines
Rev. Elizabeth Colton; United Church of Christ; Oskaloosa
Dr. Rev. Robert Cook; Presbyterian Church, U.S.A. (retired); Des Moines
Rev. William Cotton; United Methodist Church (retired); Des Moines
Rev. Robert S. Crandall; Executive Director; Bidwell Riverside Center; Des Moines
Pastor Michael Dack; United Church of Christ; Newton
Rev. D. Mark Davis; Pastor, Heartland Presbyterian Church; Clive
Rev. Pamela S. Deeds; Walnut Hills United Methodist Church/ Wesley UMC’s; Des Moines
Rev. Dennis Dickman; ELCA (retired); Waverly
Rev. Dr. Tim Diebel; First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Des Moines
Rev. Elizabeth Dilley; First Congregational United Church of Christ; Red Oak
Rev. Barbara Dinnen; United Methodist Church; Des Moines
The Rev. Maureen Doherty; Cedar Valley Episcopal Campus Ministry; Cedar Falls
Sondra Eddings; Minister; Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Des Moines
Rabbi Steven Edelman-Blank; Tifereth Israel Synagogue; Des Moines
Rev. Dr. Brian Eslinger; Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ames; Ames
Rev. Peg Esperenza; Church of the Holy Spirit, MCC; Des Moines
Rev. Faith Ferre’; Minister of Discipleship, Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ; Des Moines
Rev. Jeffrey E. Filkins; Trinity United Church of Christ; Hartley
The Rev. Travis M. Fisher; St. Mark Lutheran Church; Davenport
Rev. Dr. Barbara Gaddis; Collegiate Presbyterian Church; Ames
The Rev. Andrew G. Gangle; Peace Lutheran Church; Adel
Rev. Fred R. Gee; retired, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Des Moines
Reverend Tom Gehlsen; Episcopal Diocese of Iowa; Des Moines
Rev. Randall E. Gehring; Bethesda Lutheran Church, ELCA; Ames
Rev. Jaymee Glenn-Burns; Field Outreach Minister, United Methodist Church; Cedar Falls
Rev. David Glenn-Burns; Wesley Foundation at UNI; Cedar Falls
Rabbi Guy Greene; Congregation Beth Shalom; Sioux City
The Rev. John H. Greve; New Song Episcopal Church; Coralville
Rev. Chet Guinn; Methodist Federation for Social Action; Des Moines
Rev. Elizabeth Gull; Universal Life Church; Nevada
Rev. Susan Guy; United Methodist; Urbandale
Pastor John Hagberg; St. Mark Lutheran Church; Sioux City
The Rev. Jennifer L. Hall; Chaplain, Iowa Health; Metropolitan Community Churches; Des Moines
Rev. Dawn Halstead; Chaplain, Hospice of Central Iowa; Des Moines
Rev. Bob Hamilton; United Church of Christ (retired); Davenport
Rev. George Hanusa; ELCA (retired); Windsor Heights
Rev. Richard W. Harbart; United Church of Christ; Clive
The Rev. John Harper; New Song Episcopal Church; Coralville
Rev. Stephanie Haskins; Associate Minister, Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ; Des Moines
Rev. Nicole Havelka; Iowa Conference United Church of Christ; Des Moines
Rev. Mark Haverland; United Methodist Church; Ankeny
Rev. Dave Heinze; Campus Minister; Graceland University; Lamoni
Rev. Rich Hendricks; Metropolitan Community Church of the Quad Cities; Davenport
Rev. Dan Herndon; United Methodist Church (retired); Waterloo
Dr. Susan E. Hill; Associate Professor of Religion, UNI; Unitarian Universalist Society of Black
Hawk County; Waterloo
The Rev. Holly Horn, PhD; Tiffin
Rev. Margaret Hutchens; First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Charles City
Rev. Gerald Iverson; Associate in Ministry; ELCA (retired); Sioux City
Pastor Steven M. Jacobsen; First Lutheran Church; Decorah
Rev. Carlos Jayne; United Methodist Church (retired); Des Moines
Rev. Eric Johnson; Reformed Church in America; Des Moines
Reverend Patricia Johnson; Episcopal Deacon; Sioux City
Rev. Paul A. Johnson; United Church of Christ – Congregational; Ames
The Rev. Scott A. Johnson; Lutheran Campus Ministry at Iowa State University (ELCA); Ames
Rev. R. Paul Johnston; Trinity Lutheran Church (ELCA); Sioux City
The Rev. Dr. Judith Jones; St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church; Waverly
Rabbi Henry Jay Karp; Temple Emanuel; Davenport
Rabbi David Kaufman; Temple B’Nai Jeshurun; Des Moines
The Rev. Robert Keefer, PhD; Presbyterian; Clarinda
Rev. Naomi Kirstein; Wellspring Community Church; Des Moines
Rev. Bruce Kittle; Faith United Church of Christ; Iowa City
The Rev. Dr. Kathryn A. Kleinhans; Wartburg College; Waverly
Pastor Jim Klosterboer; Bethany Evangelical Lutheran Church; Elkader
Rev. C. Eugene Koth; United Methodist Church (retired); Clive
Rev. Mark W. Kukkonen; Intentional Interim Pastor; St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church; Cedar Rapids
Rev. Carmen Lampe-Zeitler; United Methodist Church; Des Moines
Rev. Martha E. Lang; Deacon; Trinity Episcopal Church; Muscatine
The Rev. Torey Lightcap; Rector, St. Thomas Episcopal Church; Sioux City
Rev. Kathleen Love, D.D.; Interfaith Minister; The Wedding Chapel; Des Moines
Rev. James Love, D.D.; Interfaith Minister; The Wedding Chapel; Des Moines
The Rev. William H. Lovin; Congregational United Church of Christ; Iowa City
Rev. Ted Lyddon Hatten; Wesley Foundation, Drake University; Indianola
Rev. Whit Malone; Collegiate Presbyterian Church; Ames
Rev. Mary Beth Mardis-LeCroy; Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ; Des Moines
Rev. Matthew J. Mardis-LeCroy; Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ; Des Moines
Pastor Sam Massey; First Presbyterian Church; Iowa City
Rev. Gene Matthews; United Methodist Church (retired missionary)
The Reverend Benjamin Maucere; Unitarian Universalist Society of Iowa City; Iowa City
The Rev. Jean McCarthy; Rector; Episcopalian; Des Moines
Rev. Diane McClanahan; Trinity United Methodist Church; Des Moines
Rev. James I. Meadows, Jr.; First Congregational United Church of Christ; Fort Dodge
The Rev. Russell Melby; Iowa Director, Church World Service/CROP; ELCA clergy;
Rev. Fritz Mellberg; United Church of Christ; Hiawatha
John Miller; Commissioned Lay Minister; Unitarian Universalist Society of Black Hawk County; Cedar Falls
Reverend Roger Mohr; Unitarian Universalist Fellowship; Burlington
Rev. Mary Moore; Unitarian Church of Davenport; Davenport
Rev. Allen Mothershed; United Church of Christ; Davenport
Rev. Katherine Mulhern; Edwards Congregational United Church of Christ; Davenport
Rev. Amy E. E. Murray, BCC; Urbandale United Church of Christ; Urbandale
Pastor Vernon H. Naffier; Faculty, GrandView University; ELCA; Ankeny
Rev. Peter T. Nash, PhD; Professor of Religion & Liberal Studies; Wartburg College; Waverly
Rev. Gus Nelson; Presbyterian (retired); Des Moines
Rev. Barbara Nish; Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.; Des Moines
Rev. Patricia Adams Oberbillig; Minister of Pastoral Care (retired), Plymouth Congregational United Church
of Christ; Des Moines
Rev. Delwyn L. Olivier; Augustana Lutheran Church; Sioux City
Rev. Ronald Osborne; Des Moines
Rev. James R. Pemble; United Methodist Church (retired); Des Moines
The Rev. Doug Peters; Senior Minister, Walnut Hills United Methodist Church; Urbandale
Rev. Oren Peterson; Unitarian Universalist (retired); Des Moines
Rev. Ronald D. Petrak; United Methodist Church (retired); Des Moines
Rev. Julie M. Poore; United Methodist Church; Granger
Rev. Charles M. Pope; Rector; St. Paul’s Episcopal Church; Grinnell
Rabbi Jeff Portman; Agudas Achim Congregation; Iowa City
Rev. Robert Price; retired; Newton
The Rev. Catherine Quehl-Engel; Episcopalian; Mt. Vernon
The Rev. Julia Rendon; Crossroads United Church of Christ; Indianola
The Rev. Charity Rowley; Unitarian Universalist (retired); Iowa City
Rev. Nancy Ruby; Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Clinton; Clinton
The Reverend Dr. David R. Ruhe; Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ; Des Moines
Rev. Janette Scott; Presbyterian; Des Moines
Rev. Michael J. Schmidt; Christ Lutheran/St. Peter; LeMars
Pastor Victoria Shepherd; Denver
Rev. Charlotte Shivvers; Unitarian Universalist (retired); Knoxville
Rev. Deanna Shorb; College Chaplain; Grinnell
Rev. Diana Jacobs Sickles; ELCA (retired); Des Moines
Rev. Gary Sneller; First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ); Ottumwa
Rev. Dr. Larry W. Sonner, D.Min.; United Methodist Church (retired); Urbandale
Rev. Ron Spears; Retired clergy; Waterloo
Pastor Sarah Stadler-Ammon; Denver
Rev. Jerry Stevenson; Welsh Congregational Church UCC; Iowa City
Rev. William Steward; Grace United Methodist Church; Des Moines
Rev. Jane Stewart; New Song Episcopal Church; Coralville
Rev. Gayle V. Strickler, Jr.; Adjunct Minister for Community Concerns, Urbandale United Church
of Christ; Urbandale
Rev. Mark Stringer; First Unitarian Church; Des Moines
Rev. Cheryl R. Thomas; Calvary Baptist Church; Des Moines
The Rev. Rachel Thorson Mithelman; St. John’s Lutheran Church; Des Moines
Rev. Dr. James L. Wallace; Central Presbyterian Church; Des Moines
Pastor Barbara Weier; Zion United Church of Christ; Hartley
Rev. Dr. Susan K. Weier; United Church of Christ; Grinnell
Pastor Kenneth C. Wells; Licensed Lay Pastor; First Congregational UCC Church; Onawa
Pastor Mary A. Wells; Licensed Lay Pastor; First Congregational UCC Church; Onawa
Rev. Jane A. Willan; Zion United Church of Christ; Burlington
Rev. Dr. Dana Wimmer; Waterloo First United Methodist Church; Waterloo
Rev. Angie Witmer; Minister to Young Adults & Youth, Plymouth Congregational United Church of Christ; Des Moines
Rev. Beverly J. Wolff; St. John Lutheran Church; Cushing
The Rev. Jean Wollenberg; Executive Director/Chaplain, Hospice of Washington County; Washington
Rev. Bob Wollenberg; United Presbyterian Church; Washington
Rev. Mark A. Young; Wesley United Methodist Church; Ottumwa
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