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Faith communities band together against Proposal 2

By Dawn Wolfe

DETROIT – They believe in God. They believe that all people, including LGBT people, were made in the image of that God.
And they believe that Proposal 2 is "unfair, unequal and unjust," in the words of a statement that has been signed by over 125 clergy in western Michigan.
According to Michael Gibson-Faith, director of the Michigan American Friends' Service Committee's LGBT Issues Program and the Faith Action Network, AFSC has been working hard to educate faith communities about the harmful effects of Proposal 2.
The organization has been, "Providing bulletins and newsletter items, talking points…anything to help their congregation talk about it," he said.
Their efforts have met with success.
"We've organized 11 denominational coordinators to work with denominations across the state," he said, to support the Coalition for a Fair Michigan, which is working to defeat Proposal 2 at the polls.
AFSC has been working on this issue for over a year, according to Gibson-Faith. It's important to highlight that there's not a monolithic voice from the community of faith on this issue," he said.
Gibson-Faith continued, "I think the majority of Unitarian churches and almost all the Quakers meetings have come out against it as well. The Detroit Board of Rabbis have [also] come out against the amendment," as have all four of the state's Episcopal bishops.

Detroit Presbyterians against Proposal 2

On Sept. 28, the Detroit Presbytery, which is the governing body for 90 metro-Detroit area Presbyterian churches, approved the following resolution:
"The Presbytery of Detroit urges its churches and members to actively oppose the proposed amendment to the Michigan constitution on the November election ballot, Proposal 04-2, that removes any legal standing for civil unions and domestic partnerships 'for any purpose,'" according to a letter sent to BTL by Edward H. Koster, the Presbytery's Stated Clerk.
Paul Peterson, director of That All May Freely Serve Michigan, an organization that "works within the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. to try to reform it to be fully inclusive for LGBT persons," said that the Lake Huron Presbytery will be meeting early in October to consider a similar resolution.
While the text of the resolution supports the traditional one man, one woman definition of marriage, the resolution also goes beyond urging defeat of Proposal 2.
The Presbytery-passed resolution, "Urges state [legislators] to change state laws to include the right of same-gender persons to civil union and, thereby, to extend to them all the benefits, privileges, and responsibilities of civil union, and urges all persons to support such changes in state laws." It also, "Urges the Congress of the United States of America to recognize those state laws that allow same-gender union and to change federal laws to recognize all civil unions licensed and solemnized under state law to apply in all federal laws that provide benefits, privileges, and/or responsibilities to married persons."

Opposition mounting in western Michigan, too

Clergy in southeastern Michigan aren't alone in their opposition to Proposal 2. Since June, over 125 clergy members in western Michigan have signed a statement against Proposal 2, according to Douglass Congregational United Church of Christ and Convener of Concerned Clergy Andy Debraber.
According to Debraber, "We've [Concerned Clergy] been around since about '96. We came out with a statement in June opposing Prop 2 [which at the time was being circulated by petitioners] calling it unfair, unequal and unjust,' basing our argument on the basis of God being love."
Debraber, whose church is near Saugatuck, said that clergy from about 12 different Christian denominations as well as Jewish and B'hai clergy have signed the statement.
"Our goal," Debraber said, "is to raise $5,000 to put up three billboards and at least 500 yard signs and a couple newspaper ads that say 'God is love. Over 100 W. Michigan Clergy say vote no on Proposal 2.'"
In addition, the organization is putting together an Oct. 12 debate on the proposal, but their efforts haven't stopped there.
"We had a panel presentation on a local public access TV station which we've videotaped for congregations to use," he said. "We hope it makes a difference."
Asked why his group is working so hard on this issue, Debraber responded, "There's obviously another religious voice on this. But at the time (in June) it seemed that there was only one religious point of view. That's especially important in West Michigan."
The statement signed by the western Michigan clergy reads, "'Love your neighbor' is a basic belief of many faiths. Thousands of our neighbors in Michigan belong to lesbian and gay households, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. In love for our neighbors, we religious leaders urge people to reject the proposed Marriage Amendment to the Michigan Constitution because it is unequal, unfair, and unjust.
"The purpose of a constitution is to establish and protect the rights of citizens. The proposed amendment uses the constitution to discriminate against same-sex couples and would eliminate existing domestic partnership benefits currently granted by many municipalities and state universities. We reject using constitutional amendments to eliminate rather than extend people's rights.
"People of faith are not of one voice on matters of marriage or same-sex relations. What is clear is that God is love and God abides in all people who abide in love, regardless of sexual orientation. Any amendment to any constitution that treats anyone unequally, unfairly, and unjustly is immoral and must be rejected."

Still more clergy against 2

Gibson-Faith reports that, during the week of Sept. 27, Bishop Robert Rimbo of the Southeastern Michigan Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church had signed on in support of the faith campaign against Proposal 2, and that Rimbo would get back with him later in the week to let him know if the entire Synod will also sign. The Bishop was not available for comment in time for this article.

Walking the talk

Gibson-Faith reported that the AFSC is organizing two "people of faith canvass days" on Oct. 23 and 30. Canvassers will be doing voter identification in Washtenaw county on Oct. 23 and in Ferndale on Oct. 30. People interested in volunteering can call Michael Gibson-Faith at 734-761-8283, ext. 4
Gibson-Faith is upbeat about his organization's efforts. "More and more clergy are being added to our list of supporters every day. We have been active speaking to churches and other faith communities and getting them on board."

Proposal 2 debate in Grand Rapids

Concerned Clergy, an organization of Clergy formed in part to oppose Proposal 2, will host a debate on the anti-gay amendment at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Grand Rapids, 1100 Lake Drive SE. All are welcome.

Web resources:

That All May Freely Serve Michigan: tamff-michigan.org
American Friends' Service Committee's LGBT project: www.afsc.org/lgbt/programs/michigan.htm
Presbytery of Detroit: www.detroitpresbytery.org/
Soulforce Detroit: www.soulforce.org/localgroups/detroit/index.shtml, 248-414-3955, or email [email protected]

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