Christians for Equality Supports Non-Discrimination

On Maundy Thursday, March 24, 2016, the Christians for Equality Steering Committee sent our the following press release on behalf of the CFE coalition.

In the six months since the expansion of equal rights protection in Anchorage to include sexual orientation and gender identity, the non-discrimination ordinance has proven itself as a fair, just, and common sense approach to balancing the legitimate needs of churches and religious organizations with the need to provide equal protections for all under the law. As faith leaders, we believe that strong and vigorous protections for churches and religious organizations are in place under the current ordinance. These protections facilitate the organizations in carrying out their mission and acting in accordance with their beliefs, the standard of which is based on the unanimous Supreme Court decision in Hosanna-Tabor (2012) [1]. This decision, written by Chief Justice John Roberts, was widely hailed by conservative religious organizations as a landmark case for religious liberty. [2]

As people of faith, we also recognize our responsibility to work within the law and, while operating in the public arena, to treat all people fairly and without bias or discrimination. Without this common understanding, codified in ordinance and statute, civil society would not be possible, and America would not be true to her own ideals of liberty and justice for all.

Furthermore, Christians for Equality calls attention to the Supreme Court decision in Employment Division vs. Smith (1990)[3], in which the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia wrote for the majority, stating that the Court held that the First Amendment's protection of the "free exercise" of religion does not allow a person to use a religious motivation as a reason not to obey such generally applicable laws. Scalia specifically cites Reynolds v. United States (1878) decision: "To permit this would be to make the professed doctrines of religious belief superior to the law of the land, and in effect to permit every citizen to become a law unto himself."[4]  

 There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love. ¹⁹ We love because he first loved us. ²⁰ If anyone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. ²¹ And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.” 

1 John 4:18-21

Christians for Equality

Anchorage, Alaska

Rev. Michael Burke

Rev. Julia Seymour

Rev. Martin Eldred

Candace Bell

Rev. Matt Schultz

Nora Ortiz Fredrick

Rev. Ellen Johnson

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[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hosanna-Tabor_Evangelical_Lutheran_Church_%26_School_v._Equal_Employment_Opportunity_Commission#cite_note-3

[2] http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/frc-applauds-supreme-court-ruling-in-hosanna-tabor-case-137121153.html

[3] Text of Employment Division v. Smith, 494 U.S. 872 (1990) is available from: Findlaw  Justia  LII, or  UMKC .
See also: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Employment_Division_v._Smith

[4] "Reynolds v. United States 98 U.S. 145,25 L.Ed> 244". 1878

Equality Is A Christian Value

On March 9th, 1965, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King led more than 2,000 marchers in a peaceful protest of Alabama’s voting policies and the harsh treatment of previous protestors. He was joined by hundreds of clergy, who had answered his call to stand up for those who were being disenfranchised. Following the march, King and his fellow clergy-people kneeled and prayed, and their courage moved our nation one step closer to equality. Their demonstration, like so many throughout history, embodied the fact that justice and equality are hallmarks of the Christian witness. “To bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners.” This is the central concern of the Gospel: Love and justice for those who are oppressed and marginalized.

And yet, at the Mayoral debate on Monday, candidate Amy Demboski said that laws protecting the marginalized would somehow be anti-Christian. In the past she has expressed fear of such protective measures as a “war on Christianity.” A few days ago, one church sent a mass mailing to clergy expressing similar fears. These incidents and others make it clear that there is a concerted political effort underway to say that the exclusion of gays and lesbians is a Biblical, Christian action. Speaking as Christian leaders of many faith communities in Anchorage, we must speak out and say that this is untrue.

Some churches oppose homosexuality, and consider it a sin. That can be claimed as a personal opinion, and a church can claim it as its teaching. But it cannot be accurately claimed that this is “the Christian opinion.” Recent studies by the Pew Research Center and the Public Religion Research Institute show that more religious Americans support gay marriage than oppose it. The view held by Ms. Demboski is not representative of Christianity, and yet she claims that somehow Christianity is under siege when the rights of others are upheld. To claim that you are being discriminated against because you have lost your right to discriminate against others shows a gross lack of understanding of history and oppression, as well as a disturbingly narrow understanding of Christianity.

We perceive the 'War on Christianity' to be those who are actively thwarting the truth that "God is love" (1 John 4:8). Love struggles to flourish where there is discrimination, hate speech, threats, and fear. However, our understanding of history reveals that love wins. Truth will come out. The realities of the gifts that our LGBT friends, neighbors, and family members bring to this community will prove to be essential to the growth of Anchorage as a modern city. Indeed, they already have. We are among the people of all faiths who see that and will stand to acknowledge it. And we renounce the voices that pretend it is not so, because discrimination is not Christian.

Jesus sat and ate with all people, never creating a system of worthiness for who was accepted. To the contrary, he regularly reached out specifically to those on the margins of his society.  If we claim to follow Jesus, then we must acknowledge that discrimination is not his way. It is not who we are or what we stand for. Looking back on the history of the church, we are proud of those moments when we stood to lift people up. We are ashamed for when we have stood to keep people out.

People of faith must remember the love and acceptance of Jesus, as well as the successes and failures of our own troubled history. In doing so, we hear the call to seek equality for all Alaskans in work, play, housing, marriage, and business. Because discrimination is not only un-American. It is also unChristian.

Reverend Matt Schultz, Christians for Equality Steering Committee

Reverend Michael Burke, Christians for Equality Steering Committee
St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Nora Ortiz Fredrick, Christians for Equality Steering Committee
Ascent Alaska (UMC)

Reverend Martin Eldred, Christians for Equality Steering Committee
Joy Lutheran Church, Eagle River

Mrs. Candace Bell, Christians for Equality Steering Committee
Catholic Laywoman

Reverend Julia Seymour
Lutheran Church of Hope

Reverend Ronald Myers
Anchorage First United Methodist Church

Reverend Jenny Smith
St. John United Methodist Church

Reverend John Campbell
St. John United Methodist Church

Reverend Ted Cole
St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Reverend Ellen Johnson-Price

Reverend Jamez Terry
Christian Universalist Association

Reverend Bob Smith
Turnagain United Methodist Church

Marie Sweezey
UMC Chugiak

Reverend Lisa Smith Fiegel
Director for Evangelical Mission, Alaska Synod ELCA

Reverend Sara Gavit
St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Tia Hollowood
Turnagain United Methodist Church

Judith Goodrum
Program Associate, St. John United Methodist Church

Bill Herman

Ministry and Nurturance Committee, Anchorage Quaker Meeting

Bishop Shelly Wickstrom
Alaska Synod ELCA

Blanche Crandall
Catholic Laywoman

Reverend Curt Karnes
Presbytery of the Yukon

Reverend Gail Nauska

Jim LaBau
Turnagain United Methodist Church

Phyllis Rude
Lutheran Church of Hope

Bonnie Bladow
Lutheran Church of Hope

Reverend Susan Halvor
Chaplain, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

Louise Dekreon-Watsjold

Patricia Kennish

You're Not Welcome

One characteristic of this Homeless SNAP Challenge is finding a place to eat. With a commitment not to cook, refrigerate or eat at home, having a place to sit down and have a meal has created serious challenges and problems.

I work out of my home, meaning that I don’t have another place of business or an office. But I’m very unproductive if I stay home. Like many consultants and contractors, I grab a latte and a snack and settle down to work in a coffee shop. During this challenge, I can’t do that. Sure, I know that the manager and baristas of Kaladi Brothers Coffee would appreciate what I’m doing and welcome me even without a purchase. After all, I’m a regular customer. They start my soy latte with a half-shot of vanilla syrup when they see my car roll up. But how long would they tolerate a customer that doesn’t regularly spend $6 - $10 each time they walk in the door?

It’s winter in Alaska. Sometimes it’s tolerable to sit in a park to eat. Sometimes not. I’m working now in the public library, but they discourage food – and I am a rule follower. Most of the times, I find a place to park and eat in my car. After all, that’s where the food is stored. Even that is a constructed practice that a homeless person might not get to do. Gas is expensive and I burn more gas in a day than the SNAP allowance.

I’ll look into the places where anyone might be welcomed to get out of the cold and have a meal. Right now, it’s indeed a challenge.

Challenge & Privilege

by Nora Ortiz Fredrick

There has been much criticism of SNAP challenges and participants around the country. Each person that participates in some sort of poverty-type experience has their own motivations and intent. A common complaint is the effort to replicate “the hunger experience” is unrealistic and never representative of the true depth of hunger and lack of hope.

I am well aware of my own privilege. I am a nonprofit professional, self-employed Latina living in my own home. I over-eat, have a gym membership, am an outdoor recreation enthusiast, have health insurance, a car and travel frequently (by air) for work and pleasure. Both my parents are (retired) college-educated professionals. I have no personal experience of poverty, homelessness or food insecurity. I am a seminary-educated layperson, deeply entrenched in the church and see how we struggle to be a meaningful presence at the margins of our society. At least on Sundays.

Privilege is a reality. I have no illusion that I can duplicate the true experience of either hunger or homelessness. I don’t seek to glamorize or romanticize poverty, nor investigate the overblown claims of vast entitlements that are available to people living in poverty.

I hope to glimpse into the challenges and possibilities of what happens when people must rely on government assistance for food while struggling with homelessness. I hope to listen enough to hear about need and opportunity where I can use my privilege to advocate for change, and my influence to rally the communities where I am involved to consider ways to make a meaningful different in the lives of all God’s people.

Most of all, I hope this experience will shape my faith and compassion as I glimpse into the challenge that many of God’s people face each and every day. I hope to see, listen, reflect, pray, plan and act.

Taking the Homeless SNAP Challenge

By Nora Ortiz Fredrick

I’m taking the Homeless SNAP Challenge. During Lent, the 40 days leading up to Easter, I’ve committed to spend as many days as possible living on the Alaska allowance for a single person receiving Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits – about $5.75 per day.

Why?

Roman Krznaric, in his groundbreaking work on building empathic cultures, reminds us that some form of experience of the people who are less fortunate helps you place yourself in their lives – even if only for a glimpse.  Christians for Equality, a group that I serve in a leadership position, is looking at the many complex issues around homelessness in Alaska. By participating in the Homeless SNAP Challenge during Lent, I seek a better understanding of the challenges facing homeless persons to eat healthily and adequately.

Here’s the way I’m participating:

• $5.75/day under the SNAP guidelines: fruit, veggies, grains, cereals, dairy, meat.
• With no cooking or food storage facilities, I’ll keep a bin in my car to store the food I purchase. No food consumed from the pantry at home. Freezing temps will play into my storage capabilities.
• I’ll not eat in my house. All my food will be consumed somewhere else. I work out of my home, in client offices or in local coffee shops, so this will be a challenge. Yes, and it’s winter in Alaska. Homelessness has no seasonal boundaries.
• I have work travel scheduled during this time, so will have to take days off. I’ll honor SNAP days and follow the rules, trying to maximize consecutive days.
• My complicated eating habits will play into this. I have a primary plant-based diet. I’m a pesce vegetarian, dairy and egg-free.
•  I’m committed to writing about this experience.

While this is a personal Lenten journey, I hope my experience helps others consider the many challenges facing our brothers and sisters, young and old, who struggle with homelessness and food insecurity. I invite you to join me on this journey.