50 Clergy in Kansas Come Out Against Amendment!
As our signatures below attest, we are clergy of a broad spectrum of religious traditions with diverse views regarding marriage. However, we are resolutely united in our opposition to the proposed constitutional amendment on the April 5 ballot.
Contrary to an all-too-common misperception, it is simply not the case that all clergy and religious communities in Kansas support this amendment. In our considered view, this proposal threatens to dignify discrimination and undermine religious liberty. Furthermore, we feel that it violates a basic tenant of all our faiths: That all people should be treated equally, with respect and love. This amendment would hurt thousands of Kansans and make their lives harder. For that reason alone if for no other, it should be voted down.
Thoughtful people of faith can and do disagree on this issue. The many religious traditions of Kansas reflect this diversity of opinion, as do we who sign this letter. We respect the right of each religious group to decide, based on its own religious teachings, whether or not to sanction certain marriages.
We believe that it is not the state government's role to codify one religious interpretation of the Bible, or one religion over another in the Kansas Constitution. To the contrary: the great contribution of our Constitution is to protect the rights of all faiths.
Some argue that a Constitutional amendment is necessary to ensure that clergy and faith groups will never be forced to recognize same-sex marriages against their will. This argument is unfounded. Such coercion is already expressly forbidden by First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights of the Kansas Constitution. No law and no judge's ruling could ever over-rule those two documents.
This amendment would hurt people, threaten religious liberty and stifle the diverse religious voices in Kansas. For all these reasons, we urge all Kansans, and particularly, all Kansans of faith, to vote NO on April 5.
Rev. James Herron, Pastor
United Church of Christ, Abilene
Rev. Bob Meneilly, Former Pastor
Village Presbyterian, Prairie Village
Rev. Gary Cox, Senior Minister
University Congregational Church, Wichita
Rev. Holly McKissick, Pastor
St. Andrew Christian Church, Olathe
Rev. Lois Harder, Co-Pastor
Lorraine Avenue Mennonite Church, Wichita
Forrest Swall, Chair
The Unitarian Fellowship of Lawrence, Lawrence
Rev. Michael Poage, Pastor
Fairmount United Church of Christ, Wichita
Rev. Robert Kasper, Pastor, Retired
United Church of Christ, Lawrence
Rev. Lisa Gardner, Pastor
St. Paul United Church of Christ, Eudora
Rev. Ken Grenz
Spring Hill United Methodist Church, Spring Hill
Rev. Thom Belote, Minister
Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church, Overland Park
James R. Tilton, Retired
Presbyterian Clergy, Leawood
Rev. David Hansen, Conference Minister Kansas-Oklahoma Conference
United Church of Christ
Rev. Vern Barnet, Minister Eemeritus
Center for Religious Experience and Study, Overland Park
Rev. Gail Danley, M.Div.
United Church of Christ
The Rev. John J. Walker, Pastor, Retired
Lutheran
Rev. Maurice E. Culver, Pastor, Retired
United Methodist
George Tormohlen, Senior Minister Emeritus
Colonial United Church of Christ, Prairie Village
Rev. Frank L. Dorsey, Kansas East Conference
The United Methodist Church
Rev. James "Buck" Firth
United Church of Christ, Shawnee Mission
Rev. Janie Schmidt, Pastor, Retired
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Overland Park
Rev. Tarris Rosell, DMin, PhD, Associate Professor of Pastoral Theology in Ethics and Ministry Praxis
Central Baptist Theological Seminary, Kansas City
Nancy Clark
Holton, KS
Rev. Sally Fahrenthold, Retired
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Wichita
Rev. Larry Keller, Pastor
St. Marks United Methodist Church, Overland Park
Rev. Fran Manson, Retired
United Methodist Church
Rev. Ronald L. Reed
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Kansas City, Kan
Rev. George A. McCall, Associate Pastor
Rolling Hills Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village
Dr. Sherry Wright, Diaconal Minister
United Methodist Church, Manhattan
Rev. Jeffrey C. Clayton, Pastor
Southminster Presbyterian Church, Prairie Village
John Martin, Pastor
West Heights United Methodist Church, Wichita
Rabbi Vered Lynne Harris, Congregational Educator
Congregation Beth Torah, Overland Park
Rev. H. Sharon Howell, Pastor
First United Methodist Church, Lawrence
Rev. Mark R. Holland, Senior Pastor
Trinity United Methodist Church, Kansas City, KS
Rev. Gayla Rapp, Clergy
United Methodist, Lawrence
Rev. Anne Rosebrock
College Hill United Methodist Church, Wichita
Rev. Kent Cormack
First Congregational Church, Manhattan
Rev. Shelly Holle
First Presbyterian Church, Chanute
Rev. Bill Crowell, associate minister
College Hill United Methodist Church, Wichita
Rabbi Mark H. Levin, D.H.L
Congregation Beth Torah, Overland Park
Arthur L. Foster, Interim Pastor
First Congregational Church, Topeka
Rev. Heather Entrekin, Senior Pastor
Prairie Baptist Church, Prairie Village
Rev. Nanette Roberts, Pastor
Grace United Methodist Church, Olathe
Rev. Cynthia D. Weems, Pastor
Rose Hill United Methodist Church, Rose Hill
Rev. Jay McKell, Pastor
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Overland Park
Rev. Ky Weekley, Associate Pastor
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Overland Park
Rev. Dr. Kimberly N. Young, Associate Pastor
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church, Overland Park
Wilbur De Young, Pastor, Retired
Presbyterian Church
John C. Gingerich
Kansas East Conference of the United Methodist Church
Gary Schrag, Pastor Emeritus
Grace United Methodist Church, Olathe
Rev. Ronald L. Reed
Vicar of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Kansas City, KS
Rev. John Tamilio III, Senior Minister
Colonial Church, Prairie Village
Rev. Peter A. Luckey, senior pastor
Plymouth Congregational Church United Church of Christ, Lawrence
Rev. Robert C. Harder, retired
United Methodist Church Kansas Conference
Rev. Virgil L. Brady, retired
United Methodist Church, Lawrence
If you are a member of the clergy, please send an email to Diane Silver to add your name to this letter.
My partner and I are looking for an open and affirming church around the Manhattan Kansas area. Would we be welcomed by many in this/these congregrational church? Looking for a new state to start over due to hate crime against us in our town. Thank you.
Teresa
The Unitarian Universalist faith is open and welcoming, and I think the Manhattan fellowship is currently led by a gay man. Check out that church's website.
Good luck!
The minister at the First Congregational Church in Manhattan is openly gay. The church is affiliated with the United Church of Christ and voted to be an "Open and Affirming Church" a few years ago.
1:17 For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath showed it unto them.
etc., etc., etc.