USA
 

The statement, which is being sent to Gov. Taft, calls the Ohio bill, passed Jan. 21, 2004, by the Ohio State Senate, "an act of discrimination that unfairly and unjustly singles out good, taxpaying citizens. It does so by denying benefits to unmarried persons living in viable, healthy, committed relationships."

In opposing the bill, the church leaders said that "as a matter of justice, states should find ways to include more, not less, of its citizens in benefits programs. H.B. 272 is an injustice against State of Ohio employees. It leaves the private sector vulnerable to legal interpretation that could cause companies to deny important benefits to their employees."

"Laws like H.B. 272 fail to honour and protect that diversity, leaving families—including the many children of those committed relationships—behind," the statement reads.

Signing the statement were the general minister and president, and the executives of the covenanted ministries of the United Church of Christ: the Rev. John H. Thomas, General Minister and President; Dr. Edith A. Guffey, Associate General Minister; Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson, Executive Minister of Justice and Witness Ministries; the Rev. José A. Malayang, Executive Minister of Local Church Ministries; and Dr. Olivia Masih White, Executive Minister of Wider Church Ministries. In support of the Collegium statement, the Rev. David Schwab, Conference Minister of the United Church's Ohio Conference, said, "This bill violates many members and friends of the church, who are not only members of our churches or employees in our national offices in Cleveland, but are also good voting citizens of this state. We stand in solidarity in opposition to H.B. 272."

The United Church of Christ, with national offices in Cleveland, has almost 6,000 local churches in the United States and Puerto Rico. It was formed by the 1957 union of the Congregational Christian Churches and the Evangelical and Reformed Church. Its General Synod has supported the rights and gifts of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender church members through various resolutions, beginning in 1975. The General Synod speaks to, but not for, local churches, Associations and Conferences, encouraging them to continue the discernment process on its resolutions.

Full statement

[Here is the complete text of the statement, released today (Jan. 22) by leaders of the United Church of Christ, opposing Ohio H.B. 272, which denies benefits to same-gender couples.]

"We, the Officers of the United Church of Christ (UCC), strongly urge Ohio Governor Bob Taft to veto H.B. 272. The bill passed Wednesday (January 21, 2004) by the Ohio State Senate is an act of discrimination that unfairly and unjustly singles out good, taxpaying citizens. It does so by denying benefits to unmarried persons living in viable, healthy, committed relationships.

"H.B. 272 is a bill that divides us rather than unites us. The State of Ohio mirrors this nation as a place of great diversity and this diversity contributes much to the richness of community life and the prosperity of our economy. Laws like H.B. 272 fail to honor and protect that diversity, leaving families—including the many children of those committed relationships—behind.

"The 1.3-million-member United Church of Christ also is a place of great diversity, and is respectful of the fact that not every one is in agreement about same-gender relationships. Yet the United Church of Christ has found ways to be in community with each other, allowing the gifts and graces of all persons to be expressed. If elected officials choose to spend time on this issue, they should work to honor and respect the diversity among all people and protect the rights and benefits of all citizens, including those who are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender. H.B. 272 does the opposite.

"In 1975, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ (the central deliberative body of the denomination) adopted a resolution affirming civil rights protection for gay or lesbian persons. In 1977, the General Synod said it 'deplores the use of scripture to generate hatred, and the violation of civil rights of gay and bisexual persons.' A 1991 resolution called for 'passage of domestic partnership laws designed to provide greater justice for gays and lesbians' and opposed attempts 'to file petitions and pass laws to prevent the civil rights of gays and lesbians from being protected.'

"We are in a time when an increasing number of people are struggling to protect themselves and their families with adequate health care and pension benefits. As a matter of justice, states should find ways to include more, not less, of its citizens in benefits programs. H.B. 272 is an injustice against State of Ohio employees. It leaves the private sector vulnerable to legal interpretation that could cause companies to deny important benefits to their employees. In addition, by making this a strong policy of the state, companies that do offer such benefits may have an increasingly difficult time gaining state contracts, harming businesses which employ many of our church members and friends.

"The national setting of the United Church of Christ in Cleveland, Ohio, is an employer that offers same-gender domestic partner benefits to its employees. We are concerned about how the provisions of this bill may affect the ability of the UCC to legally offer these benefits in the State of Ohio.

"H.B. 272 is bad policy and should not become law. We encourage Governor Taft to do the right thing for Ohio citizens and veto the bill."

Signed by

The Rev. John H. Thomas
General Minister and President
United Church of Christ

Dr. Edith A. Guffey
Associate General Minister
United Church of Christ

Dr. Bernice Powell Jackson, Executive Minister
Justice and Witness Ministries
United Church of Christ

The Rev. José A. Malayang, Executive Minister
Local Church Ministries
United Church of Christ

Dr. Olivia Masih White, Executive Minister
Wider Church Ministries
United Church of Christ

United Church of Christ website

24 January 2004