Churches are speaking out, pro and con, on gay-rights law

OLYMPIA — The contentious debate over a new gay civil-rights law has carried over to the pulpit, with some churches citing the Bible to exhort voters to repeal the measure, while others cite the same text to argue for its preservation.

Churches have to walk a fine line when it comes to political advocacy, or they risk losing their tax-exempt status. Under Internal Revenue Service guidelines, churches cannot endorse individual candidates, and their pastors cannot use the pulpit or church newsletters to do so. But they are not prevented from speaking out on issues.

And churches around the state are speaking up. Conservative churches that oppose the gay civil-rights bill have been pushing "Referendum Sunday," encouraging parishioners to sign petitions that would force a statewide vote in November on the gay-rights law the Legislature passed earlier this year. Churches that support the law have organized statewide prayer gatherings and have signed anti-discrimination statements.

"The marriage of religion and politics is as American as apple pie," said The Rev. Randall Lord-Wilkinson, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Bremerton, which supports the new law. "The Christian right has been more vocal and highly visible. The religious left is getting better organized. While our perspective is in the minority, it doesn't mean we're wrong. And it doesn't mean they're wrong on everything. We just disagree on this issue."

Supporters of the "Let the Voters Decide" campaign need 112,440 valid voter signatures by 5 p.m. Tuesday to get Referendum 65 on the November ballot. The Secretary of State's Office said that the campaign has an appointment to turn in the signatures at 11 a.m. Monday.

What referendum asks

The referendum asks voters whether they want to keep the law, which adds "sexual orientation" to a state law that bans discrimination in housing, employment, insurance and credit. The amendment makes Washington the 17th state with laws protecting gays and lesbians, and the seventh to protect transgender people.

Information online

Let the Voters Decide: www.

letthevotersdecide.net

Washington Won't Discriminate: http://

washingtonwontdiscriminate.org

The Religious Coalition for Equality: www.

http://religiouscoalition-wa.org/">religiouscoalition-wa.org

Faith & Freedom Network: www.faithandfreedom.us/

The law takes effect Wednesday, unless enough valid signatures are turned in, in which case it will be frozen until the election.

A referendum refers a law passed by the Legislature to a vote of the people.

Opponents of the law argue that it gives gays and lesbians preferential treatment, encourages quotas and could lead to same-sex marriage.

The Washington State Supreme Court heard arguments last year on a case challenging the state ban on gay marriage, and a ruling is due soon.

"I understand that the issue of sexuality is not something that we talk about very easily. It's a difficult topic," said Pastor Stephen Jones of Seattle First Baptist Church. "This isn't about gay marriage, this isn't about endorsing lifestyles. This is about basic, fundamental civil rights."

At Mount Olive Lutheran Church in Yakima, Pastor Toby Joeckel said about 80 people have signed the petition to get the referendum on the ballot.

"To me this is a moral issue, it's not a political issue," Joeckel said. "Sometimes the truth of the Scriptures goes against what society says. We have to hold the anchor."

But in a letter distributed to Catholic churches, the Washington state Catholic Conference, which had opposed the gay civil-rights measure before the Legislature passed it, said that it was concerned that the signature-gathering campaign for the referendum "may have the effect of encouraging unjust discrimination against homosexual persons."

"Discrimination, intolerance or other mistreatment is contrary to Church teaching regardless of a person's sexual orientation," said the letter signed by the archbishop of Seattle and the bishops of Spokane and Yakima.

Issues to remain

If the measure makes it on to the ballot, church leaders on both sides of the issue said they will continue to preach their message.

"For many people, church is one of the most important parts of their lives, spiritually and socially," said Gary Randall, president of Faith & Freedom Network, which wants to see the new law overturned. "They look to their church for leadership. When they hear information on social issues, like this one, they take it more seriously than what they hear from news sources. We have a responsibility."