wfn.org | UCC leaders urge Ohio governor to vetor HB272

[powellb@ucc.org]

United Church of Christ
Barb Powell, press contact
216-736-2175
<powellb@ucc.org>
On the Web: <http:://www.ucc.org>

For immediate release
Jan. 22, 2004

Note to reporters and editors: Entire text of statement follows release

United Church of Christ leaders send statement to Ohio Gov. Taft,
urging veto of Ohio H.B. 272

CLEVELAND ? Following the Ohio State Senate?s approval of House Bill 272,
which denies benefits to partners in same-gender unions, United Church of
Christ leaders today (Jan. 22) released a statement strongly urging Ohio
Governor Bob Taft to veto the bill.

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 honor 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. Josi 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.

#  #  #

[EDITORS AND REPORTERS: 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. Josi A. Malayang, Executive Minister
Local Church Ministries
United Church of Christ

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