Christian Leaders Call for Passage of National U.S. Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) P R E S S S T A T E M E N T Bishops and Elders Council of the United States and Canada Contacts: Rev. Jim Birkitt Rev. Rebecca Voelkel Director of Communications Director, Institute for Welcoming Resources 310-625-4177 612-703-7907 or 612-821-4397 _JimBirkitt@MCCchurch.net_ (blocked::mailto:JimBirkitt@MCCchurch.net) _Rebecca@WelcomingResources.org_ (blocked::mailto:Rebecca@WelcomingResources.org) September 13, 2007 -- The Bishops and Elders Council, a network of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) affirming churches and organizations touching the lives of 98 million Americans, has called on the U.S. Congress to pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and on President Bush to sign it into law. ENDA would prohibit discrimination in employment based on sexual orientatio n or gender identity. It remains legal in 31 states to fire or deny employmen t to someone based solely upon sexual orientation. In 39 states, it is legal to fire or refuse to hire someone for being transgender. Meeting in Sarasota, Florida, from September 7-9, the Bishops and Elders Council noted the hundreds of scriptures in the Bible on economic justice. Deuteronomy 24:14 says, âYou shall not withhold the wages of poor an d needy laborersââ According to Rev. Rebecca Voelkel, program direct or for The Institute for Welcoming Resources and a convener of the Bishops and Elders Council, â Jesus crossed lines of all social divisions to include people in the realm of God. His opening sermon in the Gospel of Luke 4:18 proclaimed good news for the poor and to release the oppressed.â âWould Jesus discriminate?â asked Rev. Dr. Cindi Love, exec utive director of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC). âJesus was condemned for eating with people that religious leaders labeled as âsinners,â but he called them friends and children of God. Jesus would not discriminate!â The Bishops and Elders Council ministers to tens of thousands of LGBT Christians, including many who have been fired or denied employment because of sexual orientation or gender identity. The Bishop and Elders Council pled ged to work for the passage of ENDA in the coming months in partnership with the Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF ), the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), and the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC). Rev. Troy Plummer, executive director of the Reconciling Ministries Network , which works within the United Methodist Church, commented, âIn a ti me of economic uncertainty for many Americans, LGBT people in most states face th e added burden of being at risk for being fired at any time, or not being hir ed at all, simply because of their perceived sexual orientation or gender identit y. â Bishop Yvette Flunder, presiding bishop of The Fellowship, said, âE NDA is also a family issue and a health care issue. Discrimination against LGBT people in employment hurts not only the individuals directly involved, but t heir children, other family members, and communities. Since most people gain access to health insurance through their jobs, entire families lose not onl y their primary source of income but their health insurance when a breadwinner is fired or cannot find a job for completely unjustified reasons.â The Bishops and Elders Council was founded September, 2006, in Dallas, Texas , and stated, âWe are a unified body of followers of Christ who are c ommitted to speak boldly in our own communities and the larger culture as those who have been both oppressed and oppressor. We will communicate God's consisten t call for justice, wholeness and peace and work to equip ourselves and other s to take concrete action to achieve God's loving shalom. We are committed to work on behalf of all people oppressed or marginalized by poverty, immigrat ion policies, HIV/AIDS, addictions, classism, sexism, ageism, or violence.â € The member organizations and churches of the Bishops and Elders Council are : Affirm United Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests Conference of Liberation Congregations and Ministries DignityUSA The Evangelical Network The Fellowship Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Human Rights Campaign Institute of Welcoming Resources, a program of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Lutherans Concerned/North America Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC) More Light Presbyterians National Black Justice Coalition National Gay and Lesbian Task Force New Ways Ministry New York State Pride Agenda Pride in the Pulpit Reconciling Ministries Network Reformed Catholic Church Room For All Ruach Fellowship of Christ Centered Churches World-Wide Soulforce That All May Freely Serve United Church of Christ Coalition for LGBT Concerns Unity Fellowship The Universal Anglican Church
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