Testimony Before the Indiana Senate Judiciary Committee

Indiana state government is considering a constitutional amendment to ban marriage equality, and to join Ohio, Kentucky, Illinois and Michigan, etc. in discriminating against equality for gay couples and their families. The following is a statement delivered at the state Senate by our pastor:

Rev. Jeff Miner, Senior Pastor, LifeJourney Church (Formerly JesusMCC)
March 16, 2011

I am Rev. Jeff Miner, Chair of a statewide coalition of justice-seeking clergy and congregations called ICON, the Interfaith Coalition On Nondiscrimination. I also serve as Senior Pastor of Jesus Metropolitan Community Church, Indianapolis.

It makes me weary to stand before you today. We’ve done this before. But hate keeps raising its ugly head. When we should be looking forward, you keep trying to tug us backward.

Three brief points.

First, a multitude of people of faith in Indiana are disgusted with what you are doing here.

Today I will distribute a letter signed by 137 Hoosier clergy from across the state — clergy who represent thousands of Hoosiers — who are begging you to stop hating, stop hurting, and stop dividing people. Focus on something positive; do something life-giving.

Second, what you’re doing has nothing to do with defending the Bible or marriage.

Throughout history the Bible has often been twisted to justify discrimination — against women, against African Americans, against Jews, and now against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. It seems that God gets blamed every time we sinful humans want to justify hurting another unpopular minority.

The truth is, God is love — that’s what the Bible teaches. And the acid test of our love, Jesus taught, is how we treat those who are most vulnerable in society. But in complete and utter disregard for these vital teachings, you are about to strip a whole class of people of their basic civil rights. As a follower of Jesus, I am confident that if he were testifying today, he would scold you and weep, and would say to gay, lesbian and transgender people everywhere — I have come to save you . . . from my followers.

Does anyone here really believe that straight marriages are falling apart because of gay people? Is anybody here really that silly? Let’s cut through the hypocrisy. This legislation is about pandering to the prejudices of extremists on the religious right. And pandering is a sin.

Third, you will be held accountable by God and history for the vote you cast today.

Those who vote yes will be on the wrong side of history. Your name will go down in infamy with leaders like those in Indiana in the 1920s who pandered to racism. And some day your great-grand children will be ashamed. I beg you, don’t do this to your legacy.

God of mercy, God of justice, help these legislators to see how much their actions are hurting people. Change their hearts, O God. Turn them into courageous leaders who care more about justice than votes. Amen.