Here is Rev. Barbara Haynes of Metropolitan Community Church Los Angeles -- an openly gay born-again Christian -- singing "My God Is Real." Enjoy. (Cathy, I cannot listen to this without thinking of you and missing Jimmie.)
A great deal of the discussion regarding the decision released in Iowa on Friday has been centered around the reaction of the religious community and those of individuals who identify with the Republican Party. While those do seem to be the most organized groups voicing opposition, we should not lose sight of the fact that there are many individuals within the Republican Party who supported the Supreme Court's decision just as there were organized branches of religion doing the same.
Rev. Rich Pleva, United Church of Christ Iowa conference minister, said, "Words can hardly express how delighted and relieved I am for same sex couples in Iowa -- more than a few of whom are my friends -- for whom the Iowa Supreme Court's ruling is a gift."
Pleva has invited Rev. Mike Schuenemeyer, the UCC's minister for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender concerns, to come to Iowa next week and meet with clergy and lay leaders to discuss the court decision as well as the possible diverse reactions to it.
"Laws that exclude same-sex couples from the fundamental right to marry cannot be allowed to stand," Schuenemeyer said. "Regardless of how one feels about marriage, this ruling affirms the essential value of America that our laws must protect everyone equally and they must treat everyone with the same dignity, respect, rights and responsibilities."
The United Church of Christ has 179 local churches in Iowa. In addition, Grinnell College is historically affiliated with the UCC.
And the UCC isn't the only religious group voicing support for marriage equality in Iowa.
"I take heart in these signs of the moral arc of the universe bending toward justice," said Rev. William Sinkford, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association.
In Cedar Rapids Friday evening, lead plantiffs Trish and Kate Varnum attended a celebratory rally at People's Church in downtown -- a Unitarian Universalist congregation. In addition to the handmade signs in the church, the pulpit there has long been flanked by two large banners proclaiming equality, love, justice, hope and a myriad of other words.
There is also a push within the Episcopalian community to approve gay marriage at their summer convention.
I don't speak of things related to faith very often on this blog. The absence is largely intentional as I continue each day to struggle for an answer as to who I am and what I believe... also how the things that I believe fit into the larger community.
What I do understand very well, however, is being a part of a church where sentiments toward justice, love, generousity and kindness rose in contradiction to what I read in holy texts and what I felt in my own heart. There is a great deal of pain involved in leaving a church community and joining another. But for those who are considering, you should also know there is an immense lightening of the heart as well.
Iowan Shane Vander Hart, a person who does not agree with the SC decision, did a little out-loud thinking on what, if anything, he might say in church this morning. Vander Hart also links to Evangelicals Anonymous, where there is a blog post that expresses both discontent with the SC decision and some musings on what a good response looks like.
I think it will definitely be a little hard to make a good response, when there are folks like Rod Dreher who seems to believe that acknowleding the civil rights of certain groups infringes on his right to be a bigot. As a woman, let me assure Dreher that the laws affirming equal rights don't stop people from saying and doing discriminatory things.
There were also several references -- roll-your-eyes-supposed-jokes -- about the number of livestock animals in Iowa and how that influenced the justices' opinions. These types of things do nothing to advance the dialogue of civil rights, but serve only as fear mongering.
Speaking of saying and doing things that aren't necessarily appropriate or truthful... Andrew Sullivan, via an e-mail from Evan Wolfson, documents who has been writing these supposed "decisions by activist judges." Hint: The Iowa decision was penned by Justice Mark Cady, who was appointed in 1998 by then Gov. Terry Branstad, a Republican.
The national media, of course, is attempting to draw the dots between the SC decision and the 2012 Iowa caucuses. Once more, and for the record, most of the national political media aren't from Iowa, do not necessarily want Iowa to continue its first-in-the-nation status, and would be willing to give it to any state providing the climate was such to prevent them from dealing with ice and snow. The question here is not if the Iowa decision will impact the 2012 caucuses, but how the Iowa decision will impact the Republican Party of Iowa, which has been nearly dismembered by the ongoing tug-of-war in its own ranks.
If this decision prompts certain angry and seemingly unjustified statements from RPI and local leadership, watch for even more moderate Republicans to stream away from party politics in search of something less religious and more politically minded.
Steve Buttry of the Cedar Rapids Gazette believes that "Iowa has more important fights than marriage rules." Thanks, Steve. As resident of the flood-striken corridor, I whole-heartedly agree that we have more pressing matters.
Due to those "more pressing matters," let me echo the words of Iowa Sen. Matt McCoy, who encouraged visitors to consider Iowa. As we continue our recovery from the 2008 floods, we could use your help. Come visit. Spend a night in one of hotels or bed and breakfasts. Take in a show. Attend a festival. Go out to dinner or try your luck at a casino. Travel Iowa.
