Rochester Post Bulletin political reporter Heather Carlson writes in Churches at the center of marriage amendment battle that both sides are rallying supporters in the state's faith communities:
Visit the websites of both groups and they each boast a lengthy list of religious organizations backing their efforts. All six of Minnesota's ELCA Lutheran churches have come out against the marriage amendment, along with the Episcopal Church in Minnesota and all Minnesota Jewish Reform rabbis. Actively supporting the amendment is the Roman Catholic Church, Assembly of God and many evangelical churches.
Carlson interviewed Grant Stevensen, the Lutheran pastor who serves as Minnesotans United for All Families' faith director:
His group has been sponsoring training sessions at churches across the state. The sessions are aimed at helping people of faith learn how to talk with others about their opposition to the amendment. The goal is to train 4,000 to 5,000 people by mid-September.
"The primary thing that is important about the campaign, and it is even more so around the faith department, are the conversations we are encouraging people to have — particularly about their own experience as a gay/lesbian person or someone they love and care about. It really has an effect on people's perspectives," Stevensen said.
Read the entire article to learn more about organizing pro and con in Rochester, Minnesota's third largest city.
On its website, MUAF has announced a “Faith Action Week” to galvanize faithful Minnesotans in their opposition to the marriage amendment:
Faith Action Week will run from Sunday, September 9 through Sunday, September 16, bringing together thousands of people of faith and religious leaders across the state of Minnesota. Churches and temples actively working to defeat the amendment will hold gatherings to update members on the latest efforts and to give parishioners tools to continue having conversations grounded in their faith. Minnesotans from a number of Catholic parishes will also meet as a community to talk about following their conscience and voting no from their Catholic faith. Hundreds of events will take place across the state, as faithful Minnesotans continue to speak out against the amendment – not in spite of their faith, but because of their faith.
In Greater Minnesota; the following events in will be open to the media:
Tuesday, September 11
St. Mary’s Catholic Parish Gathering at the Home of Doug Wilkowske
7:00 p.m. | 3961 Horizon Hills Circle HW | Willmar, MN 56201Thursday, September 13
Vining Lutheran Church Gathering at the Home of Carol Pagel
7:00 p.m. | 45771 Chippewa Trail | Vining, MN 56588Associated Church in Owatonna
7:00 p.m. | 800 Havana Road | Owatonna, MN 55060Sunday, September 16
First Congregational United Church of Christ
11:15 a.m. | Upstairs Parlor | 406 8th Street. South | Moorhead, MN 56560Catholics of Duluth Gathering at the Home of Kay Allen and Therese Presley
6:00 p.m. | 4521 Pitt Street | Duluth, MN 55804First Congregational United Church of Christ
6:30 p.m. | Conference Room | 224 North Fourth Street | Montevideo, MN 56256
Bluestem opposes the amendment and urges readers to vote no.
Photo: MUAF Faith Director Rev. Grant Stevensen (right, front) and people of faith asked Minnesotans to Vote No at the State Fair.
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