Indiana Passes, Amends RFRA : DOC General Board Boycotts, Returns 2017 GA to Indianapolis
Yes, the current events in Indiana are confusing. The state legislature passed a bill that claimed to expand religious freedom but actually gave businesses an expanded excuse to discriminate. Our General Minister and President Sharon Watkins urged the governor not to sign the bill.
Governor Pierce signed the bill, and making good on the boycott threat made in the letter, a special meeting of the denomination’s General Board was called. At that meeting the board noted that it might be very expensive to move our 2017 General Assembly out of Indiana yet voted unanimously to seek another location.
Very shortly afterwards, the bill was amended. The amendment is intended to restore the rights of LGBT people in Indiana, and relying on the analysis from Freedom Indiana, the denominational leadership recommended to the board that the board again choose Indianapolis for the 2017 General Assembly. The debate in the General Board this time was much more divided and the vote was far from unanimous. Church leadership agrees that the current state of LGBT protections in Indiana and indeed many of our states is inadequate. Disagreements remain about whether returning the assembly to Indiana is the best message at this time.
Want to know more about what’s going on? Here are some links for more information.
Indy Star: Indiana House OKs controversial religious freedom bill
Disciples.org: Sharon Watkins urges Governor Pierce to veto and General Board chooses to seek a new site for the 2017 Assembly.. (The original letter is at the bottom of this page. The top of this page contains the announcement that the General Board has voted to seek a new venue for the 2017 General Assembly.)
Indy Star: Gov. Mike Pence signs RFRA fix
Indy Star: RFRA revision does not widely extend discrimination protections for LGBT, experts say
Disciples.org: Sharon’s letter to Governor Pierce that the Board has again selected Indianapolis for the 2017 General Assembly stating that “Now that our initial concerns have been addressed, choosing Indy positions us to join other Indiana citizens in the movement for equal protection under the law – for all. The immediate uproar has died down, but there is still work to be done.”
GLADAlliance.org: Letter from Mark Johnston, Executive Director of GLAD’s Open & Affirming Ministry Program and member of the Disciples General Board, on these actions.
Freedom Indiana: What is RFRA?
Disciples have divided opinions on the best way to proceed. You can join the conversation on GLAD’s Facebook page. Be sure to click ‘Like’ to stay connected with GLAD members across the denomination.