Sharon Watkins Urges Governor to Veto Bill

The news reported in this article has been breaking so quickly that it’s been difficult to keep it up-to-date. Check the GLAD Facebook page for more information, and like our Facebook page to keep up-to-date.

According to the Indianapolis Star last week, “Controversial religious freedom legislation that could protect business owners who don’t want to provide services for same-sex couples is poised to become law in Indiana.”

This bill, similar to many that have been proposed in statehouses across the country, was signed by the Governor last week. This so called religious freedom restoration bill allows business owners to use religion as an excuse to discriminate legally against those whom they don’t care to serve. Many proponents of similar bills have made it clear that these bills are often inspired by the desire to discriminate against LGBT people and same gender couples.

Sharon Watkins, General Minister and President of the Christian Church, along with other national church leaders, have written to Governor Pence and urged him to veto the bill. In that letter, Christian Church leadership made it clear that if the bill becomes law in Indiana (and it has), Dr. Watkins and other church leaders will work to move the 2017 General Assembly, planned for Indianapolis, to another state. We understand that the General Church leadership are currently working to make this change in plans.

Rick Spleth, Indiana Regional Minister, also sent this pastoral letter in response to this law. In it he urges Disciples in Indiana, indeed everywhere, to make it clear that we welcome all.

The GLAD Alliance is working with the National LGBTQ Task Force to educate people across the country about the impact these bills will have when passed. We value the freedom of religion for all Americans, and we believe that our freedom to worship and believe does not give a business the right to discriminate. Some of these laws go so far as to allow emergency medical personal the right to refuse to treat patients, school personal the right to refuse to support and protect students, or owners the right to refuse to provide housing to prospective tenants.

If you would like more information about the workshops and trainings offered by The Task Force, especially in states with a religious refusal bill in process, contact Mark Johnston at mark@gladalliance.org.