Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 08:56:29 EDT [ Send replies to BoiseBear@aol.com only ] REMARKS BY: Rev. John Schaefer Vicar of Holy Nativity Episcopal Church of Meridian, Idaho GIVEN ON: June 21, 1994 St. Michael's Episcopal Cathedral, Boise Thank you for coming to this press conference. On behalf of the ministers and clergy gathered here, I would like to state that we do not necessarily speak for our respective denominations -- or all the members of our congregations. However, we feel that it is time for people of faith speak out clearly - - against the anti-gay initiative circulated by the Idaho Citizens Alliance. Our announcement today is not a call to condone homosexuality, but to oppose discrimination. We present to you today a list of over 35 ministers and clergy who stand opposed to discrimination. We ask other clergy to join us, because we believe that -- "Discrimination is not an act of faith." STRANGERS IN A STRANGE LAND When God gave His law to the Israelites, God stressed the importance of our relationship to those we consider strangers -- or different if you will. In Exodus He says, "Thou shalt neither vex a stranger nor oppress him, for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt." (Exodus 22:21). God is reminding the Israelites that since they were strangers in a strange land, they must remember how it felt to be treated as aliens -- and therefore they should treat strangers -- not with mere hospitality -- but to love them as they would love themselves. WE ARE ALL STRANGERS Throughout the scriptures, God reminds us that in some ways we are all strangers. It is interesting -- that Jesus Christ referred to Himself as a stranger: "I was a stranger and ye took me in" (Matthew 25:35). In the ancient world -- and in today's world -- the stranger is persecuted, imprisoned, cast out and even killed. All we need to do is open the newspaper on any given day to confirm this: Rwanda, Bosnia, Somalia, Ireland all attest to this fact. Under the right conditions any one of us might be considered a stranger and therefore subject to persecution. Homosexuality may be a strange-ness to some of us. But the truth is -- gay and lesbian people may be members of our own families, some of our friends, our neighbors, or our business associates. There may be gay and lesbian people in our own congregations. A GAY BROTHER I heard a story of a man who recently became a Christian. He has a brother who happens to be gay. Upon hearing that his brother had become a Christian, the gay brother asked, "Can you still love me now that you are a Christian?" Partly because of the fervor on this issue in Idaho -- and this is sad -- the brother couldn't readily answer the question. I wish that man could have said to his brother, "Yes, I do love you -- not in spite of being a Christian, but because I am a Christian." THINGS THAT MAKE FOR PEACE We have a tendency to judge one another for the failure to understand things -- exactly the way -- we understand things. But instead of focusing on differences, the Apostle Paul tells us in Romans (14:19), to "pursue the things that make for peace and build up the common life." Those things generally are love, understanding, tolerance and acceptance. And we feel that the ICA initiative is instead divisive and intolerant. It is not needed in Idaho. The Spirit shines in us -- and it can shine through us. But It cannot do that -- if we act with prejudice, if we consider others -- less than ourselves, if we persecute those who are different, if we cast out strangers, or if we forbid others their basic human rights. DISCRIMINATION IS NOT AN ACT OF FAITH It is observed that although many heterosexual Christians say, when speaking of homosexuals, we must "hate the sin and love the sinner," -- yet gays and lesbians consistently report feelings of being hated, rather than loved by fellow Christians. We pray and call upon people of faith to speak out against discrimination. Remember this: Discrimination is NOT an act of faith! Thank you!