A brief filed by almost 2,000 faith leaders from around the United States is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to rule in favor of marriage equality. At least 67 of those are representatives from Minnesota faith communities including Lutherans, Baptists, Wiccans, Jews, Unitarians, Presbyterians, Methodists, Romanis, and practitioners of West African traditional spirituality.
The brief states, in part:
By reversing the judgment of the court below without reliance on religiously based arguments, and by affirming the constitutional promise of equal treatment for different- and same-sex couples, this Court will ensure that civil law neither favors nor disfavors any particular religious viewpoint. Requiring equal treatment for different- and same-sex couples with respect to civil marriage will, in fact, reaffirm the religious liberty fundamental to this nation’s founding identity. When the freedom to marry is fully respected, all couples will have the right to a solemnized union before a justice of the peace, while all individual faith communities will retain the right to decide who among such couples may seek religious sanction of their union.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments in the case on April 28 which was triggered by appeals in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and Tennessee.
Minnesotans who signed the brief include:
Daniel Adolphson, Associate Pastor, Disciples of Christ, Christian Church, First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN
Peter Bauck, Rev., Lutheran–ELCA, Hospital Chaplain, Minneapolis, MN
Kelli Clement, Rev., Unitarian Universalist Association, Minister of Social Justice, First Unitarian Society, Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN
Jennifer Crow, Rev., Unitarian Universalist Association, First Universalist Church, Minneapolis, MN
Natalie Doll, Minister, Universal Life Church, Minneapolis, MN
Anne Marie Forrester, High Priestess, Wiccan, Minister of Gardnerian Church of the Ancient Communion, Minneapolis, MN
Rosanna Hudgins, Iya Omo l’awo, Ifa/Orisa–West African-based Spiritual Tradition, Minneapolis, MN
Tony Koch, Rev., Universal Life Church, Minneapolis, MN
Michael Adam Latz, Rabbi, Jewish–Reform, Shir Tikvah Congregation, Minneapolis, MN
Rev Elayne Lipp, Rev. (Retired), Lutheran–ELCA, ELCA Lutheran, Minneapolis, MN
Ruth MacKenzie, Rev., Unitarian Universalist Association, First Universalist Church of Minneapolis, St. Paul, MN
Edwin Martin, Retired Presbyterian Minister (Retired), Presbyterian Church USA, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN
Douglas Mitchell, Associate Pastor for Faith in Action, Presbyterian Church USA, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN
Jennifer Nagel, Pastor, Lutheran–ELCA, Salem English Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN
Christie Neuger, Professor Emerita of Pastoral Theology (Retired), United Methodist Church, Brite Divinity School, Minneapolis, MN
Donna Olsen, Volunteer Clergy on Staff, Metropolitan Community Church, All God’s Children Metropolitan Community Church, Minneapolis, MN
Brennan Pearson, Associate Pastor for Families and Fellowship, Presbyterian Church USA, Westminster Presbyterian Church, Minneapolis, MN
Don Portwood, Pastor, United Church of Christ, Lyndale United Church of Christ, Minneapolis, MN
Meg Riley, Rev., Unitarian Universalist Association, Church of the Larger Fellowship, Minneapolis, MN
Justin Schroeder, Sr. Minister, Unitarian Universalist Association, Unitarian Universalist, Minneapolis, MN
Ann Svennungsen, Bishop, Lutheran–ELCA, Minneapolis Area Synod, Minneapolis, MN
Elaine Tenbrink, Minister of Membership and Adult Ministries, Unitarian Universalist Association, First Universalist Church of Minneapolis, Minneapolis, MN
Rebecca Voelkel, Rev. Dr., United Church of Christ, Lyndale United Church of Christ, Minneapolis, MN
Judith WestLee, Rev. (Retired), United Methodist Church, Elder, Minneapolis,, MN
Judith Anderson-Bauer, Rev., Lutheran–ELCA, Pastor, Duluth, MN
Kristin Barton, Minister/High Priestess, Wiccan, Coven leader, Blue Star Wicca (licensed, ordained), Coon Rapids, MN
Clarence Bass, Professor of Theology Emeritus (Retired), American Baptist Church, Bethel Theological Seminary (University), St. Paul, MN
CathyAnn Beaty, Rev. (Retired), United Church of Christ, United Church of Christ, St. Paul, MN
Stephen Bohling, Pastor (Retired), Lutheran–ELCA, ELCA Lutheran Church, Blue Earth, MN
Stephanie Coltvet Erdmann, CoPastor, Lutheran–ELCA, Edina Community Lutheran Church, Edina, MN
Marilyn Evans, Rev. (Retired), United Methodist Church, United Methodist, Anoka, MN
Trenne Fields, Rev., Universal Life Church, Nerstrand, MN
Brenda Froisland, Pastor, Lutheran–ELCA, Bethel Lutheran Church, South St. Paul, MN
Roberta Haskin, Rev. (Retired), Unitarian Universalist Association, Unitarian Universalist Association, Bloomington, MN
Anita Hill, Deputy Director, Lutheran–ELCA, ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation, Saint Paul, MN
Keith Homstad, Rev. (Retired), Lutheran–ELCA, ELCA Pastor, Northfield, MN
Rachael Keefe, Rev. Dr., United Church of Christ, Living Table United Church of Christ, St. Paul, MN
Debbie King Quale, Pastor, United Methodist Church, United Methodist, Lake Crystal, MN
Robin Kinney, Rev., Universal Life Church, St. Paul, MN
Michael Leary, Magus, Roma Kris, Saint Paul, MN
Jenny Mason, Pastor, Lutheran–ELCA, Light of the World Lutheran Church, Farmington, MN
Robin Mavis, Lay Minister, Wiccan, WiCoM, Coon Rapids, MN
Diggitt McLaughlin, Ministerial Candidate, Unitarian Universalist Association, UU, Saint Paul, MN
Michelle Miller, Rev., United Methodist Church, United Methodist Pastor, Crookston, MN
Paul Moody, Rev., Lutheran–ELCA, Mount Olive Evangelical Lutheran Church, Rochester, MN
Lauren Morse-Wendt, Diaconal Minister, Lutheran–ELCA, Edina Community Lutheran Church, Edina, MN
Leslie Moughty, Pastor, United Church of Christ, First Congregational UCC of Brainerd, Brainerd, MN
Lois Pallmeyer, Rev., Lutheran–ELCA, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN
Amy Peterson Derrick, Director of Religious Education, Unitarian Universalist Association,
Religious Educator, Mahtomedi, MN
Robyn Provis, Rev. Dr., Lutheran–ELCA, Salem Evangelical Lutheran, Richfield, MN
Rev. Jean Rollin, Minister, United Methodist Church, Common Ground: A United Methodist Community, Cambridge, MN
Ann Romanczuk, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Association, Unitarian Universalist Association, St. Paul, MN
Kent Saleska, Rev., Unitarian Universalist Association, Unitarian Universalist, Wayzata, MN
Bradley Schmeling, Senior Pastor, Lutheran–ELCA, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, St. Paul, MN
Catherine Schuyler, Pastor, Duluth Congregational Church, Duluth, MN
The Rev. (Retired), Presbyterian Church USA, Faith Community Church, Big Lake, MN
Julie Stoneberg, Minister, Unitarian Universalist Association, Unitarian Fellowship of Peterborough, Peterborough, MN
Erik Strand, Pastor, Lutheran–ELCA, Edina Community Lutheran Church, Edina, MN
Javen Swanson, Associate Pastor, Lutheran–ELCA, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, Saint Paul, MN
Heather Thomason, Rev., Disciples of Christ, Christian Church, Hospice Chaplain, Little Canada, MN
Cornelis vanderBent, Rev., NACCC National Office, Lakeland, MN
Suzanne Wasilczuk, Rev., Unitarian Universalist Association, Mesabi Unitarian Universalist Church, Virginia, MN
Zachary Wilson, Presbyterian Minister, Presbyterian Church USA, Peace Presbyterian Church, Saint Paul, MN
Beth Wolslegel, Director of Elementary Ministry, Lutheran–ELCA, ELCA Lutheran, St. Louis Park, MN
Coulter Wood, Worship Leader, AOG, Austin, MN
Julie Wright, Rev., Lutheran–ELCA, Associate Pastor, Cottage Grove, MN
Annie Zimbel, Rev., Wiccan, Church of Avalon, St. Paul, MN