Religious leaders backed successful push for amendment banning same-sex marriage
Friday, July 08, 2011 at 11:36 am
- 39 Comments
Among the donors to the Minnesota Family Council’s efforts to get a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage on the ballot in 2012 is a slew of churches and religious leaders. Some of the churches and pastors who have contributed to the successful seven-year campaign are opposed to homosexuality and advocate “ex-gay” therapy, a controversial faith-based type of counseling that attempts to change gays and lesbians into heterosexuals. The therapy has been condemned by most major medical associations. Among the donors are churches in Minneapolis and greater Minnesota, and, in one case, a large Minnesota financial institution.
The Minnesota Campaign Finance and Public Disclosure Board merely lists donors that have contributed more than $500 to lobbying groups such as MFC. The board also tracks donations to ballot campaigns such as Minnesota for Marriage (M4M), and those donations have been noted where available.
Jim Anderson, The Harbor, Hastings
Pastor Jim Anderson of The Harbor, a church in Hastings, is a financial backer of the Minnesota Family Council‘s successful lobbying campaign to put the amendment on the ballot next year. Anderson spoke out in favor of a DVD campaign released by Archbishop John Nienstedt during the 2010 election that urged Catholics to vote for candidates who oppose rights for same-sex couples.
“We stand in support of the recent efforts to protect and strengthen marriage by the Catholic Archdiocese,” said Anderson at a Minnesota Family Council event in 2010. “We agree that marriage is between one man and one woman and that the church and it’s leaders should lead the way in protecting and strengthening marriage. We call on other pastors and all Christians leaders to join us in protecting and strengthening marriage.”
Anderson is also president of Harvest Impact Ministries and a board member for the Minnesota Family Council.
In addition, Anderson gave $250 to M4M in 2005.
Steve Goold, New Hope Church, New Hope
Pastor Steve Goold of New Hope Church in the Minneapolis suburb of New Hope is also a contributor to the Minnesota Family Council’s lobbying campaign. In 2008, his church hosted Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council, an organization that was recently listed as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Goold is strongly opposed to marriage equality. “Marriage is under great attack. As pastors of Minnesota churches and citizens of this great state, we find it necessary to voice this concern to you the citizens of Minnesota,” said Goold in a 2010 press release from the Minnesota Family Council. “We cannot state strongly enough the importance and value of marriage for the social good and the potentially dangerous ramifications of a social experiment such as legalizing same-sex marriage.”
The church also advocates that gays and lesbians can change their sexual orientation, a therapy almost all major medical associations have condemned.
A pamphlet for the church’s Release ministry describes the church’s views:
It’s easier to believe this lifestyle is merely about two loving people sharing their lives together. The truth is that homosexuality is clearly warned about in the Bible. And a closer look at the lifestyle also unmistakably reveals that it is not only sinful, but derives out of unhealthy responses to hurts and voids in a person’s life. This way of life leads people away from a loving God and His protective truth… We do not care about individuals when we endorse or ignore a lifestyle that has such high percentages of depression, alcoholism, promiscuity, sexually-transmitted diseases and drug use.
Grace Bible Chapel, Grand Rapids
Grace Bible Chapel in Grand Rapids contributed to MFC’s lobbying efforts in 2010. In 2005, the church hosted a S.O.S. “Save Our Students” seminar in Grand Rapids put on by MFC which invited attendees to “hear the reality of the gay agenda in your schools and the risks to your children.”
Pete Scharber, Marksman Metal, Rogers
Pete Scharber runs Marksman Metal in Rogers, Minn., and was a contributor to the Minnesota Family Council’s lobbying effort. He is also an organizer for the Northwest Christian Network Teams a St. Paul–based Christian network for CEOs. In its mission statement the group says it “enhances the spiritual development of today’s business leaders by facilitating an environment where practical business applications are combined with solid Biblical values.”
John Roise, Lindsay Window and Door, North Mankato
John Roise, owner of Lindsay Window and Door of North Mankato, also contributed to the lobbying campaign in 2010. Roise sits on the board of Minnesota Teen Challenge, an Assemblies of God drug treatment center that has received state and federal funding. Roise, a contributor to Rep. Michele Bachmann, took a $150,000 stimulus tax subsidy this year.
Roise is also on the board of Bethel University and the Bethel University Foundation board. Bethel tells its students not to engage in gay and lesbian relationships. From the university’s student handbook:
“The Bible also identifies character qualities and actions that should not be present in the lives of believers. For example: destructive anger, malice, rage, sexual immorality, impurity, adultery, evil desires, greed, idolatry,slander, profanity, lying, homosexual behavior, drunkenness, thievery, and dishonesty.”
He’s also a donor to Rep. Michele Bachmann and to the Republican Party of Minnesota.
Steve Hilde, Salem Lutheran Church, Osakis, and Steve Moen, Living Hope Ministries, Minneapolis
In 2004, Pastor Steve Hilde of Salem Lutheran Church in central Minnesota gave $200, as did Steve Moen of Living Hope Ministries in northeast Minneapolis.
Lutheran Community Foundation, Thrivent Financial, Minneapolis
In 2004, the Lutheran Community Foundation, a foundation of Thrivent Financial, gave $500 to the Minnesota Family Council. The foundation also gives annual grants to Focus on the Family of which MFC is affiliated. In 2009, Thrivent’s foundation gave Focus on the Family $5,774.
The Minnesota Independent will continue to analyze the funding behind the successful seven-year push by the Minnesota Family Council to get a constitutional ban on same-sex marriage on the ballot in 2012. Read part one in this series, on individual donors who gave the most to the campaign.
Follow Andy Birkey on Twitter39 Comments
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 11:42 am
Christians support marriage and oppose gay marriage. Wow! Shocking.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 11:49 am
Not true, HG. This lifelong practicing Catholic (13 years of Catholic education, including university) favors marriage equality.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 12:04 pm
If they’ have money to influence politics they have money to pay taxes.
To HELL with trickle down politics and economics.
Jeff Wilfahrt, Rosemount, MN
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 12:09 pm
what does any of THEIR religions have to do with CIVIL MARRIAGE CONTRACTS??? ((NOTHING!!!!!!))
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 12:38 pm
Jeff hit it on the nose, this is about separation of church and state. Its not a religious house its a political campaign.
Equality is about all people HG not just the ones you choose.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 1:38 pm
Isn’t that money supposed to be used for the church, constituents and community? I know a lot of food shelves who could really use $500 worth of food.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 2:26 pm
“This lifelong practicing Catholic (13 years of Catholic education, including university) favors marriage equality.”
13 years of education and he’s still “practicing” because he hasn’t got it right, yet. I wonder if it was bad teachers or he just didn’t study very hard.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 2:54 pm
if these “ppl’ wanted to protect marriage, why won’t they force the govt to make citizens who want to get married take tests to see really they know their parents and an std test…. also force them to do background, credit checks.
hell, make divorce illegal.
they know that they can’t ban civil unions or gay marriage, this is to rally the sheeple for the next election.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 3:11 pm
Thanks for the good reporting, Andy. It should be said that there are also many religious leaders who have spoken out loudly in opposition to this constitutional amendment and made financial contributions to organizations working to defeat it.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 3:45 pm
I am happy to hear people of faith stepping up for support of equality, but they also have to keep their pockets clean of all things political. I honestly believe we need zero religion in our law, its how the founding fathers wanted it.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 3:58 pm
It makes me sick that you people have to resort to these tactics against those that oppose your point of view. Who are the intolerant bigots? God ordained marriage as between one man and one woman. He is the only one who can change that. It is right for these people to financially support an initiative that would preserve that definition. Even if gays could get “married” it’s not marriage because God says so. Go fight for civil unions or domestic partnerships and leave marriage alone.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 4:00 pm
Also, Andy Birkey is obsessed with his hatred of this group. Get over it. There are a lot of people who don’t agree with you. In fact, 31 states don’t agree with you.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 4:04 pm
Religious leaders, however, are also citizens who are free to vote for political candidates, speak their mind on political issues, and make financial contributions to political causes they support. It’s another issue completely when they offer public endorsements or make financial contributions on behalf of the faith communities they represent.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 4:14 pm
“Betty”
Your argument would have a modicum of validity IF this country ONLY had one religion and a specific version of that. Since the US is religiously pluralistic, your argument is pure religious drivel. Marriage has meant many things to many cultures including a number that didn’t care about gender.
It’s NOT hatred to point out the Minnesota Family Council is purely a right wing religous organization that ONLY cares about those who follow it’s very narrow beliefs. The MFC has been obsessed about gays since it was called “The Berean League” many years ago.
And since when is voting on the civil rights of a minority a moral thing to do?
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 4:19 pm
Again, religious leaders PUSHING religious belief-system ideals into government law. SHAME ON THEM. If they want to push this rediculous amendment through, then they should also PAY TAXES. The gay friends I have that want to marry pay TAXES yet cannot have the same lawful privileges.
@ Betty Rubble … seems God gave us free will. There are other states that have passed the gay-marriage law and they are doing just fine along with other countries… without your so called God’s Bible laws, restrictions and oppressions. Get off your bible thumping high horse and worry about your own life choices and not other people’s loving peaceful unions. Shame on you.
Andy you just keep doing what you are doing. You are wonderful!!! Full Support!!!
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 4:28 pm
Betty, you are free to believe that this country’s laws need to be based in your reading of scripture. Absolutely.
You are also welcome to get used to the fact that you have no authority to make Caesar obey.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 4:51 pm
Dear stone age Betty,
I don’t accept your god but I do accept our joint citizenship. So let’s talk about the constitution that we share, because you and I don’t share your god.
Your presumption about your god is what is false in your argument. Mentioning a faith is not the same as mentioning a fact. Let’s talk fact. Marriage is a legal construct. That is a fact.
Jeff Wilfahrt, Rosemount, MN
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 5:30 pm
Great reporting Andy!
I hope we keep pointing out that there are many Christian and non-Christian religions that WANT to perform same-sex marriages and have them recognized legally to the same degree as opposite sex marriages. Why? Because their God calls for justice and equality.
We must point out that it is an unconstitutional “establishment” of religion to write the theology of a particular group of fundamentalists into our civil laws—especially when it discriminates against the beliefs of other religions (United Church of Christ, Unitarians, etc.) By banning same-sex marriage with a constitutional amendment, we would be establishing a state-wide religion in the constitution and be infringing on the religious freedom of other faiths.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 6:15 pm
@Betty Rumble
There’s no such thing as God. You’re imaging things… not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just that you can’t use God as a crutch for denying others the exact same civil rights that you enjoy under the United States Constution… no more so than I can use Thor as justification for relieving you of your constitutional freedom to be an insufferable bigot. This idea, believe it or not, is the reason our country exists at all.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 6:18 pm
Correcting typos as I like to keep it neat:
@Betty Rumble
There’s no such thing as God. You’re imagining things… not that there’s anything wrong with that. It’s just that you can’t use God as a crutch for denying others the exact same civil rights that you enjoy under the United States Constitution… no more so than I can use Thor as justification for relieving you of your constitutional freedom to be an insufferable bigot. This idea, believe it or not, is the reason our country exists at all.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 6:37 pm
Ok…so we have a fairly good base to start from here with this list of donors! Soooo….what are we waiting for? Let’s start making phone calls to these wealthy bigots and kindly inform them that our hard earned $$$ will now be spent elsewhere!! Most importantly WE NEED TO GET THE WORD OUT!!! Tell your friends, family, ect,ect,ect al about these businesses and LET THE BOYCOTTS BEGIN, YYeeeeehaaaaw!!
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 8:00 pm
@ Betty
My Marriage has not been ordained by any God. I do not follow your God and there is no God in my Marriage.
Actually there isn’t a God in anyone’s marriage, one can not be married without the state saying you are married. I respect your ritual you have and your faith system, but I do NOT follow it and I insist that as an American that we live by the constitution.
My belief system is based on Facts. Fact, marriage is a legal contract. Fact I do Not have to have a God to be married. Fact, Equality is not being met within our legal system for not allowing every one the same right as everyone else.
Comment posted July 8, 2011 @ 10:07 pm
@ Betty. YOU leave marriage alone. It’s for everyone. Get over it.
Comment posted July 9, 2011 @ 2:27 pm
gay marriage a union between two people same as my marriage
i have no problems with it , i consider myself a christian spirited person
i think God will be cool with it when we flow on,, into our astro body’s
the 9th and 14th amendment equal protection under the law say’s it all
i am a christian hetrol sexual disabled veteran man married for 25 years to a wonderful women
i served in the military , for the people who want or need choices in their personal lives ,where it is no business of the u.s. or state governments
and by God i have more things to worry about than if two of the same sex people want to legalize a marriage, for what ever reason they choose
AND I THINK WE ALL DO IF YOU DON’T VOLUNTEER SOME TIME TO A WORTHY CHARITY
hey Marie hows it goin I’m with ya [ political agenda,s] UHHH
such as bachmans
and for me any time i can blast bachman i will
Marie and lane i am doing a little better , i know your pulling for me
Comment posted July 9, 2011 @ 5:31 pm
Ray, good on ya mate! Glad to here you’re doing well.
As to “religious leader” against same-sex marriage: I’ve been “in the church” for over 60 years. These “leaders” are so screwed-up as to what God wants from us it’s sad. They are total self-serving creeps!
Comment posted July 9, 2011 @ 6:56 pm
Ray Marshall- Jesus says let he who is without sin cast the first stone.Ever hear of Jesus? Probably not, he’s in the new testament- the part you republicans never get around to. And why not, with all the bloodthirsty stuff in the old to entertaintain you knuckle-draggers.
Comment posted July 10, 2011 @ 8:10 pm
Good point. Marriage is a civil right. Without a license from the State, a religious marriage wouldn’t be legal.
I think “Betty” is a little mixed up. Also, I don’t think they had churches or marriage licenses in the stone age, so Betty and Barney were never legally married.
Comment posted July 11, 2011 @ 8:54 am
In fact, since the stone age far preceded god and its theoretical hatred of gay marriage, for all we knor it could be Betty and Barbie.
Iowa has had gay marriage for two years now. Divorce is down, marriage is up, couples can move forwardto adoption with a sense of certainty that they’re providing a solid home, our unemployment is relatively low…
The only ills that have come from the Supreme Court’s determination that DOMA was unconstitutional and cannot stand were the attack upon our Supreme Court, and the failed attempt to legalize discrimination via a constitutional amendment. And these were perpetrated not by gays, but by ‘Christian’ bigots and out of state hate groups. Haters always seem to have a lot of money, but I suppose ‘give all hat you have to the poor and follow Me’ means very littke after you’ve already tossed the first commandment of Christ: ‘Love thy neighbor’.
Comment posted July 11, 2011 @ 2:57 pm
Marriage is for everyone already as long as it’s only to one person and of the opposite sex. It’s not a civil right.
Comment posted July 11, 2011 @ 3:03 pm
The Lutheran Community Foundation (LCF) grant mentioned in this article was distributed from one of 3,100 donor advised funds held at the LCF and was made at the recommendation of an individual donor. The LCF, a public charity separate from Thrivent Financial, distributes more than $10 million annually from its donor advised funds to a wide spectrum of nonprofits throughout the U.S.
Comment posted July 11, 2011 @ 3:04 pm
And what happened to the judges in Iowa that circumvented the will of the people of that state. They got booted out of office. Also, I don’t find it loving to support a lifestyle that is physically and mentally unhealthy. I do love my neighbor enough to tell them the lifestyle they are practicing is just that.
Comment posted July 11, 2011 @ 3:38 pm
Actually Betty the Judeo-Christian creation myth is just that a creation myth not a marriage myth. Marriage is and always has been a civil function. If you knew your Christian history, you would know that the early church did not even preform marriages. Since you feel Gay people should only be permitted to marry a person of the opposite sex are you will to marry a Gay man? Would you want your sons or daughters (if you have any) to marry a Gay person? Why do you feel you have the right to force everyone to live by your particular religious views. Would you be willing to live by a Hindus religious views? Or a Unitarian Universalists (who’s religious views permit Gay marriage)? When you take marriage in it’s total meaning which encompasses intimacy do you not feel that marriage to a person of the opposite sex would be as distasteful to a Gay person as marriage to a person of the same sex would be for a straight one? Or are you just so full of hatred for Gay people that you do not feel they deserve the right to intimacy and happiness? I really would be interested in seeing your answers to these questions. Although I have a feeling I will not be seeing them.
Comment posted July 11, 2011 @ 8:14 pm
Responding to Lori Anderson’s attempt at damage control on behalf of Lutheran Community Foundation, I strongly suggest that LCF review its policies to ensure that its charitable activities no longer stray into politics and advocacy of discrimination and bigotry. Individual donors wishing to do such can be advised to donate directly to political/hate groups. We will be watching LCF and Thrivent Financial closely along with the Roman Catholic Church.
Comment posted July 11, 2011 @ 10:22 pm
Betty, No one but your religious group think its unhealthy to be gay, there is not one medical association that is credited in the world that agrees with you.
Please go about and think and live by your choice of religion, stop telling us to live by yours! that is the biggest and most un American most Taliban like act you can do.
If you force others into your religion you are a Religious Terrorist just as the extreme’s of the people of the middle east. Extreme is extreme, it doesn’t matter what sort of extreme it is.
Comment posted July 12, 2011 @ 8:39 am
ah just read the14th amendment then the 9th
if we would just leave people alone who are not harming others
and go after the people who are
oh how life would be [ betty rubble don't say it and don't even think it ,,,your wrong
live and let live i think thats what they meant as
in the pursuit of happiness
when they changed it from private property ownership [decoration of independence ]
everyone has the right to pursue happiness
quid pro quo = a gay person pay’s taxes [ i think this would be a correct statement ]
we pay taxes so we can have certain unalienable rights [ lane i need your help on this one ]
keep up the fight for what is legally right
uh it even rhymes what do ya know
Comment posted July 12, 2011 @ 9:27 am
I wonder if thats the same Lori Anderson in the Anoka Hennepin school district and the fundamentalist-backed PAL who wrote a scathingly homophobic op-ed…
Scimming theis fund briefly I see that it funds Alliance Defence Fund, Focus On the Family, Chuck Colsons Prison Fellowship, the Dobson-oriented Promise Keepers and a slew of apostolic (NAR) and “Harvest” (ITN) organizations and others. Is this how The Family scrubs its money?
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