An Open Letter from Illinois Clergy and Faith Leaders on Marriage
We represent people of faith from a variety of communities across our state, and we strongly support the Illinois Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act. We dedicate our lives to fostering faith and compassion, and we work daily to promote justice and fairness for all. Standing on these beliefs, we think that it is morally just to grant equal opportunities and responsibilities to loving, committed same-sex couples. There can be no justification for the law treating people differently on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.
We accept our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters and recognize that their families need equal recognition and protections. We believe all Illinois couples should have the same civil protections and urge our public officials to support measures to achieve equality.
There are differences among our many religious traditions. Some recognize and bless same-sex unions, and some do not. The important thing is that the Religious Freedom and Marriage Fairness Act protects religious freedom and guarantees that all faiths will decide which marriages should be consecrated and solemnized within their tradition.
The sacred writings and traditions that we follow carry the messages of love, justice and inclusion. The very basis of marriage is to protect the family, strengthen our communities and advocate compassion. No couple should be excluded from that.
We want to promote the common good – that which is best for individuals, couples, families, children, and society. As people of faith and as citizens of Illinois, we ask you to stand for freedom for all of our citizens and support the freedom to marry. It’s not only a matter of equality – it’s a matter of conscience and justice.
Signed,
Bishop Wayne Miller, ELCA Metropolitan Chicago Synod
Rev. Jacki Belile, Living Well Ministries, American
Rev. Dr. Larry Greenfield, American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago, American
Rev. Susan Johnson, Hyde Park Union Church, American and United Church of Christ
Rev. David Weasley, The Night Ministry, Grace Baptist Church, American
Rev. Ann Louise Haak, American
Rev. Dr. Douglas Sharp, Lake Street Church, American
Sr. Mary Kay Flanigan, OSF, Roman
Dcn. Bill Mages, St. Mary of the Woods, Roman
Br. Brian McLauchlin, SVD, Roman
The Staff at 8th Day Center for Justice, Roman
The Very Rev. Fr. Donn Meilke, St. Thomas Mission, Orthodox
Rev. Dcn. Benjamin Roe, St. Thomas Mission, Orthodox
Pastor Kreston Lipscomb, First Church of the Brethren
Rabbi Lizzi Heydemann, Aitz Hayim, Mishkan Chicago
Rabbi Michael Siegel, Anshe Emet Synagogue
Rabbi Zachary Silver, Anshe Emet Synagogue
Rabbi Amitai Adler, Aitz Hayim Center for Jewish Living
Cantor David Landau, Aitz Hayim Center for Jewish Living
Rabbi Debra Newman Kamin, Am Yisrael Conservative Congregation
Cantor Stuart Simon, Am Yisrael Conservative Congregation
Rabbi Robin Damsky, West Suburban Temple Har Zion
Jen Tayabji, Illinois Disciples Foundation
Rev. Bob Ryder, New Covenant Community Church
Rev. Susan Ryder, New Covenant Community Church
Rev. Dawn Victor, Christian Church
Rev. M.E. Eccles, St. Simon's Episcopal Church
Rev. Patrick Raymond, St. Michael's Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. Joyce Beaulieu, Church of the Holy Trinity
Rev. Heidi Haverkamp, Church of St. Benedict
Rev. Jerome Adams, Associate Producer, Greater Chicago Broadcast Ministries
Rev. Ted Curtis, Grace Episcopal Church
Rev. Tyrone Fowlkes, Director of Spiritual Formation, UCAN
Rev. Jacqueline Lynn, St. James Cathedral
Rev. Dr. Bonnie Anne Perry, All Saint’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Dr. Robert Petite, St. Anna's Chapel, Montgomery Place
Lay Chaplain John Sattelmaier, All Saint's Episcopal Church
Rev. Stan Sloan, Episcopal Diocese of Chicago, Chicago House
The Rev. Kara Wagner Sherer, St. John's Episcopal Church
Rev. Aimee Delevett, Church of the Holy Nativity
Rev. Steve Martz, Church of Our Saviour Episcopal
Rev. Joan Barr Smith, St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Rev. Debra Bullock, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church
Rev. Charles de Kay, St. Matthew's Episcopal Church
The Very Rev. Dr. Jeannette DeFriest, St. Luke's Episcopal Church
Rev. Roger Ferlo, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary
Rev. Susan Harlow, Seabury-Western Theological Seminary, People's Church of Chicago
Rev. George Smith, St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Rev. Jane Schaefer, Annunciation of Our Lady Episcopal Church
Rev. Andrea Mysen, Trinity Episcopal Church
Rev. Lee Gaede, St. Giles Episcopal Church
Rev. Sarah D. Odderstol
Rev. Pamela Hillenbrand, Emmanuel Episcopal Church
Rev. Martha Gillette, Church of the Holy Apostles
Rev. Eileen Shanley-Roberts, Christ Episcopal Church
Rev. Patricia Conley, St. Ann's Episcopal Church
Rev. Dan Hoeger, Our Saviors Lutheran Church, ELCA
Pastor Paul Carlson, New Life Lutheran Church, ELCA
Dr. Esther Portnoy, St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rev. Dr. Kim L. Beckmann, ELCA
Pastor Liala Beukema, Lake View Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rev. Erik C. Christensen, St. Luke's Lutheran Church of Logan Square, ELCA
Rev. Michael Fick, Ebenezer Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rev. Fred Kinsey, Unity Evangelical Lutheran Church, ELCA
Pastor Craig Mueller, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rev. John Roberts, Unity Lutheran Church, ELCA
Pastor Julie Ryan, Christ the Mediator Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rev. Seminarian Kyle Severson, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, ELCA
Pastor Michelle Sevig, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rev. Carrie Smith, Bethany Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rev. Dr. Robert Smith, Bethany Lutheran Church, ELCA
Pastor Keith Fry, Christ the Lord Lutheran Church, ELCA
Pastor Lloyd Kittlaus, University Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rev. Betty Landis, St. Paul's Lutheran Church, ELCA
Pastor Jim Honig, Faith Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rev. Patrick McGuire, St. John’s Lutheran Church
Rev. William Veith, Our Lord's Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rev. Dennis Kelly, Lutheran Church of the Ascension, ELCA
Pastor Kathy Nolte, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rev. Dan Schwick, Lutheran Advocacy of Illinois, St. Luke's Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rev. Kenneth Storck, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, ELCA
Pastor Stacie Fiedlar, St. John's Lutheran Church, ELCA
Rev. Suzanne Anderson-Hurdle, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, ELCA
Pastor Megan Ramer, Chicago Community Mennonite Church
Pastor Mitchell C. Brown, Evanston Mennonite Church
Rev. Danny Spears, Holy Covenant Metropolitan Community Church
Rev. Peter Trabaris, Holy Covenant Metropolitan Community Church
Rev. Karon Van Gelder, Holy Covenant Metropolitan Community Church
Rev. Rachelle Brown, A Church for Me
Rev. Gordon R. McCoy, Cluster Lead
Rev. Dr. Tony Thieman, Heartland Metropolitan Community Church
Rev. John C. Modschiedler, Hyde Park and Kenwood Interfaith Council, University Church
Rev. Marcia Heeter, Lake Street Church
Rev. Jocelyn Cadwallader, Lake View Presbyterian Church
Rev. Michael Kirby, Good Shepherd Presbyterian Church
Rev. Nanette Sawyer, Grace Commons
Rev. Joyce Shin, Fourth Presbyterian Church
Rev. Dr. Christine Vogel, Fourth Presbyterian Church
Rev. John Dillon, Crystal Lake Presbyterian-Ridgefield
Rev. Bart Roush, Fox Valley Presbyterian Church
Rev. David Lower, Winnetka Presbyterian Church
Rabbi Jordan Bendat-Appell, Center for Jewish Mindfulness
Rabbi Marc Rudolph, Congregation Beth Shalom
Cantor Cheryl Wunch, Congregation Beth Am
Rabbi Batsheva Appel, K.A.M. Isaiah Israel Congregation
Rabbi Shoshanah Conover, Temple Sholom
Rabbi Larry Edwards, Congregation Or Chadash
Cantor Aviva Katzman, Temple Sholom
Rabbi Dr. Peter S. Knobel, Temple Sholom
Rabbi Michael Zedek, Emanuel Congregation
Rabbi Andrea London, Beth Emet: The Free Synagogue
Rabbi Bruce Elder, Congregation Hakafa
Rabbi Wendi Geffen, North Shore Congregation Israel
Cantor Michael Davis, Lakeside Congregation for Reform Judaism Children's Center
Rabbi Anne Persin, Congregation B’nai Torah
Rabbi Ellen Dreyfus, B'nai Yehuda Beth Sholom
Rabbi Alison Abrams, Temple Chai
Rabbi Stephen Hart, Temple Chai
Cantor Scott Simon, Temple Chai
Rabbi Sidney Helbraun, Temple Beth El
Rabbi Toby Manewith, Temple Beth El
Rabbi Paul Cohen, Temple Jeremiah
Rabbi Max Weiss, Oak Park Temple B'nai Abraham Zion
Rabbi Amy Memis-Foler, Temple Judea Mizpah
Rabbi Samuel Gordon, Congregation Sukkat Shalom
Rev. Anne Muelleman, Center for Spiritual Evolution/ McHenry County Church of Religious Science
Rev. Mary Beth Speer, Oak Park Church of Religious Science
Rabbi Jodi Kornfeld, Beth Chaverim Humanistic Jewish Community
Rev. Jackie Clement, Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal
Rev. Dr. Ruth Gnagey, Unitarian Universalist Church of Bloomington-Normal
Rev. William Sasso, Retired, Carbondale Unitarian Fellowship
Rev. Dr. Lee Barker, President & Professor of
Ministry at Meadville Lombard Theological School
Rev. Rudra Dundzila, Second Unitarian Church of Chicago
Rev. Dr. Neil Gerdes, Meadville Lombard Theological School, St. Thomas the Apostle RC Church
Dr. Michael Hogue, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Rev. Adam Robersmith, Second Unitarian Church
Rev. Dr. John W. Tolley, Meadville Lombard Theological School
Rev. Daniel Brosier, Unitarian Universalist Church of Elgin
Rev. Sean P. Dennison, Unitarian Universalist Congregation
Rev. Emily Gage, Unity Temple UU Congregation
Rev. Hilary J Krivchenia, Countryside Church Unitarian Universalist
Rev. Michael Brown, Unitarian Universalist Church
Rev. Dr. Matthew Johnson-Doyle, The Unitarian Universalist Church
Rev. Erik David Carlson, Unitarian Universalist Church of Stockton
Rev. Donald Schmidt, First Congregational Church of Algonquin
Rev. Jeffrey L Phillips, St. John's United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Rex E Piercy, Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Gary McCann, New England Congregational Church
Rev. Mark Agnini
Rev. Kelly Brouwer, United Church of Christ
Rev. Carol Shanks, Bethel United Church of Christ
Rev. Sue Harrington, First Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Sonja Ingebritsen, Church of the Good Shepherd
Rev. James Benzing, First Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Christie Callahan
Rev. Laurie Hill, St. Peter’s United Church of Christ
Rev. Leah Robberts-Mosser, Community United Church of Christ
Rev. David K Antieau, St. Nicolai United Church of Christ
Rev. Barbara Bolsen, Night Ministry, Epiphany United Church of Christ
Rev. William Bordonaro, Bethany United Church of Christ
Rev. Jeffrey Carlson, St. Paul's United Church of Christ
Rev. Clint Collins, Wellington Avenue United Church of Christ
Rev. Jason Coulter, Ravenswood United Church of Christ
Dr. W. Scott Haldeman, Chicago Theological Seminary
Rev. Dr. Alice Hunt, Chicago Theological Seminary, Trinity United Church of Christ
Rev. Kevin McLemore, Epiphany United Church of Christ
Rev. Jorge Morales, Illinois Conference
Rev. Vertie Powers, United Church of Christ in Kenwood
Rev. Kevin Tindell, New Dimensions
Rev. Oscar Varnadoe III, Trinity United Church of Christ
Rev. Mary Cramer, First Congregational Church
Rev. David Inglis, First Congregational Church of Crystal Lake
Rev. Lynda Vackar, First Congregational Church
Rev. Roger Dart, Congregational Church in Deerfield
Rev. Susan Chamberlin-Smith, Trinity United Church of Christ Deerfield
Rev. Dr. Joseph Gastiger, First Congregational Church of Christ
Rev. Judy Harris, First Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Kirk Moore, St. Paul's United Church of Christ
Rev. Scott Oberle, First Congregational Church of Christ
Rev. Paige Wolfanger, St. Paul's United Church of Christ
Rev. Jeanne Murawski, St Peter's United Church of Christ
Rev. Gordon Smith, Bethel United Church of Christ
Rev. Wayne MacPherson
Rev. Dr. Ann Rosewall, First Congregational Church of Evanston
Rev. Rebecca Clancy, First Congregational Church of Geneva
Rev. C. Erwin, First Congregational Church of Geneva
Rev. Carolyn Fabian, First Congregational Church of Geneva
Rev. Seth Ethan Carey, First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn
Rev. Dr. Lillian Daniel, First Congregational Church of Glen Ellyn
Rev. Jerry Bennett, Program Coordinator, Illinois South Conference, Illinois Conference United Church of Christ
Rev. Sheldon Culver, St. Paul United Church of Christ
Rev. Carol Currier-Frighetto, St. Paul United Church of Christ
Reverend Dr. Thom Parrott-Sheffer, Union Church of Hinsdale
Rev. Dr. Robert von Trebra, Lyonsville Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Jan C. Johnson, Congregational United Church of Christ Jacksonville
Elder Dawn Sanchez, St. John’s United Church of Christ Kankakee
Rev. Dr. Robert Hatfield, First Church of Lombard
Rev. Timoth Sylvia, Hope United Church of Christ
Rev. Mark Winters, First Congregational Church
Pastor Peggy McClanahan, Pilgrim Faith United Church of Christ
Rev. Leah Fowler, First United Church of Oak Park
Rev. Dean Hokel, Pilgrim United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Julie Harley, First United Church of Oak Park
Rev. Rob Leveridge, First United Church of Oak Park
Rev. Sally VerSchaveIberg, Pilgrim Congregational Church
Rev. Dr. Winn Alley, Ottawa United Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. Fred Krauss, Second Congregational United Church of Christ
Pastor Michael Simmons, Retired, Spring Creek United Church of Christ
Rev. Kate Feeney-Bastian
Rev. Carole Hoke, Fondulac Congregational Church of Christ
Rev. Dr. J. Michael Solberg, Second Congregational United Church of Christ
Pastor Jan Smith, St. Peter United Church of Christ
Rev. Dan Dexter, First Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. James Hibbett, First Congregation United Church of Christ
Rev. Denise Griebler, St. Michael's United Church of Christ
Rev. Aaron James, First Congregational United Church of Christ
Rev. Martha Schmidt, United Methodist Church
Rev. Bonnie Beckonchrist, First United Methodist Church of Arlington Heights
Rev. Betty Jo (B.J.) Birkhahn Rommelfanger, Church of the Incarnation
Rev. Brian Caughlan, United Methodist Church
Rev. Robert Wulff, Salem United Methodist Church
Rev. Linda A Richard, Bartonville Methodist Church
Rev. Shane Smith, First United Methodist Church
Rev. Sara Isbell, Chatham United Methodist Church
Rev. Christian Coon, Urban Village Church
Rev. Gregory Gross, Berry United Methodist
Rev. Trey Hall, Urban Village Church
Pastor Brittany Isaac, Urban Village Church
Rev. Lois McCullen-Parr, Broadway Methodist Church
Rev. April McGlothin-Eller, United Church of Rogers Park
Rev. Amos Oladipo, Epworth Methodist Church
Rev. Troy Plummer, Retired, Reconciling Ministries
Rev. Preston Price, Urban Village Church
Rev. Wendy Ann Witt, First Methodist Church Chicago Temple
Rev. Richard Mosley Jr, Hemenway Methodist Church
Rev. Julie Windsor Mitchell, University Christian Ministry at Northwestern University
Rev. Elizabeth Bowes, Glen Ellyn First United Methodist Church
Rev. Sherrie Lowly, Bethany United Methodist Church
Rev. Addison Shields Jr., First United Methodist Church
Rev. Janet Eggleston, United Methodist Church
Rev. Jeremiah Thompson, Mahomet United Methodist
Rev. Sue Bailey, United Methodist Church of Murphysboro
Rev. Donald Niswonger, Grace United Methodist Church
Rev. Lisa Telomen, Grace United Methodist Church
Pastor Stephanie Escher, UMC Cornerstone
Rev. Marti Scott, Euclid Avenue Methodist Church
Rev. Scott Carnes, Pontiac First United Methodist Church
Rev. Douglas Asbury, Riverside United Methodist Church
Rev. Julia Melgreen, Douglas Avenue UMC
Pastor Victoria Hadaway, Sugar Grove Methodist Church
Rev. Seth Schutte, Tuscola United Methodist church
Rev. Daniel King Crede, Wesley United Methodist Church
Rev. Jan Little, Unity of Fox Valley
Rev. Ron Fritts, Unity Spiritual Life Center
Donna Addison, Board of Directors, Christ Church Unity of Rockford
Rev. Dr. Nick Angotti
Rev. Celeste Frazier, Power of Oneness Spiritual Center
Rev. Mark Anthony Lord, Bodhi Spiritual Center
Rev. Joette Waters, Wedding Minister/ Bodhi Spiritual Center
Rev. William Christiansen, M.Div.
Peace and Justice Committee of the Episcopal Diocese Chicago
The clergy and faith leaders listed above have signed this letter as individuals and not necessarily as representatives of their congregations.