Parkrose Community United Church of Christ (www.parkroseucc.org) in Northeast Portland received a letter today from Mr. David Crowe with Concerned Oregonians asking that I, as the church’s pastor, distribute petitions to church members calling for HB 2007 and SB 2 to be over turned.

HB 2007 and SB 2, both of which had wide support from religious leaders in Oregon, provide domestic partner benefits and outlaw discrimination against gays and lesbians in areas such as employment.

I e-mailed Concerned Oregonians immediately after receiving their letter:

Your letter states that that 'marriage and morality are under attack.' Mr. Crowe, it is your actions in support of legal discrimination that damage the moral fabric of our state. Jesus calls on us to be a people of justice and reconciliation. Discrimination is incompatible with Christianity.

As a minister in the United Church of Christ, I was proud to stand with religious leaders from across Oregon in support of HB 2007 and SB 2. While Parkrose Community United Church of Christ has not taken a stand on these issues as of yet we are an "Open and Affirming" church that celebrates the gift of human diversity given to us by God. Furthermore, the General Synod of the United Church of Christ has called for full legal equality for our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters.

I will work and pray for the defeat of your efforts.

Copies of the letter from Concerned Oregonians and my full response are available here .