Printed in the Daily Iowan on November 4, 2003

As persons of faith and advocates for the human rights and human worth of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgendered) persons, the peer ministers at the Wesley Foundation deplore the recent acts of violence and intimidation against LGBT members of the University and Iowa City communities. As peer ministers, we seek to provide spiritual leadership for our faith community, to represent our community, and to live out our faith in our daily lives. Last spring the student community at the Wesley Foundation decided to become a Reconciling Campus Ministry, intentionally welcoming and affirming LGBT persons. In taking this step, we speak out against the injustices and oppression LGBT persons face within the Church and within society. In doing this, we also challenge the religious voices that exclude and condemn LGBT persons. We knowingly and intentionally stand in opposition to any church statements, practices and doctrines that continue spiritual violence against LGBT persons.

As persons of faith, we feel called to raise our voices in solidarity, refusing to allow ignorance and fear to silence a faithful witness to the inclusive love of God. We believe that to live out our faith ideals and commitments as Christians we must seek social justice, uniting our beliefs and our actions. After the repeated recent acts of hatred and violence against women and LGBT persons in Iowa City, we feel called to speak out intentionally and explicitly, demanding safety and protection of the physical, emotional and spiritual health and well being of all persons. We invite the Iowa City community to stand up and speak out, and we invite other persons of faith to join us in this prophetic witness for the sacred worth of all persons. To be silent is to ignore the violence; to be inactive is to allow it to continue.

Copyright 2002-2003 Mike Schmidt.