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News and commentary about the anti-gay lobby“Now you must raise your children up in a world where that union of man and box turtle is on the same legal footing as man and wife…”
News and commentary about the anti-gay lobbyAugust 23rd, 2012
On Thursday, the new bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America’s Minneapolis synod, Ann Svennungsen, joined a Conservative rabbi and an evangelical Christian pastor near the main entrance to encourage voters to defeat the measure set for vote Nov. 6.
The amendment would change the state Constitution to define marriage as between a man and woman, effectively banning gay marriage.
There are roughly 800,000 ELCA members in Minnesota and the synod is officially opposed to the anti-gay amendment. About 2.8 million voters participated in the 2008 elections.
We really need a “no” vote on this here amendment, don’t ya know. So it is real exciting to see Svennungsen this committed to the issue. You betcha.
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jpeckjr
August 23rd, 2012
We do need a “no” vote on the MN ballot item. Same-gender marriage is already against the law in MN by statute and state Supreme Court ruling. Keep it out of the state constitution!
Timothy Kincaid
August 23rd, 2012
In writing this commentary I was reminded of a 2007 movie starring Ryan Gosling which I very much want to recommend: Lars and the Real Girl
It is a strange little movie that gives the best illustration I’ve ever seen in any movie of what community and family really mean.
Mark F.
August 23rd, 2012
Very cool, MN will probably be the hardest state to win for our side.
And yes, Lars is a fine film. It sounds like it would be stupid from the description, but it is actually delightful.
tim
August 23rd, 2012
*cringes*
Please stop. Not only are you using the phrases wrong but no one says that here unless you are from the northwestern part of the state or you are a failed governor from Alaska trying to act “authentic”.
Sunday is the unofficial ‘gay’ day at the Minnesota State Fair. We expect a large turnout of families of every stripe.
Timothy Kincaid
August 23rd, 2012
Marge Gunderson was my inspiration (another great film) but ok… I tried… sigh
Priya Lynn
August 23rd, 2012
Tim said “Please stop.”.
You betcha, Tim. ; )
Tor
August 23rd, 2012
Marge Gunderson must have been located in far northwestern Minn, since the movie she was in was called “Fargo,” which is in N. Dakota.
John
August 24th, 2012
Marge Gunderson was from Brainerd, which is probably just as far from Fargo as it is from the Twin Cities. Not super far north, but far enough for the accents to kick in. Its not actually as inaccurate as people who live in the twin cities like to say it is. Two of my roommates are from north Hennepin county (where Minneapolis is), and while their accents aren’t strong they are noticeable. Same deal with my old roommate from Duluth.
Ryan
August 24th, 2012
I’m sorry, but it’s a scientific fact that everyone west of Colorado sounds like those Fargo people. I read about them during my LAX to JFK flight last week. You guys are a bunch of party poopers.
Reed
August 24th, 2012
Once the ELCA took action on accepting “non-celibate” LGBT clergy (August 2009) they also welcomed back all clergymembers who had been ousted prior to the policy change – with full back pay, including retirement pension contributions.
It’s not just that Svennungsen is committed to the issue – it’s pretty much the denomination’s mind-set: “restorative justice.”
Regan DuCasse
August 25th, 2012
Wow…I was just telling my neighbor what an actually beautiful STORY “Lars and The Real Girl” was.
And recommended she check out the movie.
And Marge Gundersen is one of my absolute favorite cinematic heroines.
I LOVE me some Cohen Bros.
Donny D.
August 25th, 2012
Timothy Kincaid wrote,
Timothy, I agree with you strongly on this. There’s a huge need for evangelical clergy to speak out publicly against initiatives like this. It matters, too, that an Orthodox rabbi opposes this; I believe that beyond the possibly small number of Orthodox Jews in Minnesota, Orthodox Judaism has a certain cachet among evangelicals. And it almost goes without saying that with the large number of Lutherans in Minnesota, public opposition by Lutheran clergy is always a good thing.
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