THE AMENDMENT ONE ARTICLE

                    Joyce and I spent the weekend at a hospital conference in Williamsburg, Virginia.  I love Williamsburg and it had been a number of years since we had visited.  I always get inspired when I think about those brave patriots who believed that freedom was worth risking “their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.”   We saw a film one afternoon on “The Great Awakening and Liberty.”   It was about how the spiritual movement known as the Great Awakening influenced the American Revolution and, of course, religious liberty.  

        Because I believe very strongly in religious liberty and the separation of church and state, I am always reluctant to speak out on political matters.  I do not believe it is my role to be political and politics do not need to be in the pulpit.   But what happens when an issue that should not be political becomes just that?   What happens when an issue on which the church should be guardian crosses over into the political arena?  

        This is exactly what has happened with the so-called Marriage Amendment.  I believe very strongly that marriage is only ordained by God, not the state.  The state recognizes the marriage that is ordained by God within the church, but the state should not be in the business of defining marriage.  

        I am speaking out on Amendment One because I believe this is a moral and spiritual issue, more than a political one.   Unfortunately, however, people have made it political for their own selfish ends. 

        I also am speaking out because I believe this amendment, if adopted, will result in unrighteous discrimination and many innocent children will be hurt and others will be victimized by its consequences. 

        My article on the issue was first published on the Dispatch website Friday and then appeared in the print edition on Saturday.  Because we were out of town, I saw the article online and checked it several times because I knew I would get some feedback.  But I never expected what happened!   On the Dispatch website there is a section that gives you the five top “Most Read” articles.   Now understand that Ray Howell’s religion column NEVER even makes the Most Read.  But it appeared there late Friday afternoon and then became the #1 article by Saturday morning and remained there until Sunday night when the article on Rev. Pam Strader’s excellent presentation at Grace Episcopal appeared.  As of Monday at noon, The Grace Episcopal article was number one and mine was number two, followed by the story on the weekend’s BBQ cook-off.  (As of Monday night my article was back at # 1)

        I’m not concerned about publicity, but I am concerned that people have the facts and see the hidden dangers that this Amendment holds.  This tells me that many people are reading the story and according to the Dispatch website, my article has been recommended on Facebook over 1,000 times.  

        I have received comments and emails from people all over the state and even received a phone call Monday morning from South Carolina.  The great majority of the feedback has been very positive, although there have been a few negative responses.  (Some of the comments have been very hateful and judgmental)

        Here is the article as it appeared in the Dispatch this weekend:  

On May 8, thousands of sincere, well-intentioned people will go to the polls and vote yes for Amendment One (the so-called Marriage Amendment) believing they are doing the right thing by ensuring marriage in North Carolina will always be between a man and a woman. Sadly, like many moral issues that cross the line into the political arena, this issue is far from being simple and straightforward.

In my opinion, this amendment is unnecessary, unbiblical, unrighteous and may even be unconstitutional. Voting against this amendment is not saying you are in favor of same-sex marriage, and voting for this amendment will not guarantee traditional marriage. In fact, the adoption of this amendment could backfire and have exactly the opposite result.

This amendment is not necessary. North Carolina law already prohibits same-sex marriage, and the law is crystal clear. (N.C. General Statute 51, Article 1, 51-1) No court can challenge it. However, if this amendment is adopted, it opens the door for federal review as possibly being unconstitutional. The California Constitutional Amendment banning same-sex marriage was overturned in February by federal court. The same result is very likely to happen here. If we already have a secure wall that prohibits same-sex marriage, why do we want to replace it with a flimsy fence?

The biggest problem I have with this amendment is that marriage is God's business. The only one who truly ordains and blesses marriage is God, not the State of North Carolina. I know some ministers will faithfully proclaim: "By the power vested in me by the State of North Carolina …" But when I pronounce a couple as "husband and wife" I call on a greater power. "Those whom God hath joined together, let no man put asunder." I will dutifully fill out the marriage license and personally hand deliver it to the Register of Deeds (lest another government agency become involved), but the State of North Carolina only recognizes marriage, it doesn't ordain it.

So why have we taken this debate to the political theater? I find it ironic that the majority of those who are promoting this amendment are also those who believe philosophically that government should be less involved in our lives. Why do we want the government to become involved in one of our most sacred institutions?

Homosexuality is one of the biggest issues facing the church today. Christians have widely different interpretations on this issue, but there is one truth I hope all believers accept as non-negotiable. Every person, regardless of sexual orientation, is a child of God, created in the image of God and deserves to be treated with love, dignity and respect. This amendment opens the door for needless discrimination, marginalization and judgment. Jesus never said one word about homosexuality, but he spoke many words about injustice, unrighteousness and hypocrisy.

Jesus also spoke about rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's. Marriage belongs to God, not Caesar. The Apostle Paul wrote about the problems that are created when we bring the government into religious matters. Throughout history whenever religious beliefs have been codified into law, the results have usually been a disaster.

We don't need Amendment One. Its adoption will open a Pandora's Box of problems that will result in unintended consequences hurting many, many people. Unmarried couples who have children will be negatively impacted as well. Let the church debate the issue of marriage, not the state! This amendment is a bad idea. It is political grandstanding that plays on the fears of the public.

Because I believe that Jesus calls us to love one another as he loved us — unconditionally, without prejudice or judgment — I am voting against Amendment One. I would humbly ask you to prayerfully consider joining me.

The Rev. Dr. Ray Howell III is senior minister at First Baptist Church on West Third Avenue.

MY EASTER IN GREECE

        A wonderful group of young people along with parents and leaders are leaving this Thursday for Greece along with their beloved Choral Director, Lee Mabe, who was recently named Lexington’s “Citizen of the Year.” 

        I have had the privilege of traveling to Greece three times and each time the experience has been awe-inspiring.   In the late 1990s we took a great group of folks to Greece to follow the journeys of the Apostle Paul.  This trip came to mind since we left right after Easter and the kids are leaving this Thursday, Maundy Thursday.  It was on our trip in the 90s that I learned the Orthodox Calendar is often different that the Western Calendar, so rather than being in Greece on Easter Sunday, the youth will experience a second Palm Sunday this Sunday, April 8.  Last year, 2011, Easter was actually observed by both traditions on the same day, April 24, but this year and the year we went, they are different.   Both traditions use the same formula for calculating Easter, “The first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox,” but the churches base the dates on different calendars.  Western churches use the Gregorian calendar and Eastern churches the Julian calendar.  It’s actually even more complicated because the two traditions differ in their definition of the vernal equinox.  Western churches use a fixed date, March 21, and Orthodox churches set the date according to the actual equinox as observed along the meridian of Jerusalem, site of the Crucifixion and the Resurrection. All of this is very confusing, but the bottom line is that the youth will experience two Palm Sundays this year and the year we went, we experienced two Easters—and that is what I want to tell you about!   My Easter in Greece. 

        We were visiting the island of Rhodes on Easter Eve and learned that the Greek Orthodox Easter celebration was scheduled for that night.  We arrived around 11:00 p.m. and found hundreds, well over a thousand, people surrounding the Greek Orthodox Church.  There was no way that all of those people were going to get inside the church and most of us didn’t even attempt to go in.  After all, we were told, the action takes place outside the church.

        Precisely at midnight deep in the sacred chambers of the old church, a single candle, the Christ candle was lit by the High Priest.  All of the other clergy wait.  Following an ancient liturgy (Greek Orthodox are called “Keepers of the Tradition” and scholars say they may come closer to early worship in the church than any other tradition), the High Priest emerges carrying the candle with great pomp and ceremony. 

        Outside the church everyone is anxiously waiting.   We have been given candles and we wait and watch the entrance of the church.  As the first member of the clergy emerges (beginning with the lowest and ascending in importance and rank) a wave of anticipation swept through the crowd and you could feel the excitement, much as when the first members of a football team emerge from the tunnel before a huge game. 

        There were a number of the old priests, dressed in black with long, flowing beards, but they were preparing the way for the big man, the High Priest, who finally emerged carrying the lighted candle.  The crowd momentarily erupted with joy but then quickly was hushed as the High Priest prepared to make the most significant and explosive pronouncement of his life.  There was a dramatic pause, the crowd held their collective breath and then, then the High Priest thundered “Christos Anesti!”  (Christ is Risen)

        The crowd exploded with the response, “Alithos Anesti!”  (He is risen indeed!)  Then the crowd cheered, but it more than a cheer, it was a joyous, thunderous, exclamation of celebration and victory!   Jesus is alive!   Then people began to sing.  They sang and sang as the old priests lit their candles from the Christ candle and then proceeded to light the peoples’ candles.  As each Candle was lit, the affirmation “Christos Anesti” was shared. 

        That night a perfect stranger who no more could speak English than I could speak conversational Greek shared the light of Christ and said, “”Christos Anesti!”  “Alithos Anesti” I said in return and I turned to light the candle of another stranger who at that moment, became a brother in Christ. 

        The goal of every family was to keep the candles burning until they made it home and then the children would light the candles on the table that would be filled with a joyous feast—yes, they would feast throughout the wee hours of the morning.

        I have always recalled that experience as one of the most powerful spiritual moments of my life.  A long way from home, on a Greek island far away, I experienced the power of the Risen Christ and shared his light and love with strangers.  My hope and prayer is that these young people who travel to Greece will also find Christ’s light and love.