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.

 



Illinois Unites for Marriage, a project of ACLU Illinois, Equality Illinois and Lambda Legal
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