LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

The 2023 Legislature has over a month of work under its belt, with hundreds of bills being considered by our state representatives and senators. As they consider these bills, we hope each legislator is guided by spiritual values we all hold dear – values such as compassion, kindness, charity and love for all people created in the image of God.

However, as ordained and lay faith leaders from across North Dakota, we believe a number of bills fall short of those shared values. More than 20 bills target our LGBTQ+ family, friends, neighbors, and parishioners. These bills contribute to an environment where LGBTQ+ young people already face bullying in schools and experience greater struggles with depression, chemical dependency and suicide.

These bills run the gamut from banning trans athletes from participating in school sports to endorsement of conversion therapy – a long discredited and dangerous practice. These fear-based bills are efforts to remove people from participating fully as members of our society, Church and communities.

Those who support these bills argue they will somehow protect our kids. They will not, because the real threats to children across this country are poverty, hunger, lack of health care, gun violence, bigotry, social pressures, mental health… and bills like these.

We believe God calls us to love one another and care for the needy. We believe Jesus preached a Gospel that embraces the marginalized. We believe that LGBTQ+ people are beloved children of God. We call on our legislators to oppose bills that would harm the people of North Dakota, and support legislation that reflects the true values of North Dakotans – values that guide us to care for one another and build a state that welcomes everyone.

Rev. Kyle Symanski, ELCA Pastor - Valley City

Rev. Sharayah Robinson, ELCA Pastor, Kathryn-Nome-Fingal Parish

Bishop Tessa Moon Leiseth, Eastern North Dakota Synod-ELC, F argo

Rev. Joe A. Larson, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Fargo

Rev. Deborah J Blood, Fargo

Rev. Gretchen Deeg, UCC Pastor, Bismarck

Bishop Craig A. Schweitzer, Western North Dakota Synod-ELCA, Bismarck

The Right Rev. Thomas C. Ely, Bishop Provisional, Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota

Reverend Edith A. Love, Unitarian Universalist Church of Fargo-Moorhead

Rev Dr John Floberg, Rector, Standing Rock Episcopal Congregations, Ft. Yates, Cannon Ball and Selfridge

Pastor Gail Hagerty, Heart River Lutheran Church / Bridges of Hope, Mandan, ND

Rev Dr Gretchen Daneke Graf, Family of God Church ELCA and UCC, Grand Forks, ND

Mr. Murray G. Sagsveen, Lutheran Church of the Cross, Bismarck

Rev. Grace Morton, People's United Church of Christ, Fargo

Pastor Jon B. Olson

Rev. Donna Olsen, Senior Minister, Hope 4 All UHM Interfaith Community

Hannah Vanorny, United Church of Christ, Bismarck

Rev. Dr. Leanne Simmons, First Presbyterian Church, Bismarck

Rev. Dr. Peter and Vicki Schmidt, ELCA-retired, Serving LaMoure, ND parish as Interim Pastor

Pastor Dick Smith, Trinity Lutheran Church, Bismarck

The Rev. Steven Godfrey, Diocesan Minister, Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota

Deacon Ashley Tangen-Greenwood, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bismarck

Rev. Marty Toepke-Floyd, Senior Pastor, First United Methodist Church, Jamestown

Pastor Tammy Toepke-Floyd, First Congregational United Church of Christ, Jamestown

Rev. Derek Harkins, ELCA Pastor, Bismarck

Sandra Holbrook, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Fargo

Camille Grothier, United Church of Christ, Bismarck

Bill Patrie, United Church of Christ, Bismarck

Marcia Patrie, United Church of Christ, Bismarck

Rev. Sylvia Bull, ELCA Pastor, Bismarck Phyllis Johnson, Vice President, Eastern ND Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Grand Forks

Rev. Michelle Webber. First Congregational UCC, Moorhead

Pastor Micah Louwagie, St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Fargo

Rev. Zanne Ness, Episcopal Priest, Chaplain at Ministry on the Margins, Bismarck

Peter Edwards, Spiritual Director, Fargo

Rev. Karen Van Fossan, Authentic Ministry, Fargo, ND

Rev. Ellery Dykeman and Denise Dykeman, First Lutheran Church, ELCA, Minot

Deacon Beth Lipp, St. George’s Episcopal Church, Bismarck

Pastor Laurie A. Natwick, Fargo Amy Phillips, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Fargo

Dan Rice, St. Stephen's Episcopal

Church, Fargo

Christie Iverson, Episcopal Church, Bismarck

Rev. Karl Kroger, McCabe United Methodist Church, Bismarck

Pastor Ray Baker, Faith United Methodist Church, Fargo

Gerard and Loretta Hegstad, Heart River Lutheran Church, Mandan

Lisa Ahlness, ELCA pastor, Bismarck Deacon Erin Power, Fargo

Rev. Martin Avery, Serving Mayville and Gran ELCA

Stephanie Fournie, Hope Luthera, Surrey, ND

Deacon Jodi Lorenz, ELCA, Underwood

Debra Hoffarth, First Lutheran Church, Minot

Rev. Janet Mathistad, ELCA (retired), Minot

Rev. Rachel Simonson, Lutheran Campus Ministry, MSU, Minot

Rev. Kathy Hintz, Senior Warden, All Saints Episcopal Church, Minot

Barb Solberg, First Lutheran Church, Minot

Rev. Jared Carson, St. John Lutheran Church, Fargo

Rev. Kim Gifford, ELCA, Burlington Rev. Natasha Woitzel-Kolles and Jared Kolles, ELCA, Minot

Janet Fisher, First Lutheran Church, Minot

Rev. Carol Wendel, ELCA Clergy (retired), Bottineau

Rev. Lisa Lewton, St. John Lutheran, ELCA, Dickinson

Pastor Connie Monson, ELCA, Rugby

Rev. Helen Beth Kuhens, Fargo

Rev Bradley Dokken, ELCA Pastor Rev. Kim Becker, Northwest Regional Coordinator, Episcopal Diocese of North Dakota