Religious leaders meet to oppose same-sex benefits

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Religious leaders meet to oppose same-sex benefits

Same-sex benefits advisory vote getting a lot of heated support and opposition in weeks before election

By Andrea Gusty, CBS 11 News Reporter

Article Last Updated: 03/12/2007 07:15:22 PM AKDT

 



Alaskan residents are set to vote on whether or not to grant health and retirement benefits to the same-sex partners of state employees in only a matter of weeks. The advisory vote is getting a lot of heated support and opposition in the weeks before the election. Now those against the benefits are turning to the religious community for support and votes.

A group called the Alaska Family Council will host what they are calling a meeting to protect marriage in Alaska. It is a briefing for church leaders on how to educate and convince their congregations to reject same sex-benefits for state employees. Alaskan voters will take up the same-sex benefits issue during the April third election.

The advisory vote will tell



legislators whether or not Alaskans think homosexual employees of the state are entitled to the same benefits as their heterosexual colleagues. The Alaska Family Council, a non-profit conservative group, opposes same-sex benefits for state employees. Now they are gathering community support against



the benefits within the Alaskan religious community.

"We are hoping and asking the pastoral community, those in the church community be able to come forward and say this is a matter that is important to the body of church believers, and they need to step up and actually give their people information to be able to make a good decision," said Jim Minnery of the Alaska Family Council.

But not all church leaders are against same-sex state benefits, or for preaching about them in church.



Leaders with the Metropolitan Community Church say their congregation was created to support the gay, lesbian, bi, transsexual Alaskan population and their straight allies. They say church is a place of love and acceptance, not one of exclusion and hate.

"They are preaching prejudice, and alienating people who live here in Alaska, and they use that strength from the pulpit, and it's a shame," said Ron Rivas of the Metropolitan Community Church.

The Protecting Alaskan Marriage meeting is going on Monday evening. The meeting is closed to cameras, but organizers tell us hundreds of local pastors, preachers and priests are expected to be there. After Monday night, some in the religious community of Anchorage are expected to have an organized battle plan against same-sex benefits in the state.