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View all articles by Acolyte .MCC Calls for Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
Metropolitan Community Churches, the world's oldest and largest Christian church group with a primary, affirming ministry to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people of faith has released a public policy statement calling for repeal of the U.S. military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy toward.
Los Angeles, CA (OPENPRESS) September 5, 2007 -- The policy statement, issued under the name of Rev. Nancy L. Wilson, Moderator of the MCC denomination, declares, "It is time to end the U.S. military policy known as 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' This policy has caused great harm to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender military personnel, resulted in the unjust dismissal of thousands of service members, and failed to achieve its intended goals.
"As the United States continues to wrestle with ongoing global hostilities and its international role in pursuing peace, Metropolitan Community Churches adds its voice to the growing chorus of people of conscience and faith calling for an end to the ban that prohibits lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from serving openly and honestly in the U.S. military.
"We cannot hope to be instruments of peace on earth, if we fail to live peacefully among ourselves, within our own nation's borders and within the ranks of our own military personnel.
"It has been 14 years since the public discussions calling for an end to internal military policies that ruined many otherwise distinguished careers, summarily shaming people into silence and out of their chosen fields of service solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Too many of us have had partners, family and friends in the ranks of those forced to choose between betraying ourselves and sacrificing our calls to service."
While Metropolitan Community Churches have consistently and universally worked for the pursuit of peace, they also recognize as the prophet Jeremiah long ago intoned: No justice, no peace. There are many paths to the goal of peace, but injustice and bigotry are not among them. There are many deeply spiritual LGBT citizens in the United States who choose military service as their path toward personal fulfillment and the venue which they believe will lead to peace among the nations.
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell," later amended in name, though not in practice, to become "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue, Don't Harass" supports the kind of injustice that works against peace in our hearts and peace among peoples. As national policy it discourages the truth that sets people free. As public policy, it is a destructive and shameful relic of discrimination against America's LGBT community. As personal policy, it encourages silence, shame and deceit that can only entrap and enslave us. It must no longer be tolerated.
DADT should be repealed now; freedom of service should become a reality in the U.S. military now. The very forces mobilized not only to defend our country but to establish freedom and justice for all, should no longer be allowed to provide refuge for bias, bigotry and injustice.
The Urban Institute estimates that 65,000 lesbian and gay service members are serving today in the U.S. Armed Forces and the numbers of America's gay veterans "top one million." Yet, two or three highly trained, mission essential and fully qualified service members are discharged everyday simply because they are gay. Openly LGBT clergy within Metropolitan Community Churches and other denominations are denied commissions as military chaplains.
"We could be there providing a much needed balance in our chaplain forces that are today so heavily dominated by chaplains endorsed by more conservative denominations," testifies MCC clergyperson Rev. Lea Brown, a former U.S. Army Reservist. "We could be there providing... daily sacraments that too often are not offered when no mainline denominational chaplain is available. We could be there supporting all military personnel in becoming the people God created them to be, no matter who they are, if only the law of our land would change."
The list of injustices fostered because of this unjust military policy is long: Spouses of gay service members are denied housing, healthcare, and many benefits routinely available to other family members. Framers of the law are simply wrong when they argue that openly LGBT service members would undermine troop morale, destroy unit cohesion, and compromise core values. The true enemy of morale, cohesion and core values is the current DADT policy that requires LGBT service members to deny who they are or lie about those they care deeply about.
Institutionalized bigotry threatens military readiness, fosters destructive behavior, tears at the fabric of our families, both military and civilian, and devalues the universal values of integrity, justice, and honor.
The service members deserve better. The nation deserves better. The world deserves better.
"I long for the day," says The Rev. Dr. Sandra L. Bochonok, an MCC clergyperson and former Navy Chaplain, "when the United States of America will allow all citizens to serve openly. I pray for the day when 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is lifted forever." As people of faith, deeply committed to the pursuit of justice in our world, may we all be united in praying for the realization of that day.
On behalf of Metropolitan Community Churches, they call on national U.S. leaders at all levels of government to support the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and to implement public policies of non-discrimination with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity.
It is time for a U.S. military policy that honors all of America's service members with the dignity and respect, the freedom and equality, that are so rightly deserved by everyone.
The Reverend Nancy L. Wilson
Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches
NOTE: This public policy statement prepared in conjunction with the Moderator's Global Justice Team of Metropolitan Community Churches, Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Chair, and with appreciation to Rev. Dr. Paul Dodd, Retired Colonel, U.S, Army; Rev. Lea Brown, former Reservist, U.S. Army; and Rev. Dr. Sandra Bochonok, Retired Chaplain, U.S. Navy.
James N. Birkitt, MCC Communications Director
Los Angeles, California (USA)
Tel. (310) 625-4177
E-Mail: info@MCCchurch.net
Web: www.MCCchurch.org
Los Angeles, CA (OPENPRESS) September 5, 2007 -- The policy statement, issued under the name of Rev. Nancy L. Wilson, Moderator of the MCC denomination, declares, "It is time to end the U.S. military policy known as 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' This policy has caused great harm to lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender military personnel, resulted in the unjust dismissal of thousands of service members, and failed to achieve its intended goals.
"As the United States continues to wrestle with ongoing global hostilities and its international role in pursuing peace, Metropolitan Community Churches adds its voice to the growing chorus of people of conscience and faith calling for an end to the ban that prohibits lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from serving openly and honestly in the U.S. military.
"We cannot hope to be instruments of peace on earth, if we fail to live peacefully among ourselves, within our own nation's borders and within the ranks of our own military personnel.
"It has been 14 years since the public discussions calling for an end to internal military policies that ruined many otherwise distinguished careers, summarily shaming people into silence and out of their chosen fields of service solely because of their sexual orientation or gender identity. Too many of us have had partners, family and friends in the ranks of those forced to choose between betraying ourselves and sacrificing our calls to service."
While Metropolitan Community Churches have consistently and universally worked for the pursuit of peace, they also recognize as the prophet Jeremiah long ago intoned: No justice, no peace. There are many paths to the goal of peace, but injustice and bigotry are not among them. There are many deeply spiritual LGBT citizens in the United States who choose military service as their path toward personal fulfillment and the venue which they believe will lead to peace among the nations.
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell," later amended in name, though not in practice, to become "Don't Ask, Don't Tell, Don't Pursue, Don't Harass" supports the kind of injustice that works against peace in our hearts and peace among peoples. As national policy it discourages the truth that sets people free. As public policy, it is a destructive and shameful relic of discrimination against America's LGBT community. As personal policy, it encourages silence, shame and deceit that can only entrap and enslave us. It must no longer be tolerated.
DADT should be repealed now; freedom of service should become a reality in the U.S. military now. The very forces mobilized not only to defend our country but to establish freedom and justice for all, should no longer be allowed to provide refuge for bias, bigotry and injustice.
The Urban Institute estimates that 65,000 lesbian and gay service members are serving today in the U.S. Armed Forces and the numbers of America's gay veterans "top one million." Yet, two or three highly trained, mission essential and fully qualified service members are discharged everyday simply because they are gay. Openly LGBT clergy within Metropolitan Community Churches and other denominations are denied commissions as military chaplains.
"We could be there providing a much needed balance in our chaplain forces that are today so heavily dominated by chaplains endorsed by more conservative denominations," testifies MCC clergyperson Rev. Lea Brown, a former U.S. Army Reservist. "We could be there providing... daily sacraments that too often are not offered when no mainline denominational chaplain is available. We could be there supporting all military personnel in becoming the people God created them to be, no matter who they are, if only the law of our land would change."
The list of injustices fostered because of this unjust military policy is long: Spouses of gay service members are denied housing, healthcare, and many benefits routinely available to other family members. Framers of the law are simply wrong when they argue that openly LGBT service members would undermine troop morale, destroy unit cohesion, and compromise core values. The true enemy of morale, cohesion and core values is the current DADT policy that requires LGBT service members to deny who they are or lie about those they care deeply about.
Institutionalized bigotry threatens military readiness, fosters destructive behavior, tears at the fabric of our families, both military and civilian, and devalues the universal values of integrity, justice, and honor.
The service members deserve better. The nation deserves better. The world deserves better.
"I long for the day," says The Rev. Dr. Sandra L. Bochonok, an MCC clergyperson and former Navy Chaplain, "when the United States of America will allow all citizens to serve openly. I pray for the day when 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' is lifted forever." As people of faith, deeply committed to the pursuit of justice in our world, may we all be united in praying for the realization of that day.
On behalf of Metropolitan Community Churches, they call on national U.S. leaders at all levels of government to support the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" and to implement public policies of non-discrimination with regard to sexual orientation and gender identity.
It is time for a U.S. military policy that honors all of America's service members with the dignity and respect, the freedom and equality, that are so rightly deserved by everyone.
The Reverend Nancy L. Wilson
Moderator
Metropolitan Community Churches
NOTE: This public policy statement prepared in conjunction with the Moderator's Global Justice Team of Metropolitan Community Churches, Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Chair, and with appreciation to Rev. Dr. Paul Dodd, Retired Colonel, U.S, Army; Rev. Lea Brown, former Reservist, U.S. Army; and Rev. Dr. Sandra Bochonok, Retired Chaplain, U.S. Navy.
James N. Birkitt, MCC Communications Director
Los Angeles, California (USA)
Tel. (310) 625-4177
E-Mail: info@MCCchurch.net
Web: www.MCCchurch.org
