Hundreds Show Support For Religious Liberty At Rally
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Jennifer [email protected]
The rally attended by approximately 354 people was put on by the Indiana Pastor’s Alliance and held outside the Kosciusko County courthouse.
Dr. Ron Johnson Jr., executive director of Indiana Pastors Alliance, was one of the featured speakers and said attendees were there because of what they love, not because of what they hate.
“We are here because we love Jesus Christ and because we believe that nations who follow his principles prosper in every way,” Johnson said. “We are outside in the open on the steps of a building which represents the seat of local government to send a powerful visible message concerning the nature of religious liberty.”
He said religious liberty is not a concession granted by a secular government, but rather a gift given by God that was to be protected by a God-honoring government.
The Indiana Pastor’s Alliance is “a network of clergy, churches and Christian organizations who have come together to advance and defend the cause of faith, family and freedom throughout the state,” according to its website.
Johnson spoke about the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Indiana Senate Bill 101, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, is a law in the state which allows individuals and companies to assert that their exercise of religion has been, or is likely to be, substantially burdened as a defense in legal proceedings.
The bill was approved by a vote of 40-10 on March 26 and Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed it into law.
The bill was controversial, with opponents of the law claiming that it targeted lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people and other minority groups. A proposal to provide protections for LGBT customers, employees and tenants was announced by Senate President David C. Long and House Speaker Brian Bosma on April 2. The changes to the bill were passed and signed into law by Pence.
“The legislation was never intended to be a sword or attack or discrimination against others. Rather it was meant to be a shield protecting the religious liberties of private citizens from government coercion and tyranny,” Johnson said.
He said a week later there was an effort by big business, liberal national media and gay right activists attacking legislators and the governor.
“The attack was completely slanderous not to mention hypocritical,” Johnson said.
He encouraged attendees to show up for a Stand For Religious Liberty Rally Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Indiana State House.
Another speaker during Tuesday’s rally was Pastor Mark Fishburn, First Baptist Church, Pierceton.
“No one should be subjected to coercion by the government or by anyone else to act in violation of their conscience and the convictions of their faith,” Fishburn said.
Pastor Tim Morbitzer, Victory Christian Fellowship, North Manchester, said those who attended the rally are pro-freedom, pro-liberty, pro-life, pro-marriage and pro-community.
“We are here on behalf of religious freedom. We are gathered to stand against the erosion of religious liberty,” Morbitzer said. “We are here to make a stand and say enough is enough.
He said religious freedom is one of the pillars of the Constitution.
Monica Boyer, Kosciusko Silent No More co-founder, attended the rally with her family and said she was there to support the pastors and religious freedom.
“I’m here to make a statement that religious freedom is worth fighting for. There are so many attacks against religious freedom and it’s time for Christians and people of faith to step up and say ‘we’ve got to protect this,’” Boyer said.
Robert Moore, Goshen, attended the rally holding a sign that read “Stand For Religious Liberty” and wearing a T-shirt that said “Support Religious Liberty.”
“I’m here because we watched the attack on our religious freedom in Goshen. I don’t want to see that across this country,” Moore said. “In Goshen and a number of places in Indiana we have seen people try to force Christians into behaviors they find wrong.”
“We will obey our Lord first,” he said.
New Life Christian Church and World Outreach worship team provided music; Kevin Kyle, local guitarist, performed the Star Spangled Banner and Pastor John Lowe, New Life Christian Church and World Outreach, said a prayer.
T-shirts were sold for $20 and said “Stand For Religious Liberty.” Proceeds went to the Indiana Pastor’s Alliance.
Nick Poe, Warsaw, who oversees ministry at New Life Christian Church and World Outreach, said his purpose for being at the rally was to support the preservation of religious freedom.
“I think it’s wrong that we would accept or make lawful the violation of privacy in a public restroom for example,” Poe said. “If a man decides they are going to be a woman and go into that restroom it would violate the privacy of a wife, daughter and the family and as Christians we want to see that our privacy and our freedom is protected and preserved.”[[In-content Ad]]
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The rally attended by approximately 354 people was put on by the Indiana Pastor’s Alliance and held outside the Kosciusko County courthouse.
Dr. Ron Johnson Jr., executive director of Indiana Pastors Alliance, was one of the featured speakers and said attendees were there because of what they love, not because of what they hate.
“We are here because we love Jesus Christ and because we believe that nations who follow his principles prosper in every way,” Johnson said. “We are outside in the open on the steps of a building which represents the seat of local government to send a powerful visible message concerning the nature of religious liberty.”
He said religious liberty is not a concession granted by a secular government, but rather a gift given by God that was to be protected by a God-honoring government.
The Indiana Pastor’s Alliance is “a network of clergy, churches and Christian organizations who have come together to advance and defend the cause of faith, family and freedom throughout the state,” according to its website.
Johnson spoke about the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.
Indiana Senate Bill 101, the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, is a law in the state which allows individuals and companies to assert that their exercise of religion has been, or is likely to be, substantially burdened as a defense in legal proceedings.
The bill was approved by a vote of 40-10 on March 26 and Indiana Governor Mike Pence signed it into law.
The bill was controversial, with opponents of the law claiming that it targeted lesbians, gay, bisexual and transgender people and other minority groups. A proposal to provide protections for LGBT customers, employees and tenants was announced by Senate President David C. Long and House Speaker Brian Bosma on April 2. The changes to the bill were passed and signed into law by Pence.
“The legislation was never intended to be a sword or attack or discrimination against others. Rather it was meant to be a shield protecting the religious liberties of private citizens from government coercion and tyranny,” Johnson said.
He said a week later there was an effort by big business, liberal national media and gay right activists attacking legislators and the governor.
“The attack was completely slanderous not to mention hypocritical,” Johnson said.
He encouraged attendees to show up for a Stand For Religious Liberty Rally Nov. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Indiana State House.
Another speaker during Tuesday’s rally was Pastor Mark Fishburn, First Baptist Church, Pierceton.
“No one should be subjected to coercion by the government or by anyone else to act in violation of their conscience and the convictions of their faith,” Fishburn said.
Pastor Tim Morbitzer, Victory Christian Fellowship, North Manchester, said those who attended the rally are pro-freedom, pro-liberty, pro-life, pro-marriage and pro-community.
“We are here on behalf of religious freedom. We are gathered to stand against the erosion of religious liberty,” Morbitzer said. “We are here to make a stand and say enough is enough.
He said religious freedom is one of the pillars of the Constitution.
Monica Boyer, Kosciusko Silent No More co-founder, attended the rally with her family and said she was there to support the pastors and religious freedom.
“I’m here to make a statement that religious freedom is worth fighting for. There are so many attacks against religious freedom and it’s time for Christians and people of faith to step up and say ‘we’ve got to protect this,’” Boyer said.
Robert Moore, Goshen, attended the rally holding a sign that read “Stand For Religious Liberty” and wearing a T-shirt that said “Support Religious Liberty.”
“I’m here because we watched the attack on our religious freedom in Goshen. I don’t want to see that across this country,” Moore said. “In Goshen and a number of places in Indiana we have seen people try to force Christians into behaviors they find wrong.”
“We will obey our Lord first,” he said.
New Life Christian Church and World Outreach worship team provided music; Kevin Kyle, local guitarist, performed the Star Spangled Banner and Pastor John Lowe, New Life Christian Church and World Outreach, said a prayer.
T-shirts were sold for $20 and said “Stand For Religious Liberty.” Proceeds went to the Indiana Pastor’s Alliance.
Nick Poe, Warsaw, who oversees ministry at New Life Christian Church and World Outreach, said his purpose for being at the rally was to support the preservation of religious freedom.
“I think it’s wrong that we would accept or make lawful the violation of privacy in a public restroom for example,” Poe said. “If a man decides they are going to be a woman and go into that restroom it would violate the privacy of a wife, daughter and the family and as Christians we want to see that our privacy and our freedom is protected and preserved.”[[In-content Ad]]
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