Day 28: Putting Endurance into ACTION - Speaking at the State Legislature

Today is Day 28, which is four weeks of the Omer. . . Ha-yom shmonah v'esrim yom she-hem arba'ah sh'vuot la-over

  

This is the last day of our week of Nitzach, endurance.  And as a culmination, I was able to put all of our lessons this week into practice by speaking this morning at a press conference at the North Carolina State Legislature in defense of marriage equality and domestic partnership rights for all, in particular for those who love someone of the same gender.  I'll share more about the challenges involved, and why this was an application of my own endurance in the intersection below, but it is pretty amazing that the opportunity I had to walk my values today and put my prayers into action coincided with today's omer intersection:

THE OMER INTERSECTION: Nitzach + Malchut - The Leadership of Endurance

Today, we look at the way we use our endurance for leadership.  We all take on leadership roles in some area of our lives, whether it is in our family lives, our work roles, amongst our circle of friends, or just in making a quick decision as to where to meet up with someone else.  Sometimes, we may want to shy away from this leadership role, even when a leader is most needed.  And at these times, we must endure - beyond our self-doubts, our discomfort, our lack of an ideal situation - and lead. 

This is what happened with me today.  

In North Carolina, there are currently bills being considered in both the house and senate chambers to amend the State Constitution by defining marriage as between a man and a woman.  The senate bill goes even further by also denying rights of domestic partnership to any same-sex civil unions.  A number of church groups had planned on bussing their congregants from across the state to attend a rally against same-sex marriage this morning.  In order to have a strong voice against this legislation and a religiously based voice to help people avoid making this into a religiously-based political issue, Equality NC, through the help of State Representative Marcus Brandon, arranged for a press conference for clergy in support of LGBTQ rights.  

I was asked to speak at this press conference. Though this has been an issue dear to my heart and my values, it was not the easiest decision for me to make.  I have never done anything like this before, so I had my own self-doubts - am I good enough? Why me?  Why not someone else?  There was very little advance notice, especially as to the fact that I was going to a speaker and not just in attendance, could I prepare in time?  I had a schedule to re-arrange, etc.  Challenge after challenge, big or small, they all add up in the moment of having to make a quick decision.  Fortunately, I was able to endure beyond all of these challenges of scheduling, lack of advanced notice, self-doubts so that I could go ahead and do something worthwhile that enacted the values of equality, justice, and that I hold dear and that are espoused by Reform Judaism.  

And fortunately, I have incredible mentors in Temple Beth Or's senior rabbi, Rabbi Lucy Dinner, who gave me the opportunity to be in touch with Equality NC (who could not go because she was at jury duty) and in Rabbi Denise Eger (who happens to be at the White House today on an invitation in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month), who coached me through what to say at such an event.  See - find a partner who can help you to endure!   

Below, you can see what I said at the press conference, and in addition, you can find the statement that I read on behalf of the more-than-a-dozen clergy from all over the state who came in just to stand behind the sentiments being promoted.  If you are a person of faith or a leader in a faith community who would also like to add your name to this statement, you can do so here:

One of the core tenets of my faith and of our shared faiths is the demand from our traditions, ahavtah l'reiechah camochah - love your neighbor as yourself.  
As a rabbi, my support for gay rights and marriage equality is a result of my faith.  Reform Judaism has supported equality for those who are gay and lesbian, stemming from the belief that all people are created b'tzelem elohim, in the image of God.  Sexual orientation is irrelevant to the worth of a person. The legislation currently being proposed prevents Reform Jews along with many other people of faith whose traditions hold similar values from being able to fully practice our faiths.  
Therefore, religious leaders and people of faith across North Carolina have joined together to declare that:

The most fundamental human right, after the necessities of food, clothing and shelter, is the right to affection and the supportive love of other human beings. We become most fully human when we love another person. We can grow in our capacity to be human - to be loving - in a family unit. This right to love and form a family is so fundamental that our United States Constitution takes it for granted in its dedication to "secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity.” The North Carolina Constitution likewise affirms the “inalienable rights” of human beings to "life, liberty, the enjoyment of the fruits of their own labor, and the pursuit of happiness."

As people of faith, clergy and leaders in our faith traditions, we are mandated by God to demonstrate and protect love in all its forms and to stand for justice for all of creation. In faithful response to this calling, we commit ourselves, along with thousands of other Christians, Jews, Muslims and other people of faith around North Carolina, to these basic principles:

• While we respect the fact that debate and discussion continue in many of our religious communities as to the scriptural, theological and liturgical issues involved, we draw on our many faith traditions to arrive at a common conviction. We oppose the use of sacred texts and religious traditions to deny legal equity to gay and lesbian couples.
  

• We insist that no one person or institution, especially the state, is allowed to define the God-given covenant of marriage or bar two consenting adults, whether of the same or differing genders, from forming the family unit that lets them be more fully loving, thus more fully human.
  

• We oppose any amendment to the North Carolina Constitution that would prohibit gay and lesbian couples from receiving the protections like health benefits and hospital visitation afforded by legal recognition of their relationships. Likewise, we are further resolved that the State should not interfere with gay and lesbian couples who choose to marry and share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities, and commitments of civil marriage.
  

• We affirm freedom of conscience in this matter. We recognize that the state may not require religious groups to officiate at, or bless, gay and lesbian marriages. Likewise, a denial of state civil recognition dishonors the religious convictions of those communities and clergy who officiate at, and bless, gay and lesbian marriages. The state may not favor the convictions of one religious group over another by denying individuals their fundamental right to marry and to have those marriages recognized by civil law.
  

As people of faith, we urge the North Carolina State Legislature to protect families in North Carolina by opposing the anti-LGBT constitutional amendment.  

We also call upon you and all people of faith to join the over 300 religious leaders who have already signed a statement against this type of legislation.  You can do so at www.equalitync.org/faith

THE OMER CHALLENGE:

Right out of the Spiritual Guide for the Omer, today's challenge is:

"Fight for a dignified cause."  

May we all endure through all the challenges to doing this one and find our leadership in a cause about which we care deeply.