Omaha area ministers unveiled the Heartland Proclamation in June calling for the end of religious and civil discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. The proclamation opened with an apology from clergy where they had been silent. The Heartland Proclamation currently has 234 signatures including at least ten signatures from Presbyterian clergy.

The Heartland Proclamation

As Christian clergy we proclaim the Good News concerning Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) persons and publicly apologize where we have been silent. As disciples of Jesus, who assures us that the truth sets us free, we recognize that the debate is over. The verdict is in. Homosexuality is not a sickness, not a choice, and not a sin. We find no rational biblical or theological basis to condemn or deny the rights of any person based on sexual orientation. Silence by many has allowed political and religious rhetoric to monopolize public perception, creating the impression that there is only one Christian perspective on this issue. Yet we recognize and celebrate that we are far from alone, as Christians, in affirming that LGBT persons are distinctive, holy, and precious gifts to all who struggle to become the family of God.

In repentance and obedience to the Holy Spirit, we stand in solidarity as those who are committed to work and pray for full acceptance and inclusion of LGBT persons in our churches and in our world. We lament that LGBT persons are condemned and excluded by individuals and institutions, political and religious, who claim to be speaking the truth of Christian teaching. This leads directly and indirectly to intolerance, discrimination, suffering, and even death. The Holy Spirit compels us:

• to affirm that the essence of Christian life is not focused on sexual orientation, but how one lives by grace in relationship with God, with compassion toward humanity;
• to embrace the full inclusion of our LGBT brothers and sisters in all areas of church life, including leadership;
• to declare that the violence must stop. Christ’s love moves us to work for the healing of wounded souls who are victims of abuse often propagated in the name of Christ;
• to celebrate the prophetic witness of all people who have refused to let the voice of intolerance and violence speak for Christianity, especially LGBT persons, who have met hatred with love;

Therefore we call for an end to all religious and civil discrimination against any person based on sexual orientation and gender identity and expression. All laws must include and protect the freedoms, rights, and equal legal standing of all persons, in and outside the church.

Ministers joined together on Wednesday, June 15 at the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge in Omaha to publicly unveil the proclamation and show full acceptance of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.

“We believe homosexuality is not a sin. It’s not a birth defect or a choice. God created people this way. And if God created them this way, they need to be honored for who they are, and fully included in church life and wider society,” said Elnes, whose words are reflected in the document.

Elnes said after sharing his point of view, he’s learned that many Christians hold the same beliefs, but have not openly expressed them. That’s the reason the proclamation also includes an apology to the gay community.

“We felt it was important for us to apologize for the times when we ourselves have been silent. Some of us have not always been on this side of the issue,” Elnes said.

Elnes said he unveiled a similar proclamation while working with another church three years ago in Arizona. He said nine Catholic priests were ordered to remove their names from the proclamation or be removed from the priesthood.

Amy O’Connor, a board member of Omaha’s Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays group, PFLAG, said the proclamation is significant. “It’s pretty huge,” she said.

The recent request by the Catholic Bishop of Brooklyn to shun politicians who voted in favor of the Marriage Equality Bill in New York illustrates the religious rhetoric that often monopolizes public perception, creating the impression that there is only one Christian perspective on this issue. Addressing the Bishop of Brooklyn, Rev. Janet Edwards, Co-Moderator of More Light Presbyterians, writes in the Washington Post, "This was a sad day for the Catholic Church. Shunning fails at making disciples, Jesus‚ Great Commission (Mt 28:19). It also fails at loving your neighbor, Jesus‚ Great Commandment (Mt 22:39, Mk 12:31, Lk 10:27)."

What shunning does accomplish is to push away Christians who believe that God’s all inclusive welcome is all inclusive. It also prompts the non-believers watching to say to themselves, “There they go again,” reinforcing in their mind why they shouldn’t pay any attention to the church or to God. In my mind there has to be a correlation between the loss of young people in the church and their conviction that the church is repeatedly and egregiously ostracizing a whole class of people. 

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Ref: http://www.mlp.org/article.php/TheHeartLandProclamation