"66 evangelical ministers declare support for the ICA"

              Quality
Clippings
344-0772
Idaho Statesman
Boise, Idaho
AUG. 27 1994

66 evangelical ministers
declare support for the ICA

Group fears gays
want 'special rights'

The Associated Press 

   Dozens of evangelical ministers
have lined up behind the Idaho Citi­zens
Alliance's anti-gay initiative, la­beling
it a response to what they
called the homosexual agenda to se­cure
special rights.
   "We declare our love for homosex­ual
men and women and our opposi­tion
to homosexual behavior," said
Bryan Fischer, pastor of the Commu­nity
Church of the Valley. "Above
all, we offer to gays forgiveness, hope
and life, in place of guilt, despair and
death."
   Fischer, standing Friday by the
huge cross on Table Rock overlook­ing
Boise, said he and 65 other evan­gelical
ministers endorsing Proposi­tion
1 on the Nov. 8 ballot were
speaking for themselves, not their
congregations.
   But, he said, "The feedback I get
from my flock is they are generally
supportive ... Those who are mem­bers
of evangelical churches are
looking for their pastors to take a
strong leadership role."
   Fischer suggested that was the
view of the estimated 150,000 mem­bers
of the 1,000 evangelical
churches statewide.
   The evangelical group countered
an equally large group of ministers
who announced their opposition to
the initiative earlier this year.
   Proposition 1 would prevent the
state extending civil-rights pro-
tections specifically to gays and les­bians,
and keep the state from pro
moting homosexuality as acceptable.

What lt says
How Proposition 1 will read on
your ballot. On the Back Page

   The Catholic Church in Idaho op­poses
the initiative, joining nearly
every major civic and political lead­er.
The Mormon Church has not tak­en
a stand.
   Fischer, however, said he believes
there are members of both those
churches who privately support the
initiative.
   Three major political candidates
have endorsed the initiative, which
critics have called divisive and un­necessary:
1st District Republican
congressional candidate Helen
Chenoweth, GOP state auditor nomi­nee
Ralph Gines and independent
gubernatorial candidate Ron Rankin.
   Conservative former U.S. Sen.
Steve Symms joined that group, say­ing
he would "vote in opposition to
giving special privileges to people of
a gay and lesbian orientation or any­one
else for that matter. White male
adulterers - I'd vote against giving
them special privileges, too."
   Supporters cite a Troy city ordi-
nance prohibiting job discrimination
against homosexuals as justifying
the initiative’s prohibition.
   Critics artgue that the initiative
would in effect legalize discrimination 
against homosexuals and conse-
quenctly strip them of their constitu-
tional rights.

Silvia Flores/The Idaho Statesman
Community Church of the Valley pastor Bryan Fischer speaks
out on his support for Proposition 1 at the cross on Table
Rock on Friday morning. Approximately a dozen pastors and
church members from multiple denominations in the Trea-
sure Valley gathered at the cross to express their support for 
the proposition, which would prevent the state from extend-
ing civil-rights protections specifically to gays and lesbians. 
Idahoans will vote on the amendment in November.