AFRICAN AMERICAN CLERGY AGAINST NC AMENDMENT ONE

African American Clergy in Greensboro, NC from different denominations and faith perspectives have joined together to express strong opposition to Amendment One AMENDMENT ONE IS BOTH REDUNDANT AND UNNECESSARY.
The proposed 2012 North Carolina Constitutional Amendment One states: That marriage between one man and one woman is the only domestic legal union that shall be valid or recognized in this state. In 1996, North Carolina passed the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which states: marriages, whether created by common law, contracted, or performed outside of North Carolina, between individuals of the same gender are not valid in North Carolina. There is no need for a constitutional amendment to do what the law has already done.

AMENDMENT ONE WILL DIMINISH THE BLACK & PROGRESSIVE COMMUNITIES VOTING POWER.
This amendment is a wedge issue designed to create confusion and division, especially within the Black Church, in order to create a distraction away from the historical movement towards civil rights for all people, a movement in which African American clergy and churches have played a leading role.

AMENDMENT ONE WILL HURT FAMILIES AND CHILDREN.

The language of amendment one opens the door to alter currently protected marital rights including child and spousal support, martial property, succession rights, custody of minor children, and health related issue. The language of the amendment is deliberately vague. According to the 2010 US census figures it is estimated that over 70% of those who could be negatively affected would not be gay or lesbian

AMENDMENT ONE SPONSORS AND FINANCIAL BACKERS HAVE SUSPECT MOTIVES.

The legislators and the funders of this amendment have a track record. The Art Pope Network spends $40 million on big campaign to get certain legislators who support this amendment to make proposals and/or enact legislation against the interest of the Black community including cutting taxes for the rich, reducing health care for women and children, seeking to impose voter ID, repeal the of the Racial Justice Act, restricting early voting, racialized redistricting, and the re-segregation of public schools.

AMENDMENT ONE WOULD USHER IN UNPRECEDENTED REVERSALS OF HARD-EARNED RIGHTS.

Our system of law is designed to protect the rights of the minority from the abuse of the majority. However, by inviting a majority to vote on the rights of a minority, we are endangering equal protection under the law for all citizens. We believe in maintaining the historical precedent of establishing constitutional amendments which have been designed not to limit, but rather to EXPAND the rights and protections of citizens.

AMENDMENT ONE IS NOT WHAT IT SEEMS!

Lets not be blinded by its outer appearance. We acknowledge that the issue of same-sex marriage is controversial, emotional, and a deep faith concern, around which there is not unity in the African American Community or within the Christian Church itself. Where one stands on the issue is a matter of conscience and faith, not a constitutional amendment. We believe the differences among us must be constantly engaged, with compassion, within the contexts of our faith traditions and according to our conscientious scruples and convictions. Therefore, in spite of our various views on same-sex marriage, we recognize that a more urgent issue is at stake the civil rights and freedoms of minority groups.

Join Us :
Sunday, May 6, 2012, at 4:30 PM
Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 1301 Alamance Church Road, Greensboro, NC for a Prayer Meeting and Rally Against NC Amendment One

Why African American Clergy Must Stand Up and Speak Out

As agents of justice, healing, and unity among all people of all races, God has positioned us to be the heirs and guardians of a long history of unearned suffering, including slavery, lunch law, and Jim Crowism. Our people are, even today, the victims of random hate crimes. Many of our teenagers and young adults are languishing in prisons, while
Rev. Arnetta Beverly, Pastor, St. Matthews United Methodist Church* Bishop George Brooks, Pastor, Mount Zion Baptist Church* Rev. Cardes Brown, Pastor, New Light Missionary Baptist Church* Apostle Wayne Clapp, Pastor, Breath of God Assembly* Rev. Howard Chubbs, Pastor, Providence Baptist Church*

millions of others are without work and live in poverty. After careful and prayerful consideration, we are persuaded that the proposed Amendment One to the North Carolina Constitution would further impoverish and punish so many innocent people. Therefore, we have no choice but to stand against this unnecessary and unjust proposed amendment.
Imam Abdel Nuriddin, Imam, Masjid Al Ummil Ummat* Rev. Eva Ratliff, Pastor, Guiding Light Ministries* Rev. Clarence Shuford, Pastor, St Phillip AME Zion Church* Rev. James Woodson, Pastor, St. James Home of Fresh Start Ministry* Rev. William Wright, Pastor, New Zion Missionary Baptist Church*

Rev. Micheal Frencher, Pastor, Trinity AME Zion Church* Rev. Joseph Frierson, Youth Pastor, Faith Community Church* Rev. Gregory Headen, Pastor, Genesis Baptist Church* Rev. Nelson Johnson, Pastor, Faith Community Church* Rev. Diane Given Moffett, Pastor, St James Presbyterian Church*

On May 8th

VOTE Against Amendment One