A Call to Prayer
From The Reverend Dr. Troy D. Perry
Office of the MCC Moderator

Dear Friend:

I am writing to encourage that prayers be offered on behalf of LGBT people across the state of Virginia (USA) on June 30, 2004, as they observe statewide "Stand Up For Equality" events and public actions

On July 1, 2004, a new Virginia state law -- House Bill 751 -- will go into effect. It is one of the most restrictive and repressive anti-gay laws to be enacted by any U.S. state in recent history.

The purpose of this new law is to prevent any LGBT couple in Virginia from receiving any of the protections or benefits afforded under the marriage laws. Legal scholars believe this new law may go so far as to prohibit civil unions, domestic partnership benefits and any contracts that duplicate the legal protections of marriage.

Medical directives, property arrangements, joint bank accounts, powers of attorney, and relationship agreements would all be open to legal challenge.

This new law is dangerous for yet another reason: It is already being considered as the model for legislation in other states.

On June 30th, in an unprecedented move, all five MCC congregations in Virginia will join hands to partner with more than 50 civil and human rights groups to hold rallies, public events and town hall meetings across the state. These events will draw public attention to the injustice of this new law and set the stage for a court challenge at the ACLU, Lambda Legal, and Equality Virginia.

Therefore, I encourage that:

-- Prayers be offered.... for all the public events, known as "Stand Up For Equality," to be held in Virginia on June 30.

-- Prayers be offered... for LGBT residents of Virginia who face a period of uncertainty and legal threat as this law goes into effect on July 1.

-- Prayers be offered... for the leaders and members of MCC of Northern Virginia (Fairfax), MCC Richmond (Richmond), MCC of the Blue Ridge (Roanoke), New Life MCC (Hampton Roads), and MCC Fredericksburg (Fredericksburg) as they participate in and host public events on June 30.

-- Prayers be offered... that the court challenge will eventually overturn this repressive anti-gay law on constitutional and civil rights grounds.

Let us continue in prayer until "justice rolls down as rivers of water, and righteousness as a mighty stream." (Amos 5:24)

/signed/
The Reverend Dr. Troy D. Perry
Office of the MCC Moderator