7/24/2019 Joni Jenkins statement

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/joni-jenkins-statement 1/2

Prayer rebuked by Christian Republicans

Rep. Joni Jenkins

March 1, 2016

  Along with other elected officials, I have reflected much on theintersection of faith and politics. As a person of faith, I cannot totallydivorce that part of myself when I walk into the governmental/politicalarena.

While my Christianity influences every personal and political decisionI make, I have been hesitant to publicly reference my faith in performing mygovernmental duties.

  As an adult, I joined the nited Church of Christ, a denominationnoted for its many firsts ! the first to ordain women, persons of color andpersons of diverse se"ual orientation # and because it spoke to my beliefsof social justice and $od%s abundant love.

&he CC is just one of the many mainstream protestant Christianchurches that share these doctrines.

In my '' years serving as (tate )epresentative for the **th +ouseistrict, I have witnessed an increasing trend of legislators referencing their religious beliefs in discussions on the floor of the +ouse. &hose beliefstend to be nearly always couched as -Christian- and arc predominatelyconservative.

  After much soul searching, it became important to me to give voice toother Christian stances of euality, not to lay claim to being more correctbut to share another world view with my colleagues.

ne of my dearest friends, who happens to be 0ewish, sums it upbeautifully1 2&here are many paths to righteousness3.

  4ast week, I invited my pastor, the )everend 4auren 0ones 5ayfieldof 4ynnhurst nited Church of Christ in 4ouisville, to open the +ouse of)epresentative%s day with prayer.

7/24/2019 Joni Jenkins statement

http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/joni-jenkins-statement 2/2

  I found her prayer to be beautiful in its call to put aside our politicaldifferences and work on the issues that affect all 6entuckians,understanding that it was not a traditional prayer encountered in many ofthe state representatives7 places of worship.

 And yes, )ev 5ayfield mentioned those issues that differ among ourdiverse Christian traditions1

  25ay these legislators work toward preserving the dignity of womenin the uest for reproductive justice8 may they honor the needs of thosewho are wrongly imprisoned. 5ay they demand euality for all 6entuckyresidents regardless of se"ual orientation and gender identity. 5ay theybelieve that black lives matter. 5ay our work be for those who are unable tobe here to lobby and speak for themselves.3

  I was grateful to so many colleagues, staff and guests in attendancewho e"pressed their appreciation for the prayer.

9ut I was shocked at the response of a number of my colleagues,who walked out mid prayer and one in particular who emailed )ev. 5ayfielda disrespectful and ugly message which included 2you are anembarrassment to my Christ.-

  &o make matters worse, the entire +ouse 5inority Caucus boycottedthe ne"t day%s prayer in protest.

  9eyond their rudeness to my pastor, I am very concerned about themessage the +ouse )epublicans are sending to all 6entuckians whichtranslates to -we believe in religious freedom, as long as it is constant withour religious beliefs.-

  I am saddened by the apparent double standard the )epublicansconstantly employ, especially as they purport to be fierce defenders of the

nited (tates Constitution which guarantees freedom from religiousoppression.

:very person, regardless of their religion, should be welcomed to the+ouse chamber and shown dignity and respect.