Virginia Pastors Urge Rejection of Amendments to Protect Life and Marriage

Virginia pastors have issued an open letter calling on citizens across the Commonwealth to reject two proposed amendments to the state constitution during the ongoing vote period from September 18 to November 3. The letter emphasizes a moral obligation for voters to prioritize the common good and human flourishing in line with longstanding principles of life and family. Pastors from various denominations and regions of Virginia have signed the document, urging prayerful consideration of the issues at stake.

The letter opens by framing the vote as a pivotal moment for the state's identity and future well-being. It argues that both amendments run counter to foundational truths about human dignity and social order. Signatories include leaders from churches in areas such as Manassas, Woodbridge, Chantilly, and beyond, reflecting broad geographic representation.

Sanctity of Human Life and Amendment 1

The pastors specifically call for rejection of Amendment 1, which they state would expand the destruction of human life in the womb. They affirm that all human life is sacred and created in the image of God, drawing from biblical teachings that extend from conception through natural death. This perspective highlights the inestimable worth of every individual, including pre-born children, and rejects any framing of abortion as healthcare or a fundamental right.

The letter implores mothers considering abortion to choose life and sacrifice for their child as part of the beauty of motherhood. It stresses that medical professionals have a duty to care for all human life, particularly the most vulnerable. No society, according to the signatories, should enshrine a right to destroy innocent life or dehumanize an entire class of persons based on size, development, or dependency.

Voters are urged to recognize the fundamental right of pre-born children to be born and breathe as inalienable. The pastors note that presenting abortion as a moral good distorts the sixth commandment and misleads the public. They maintain that parental rights do not extend to taking the life of a child.

Traditional Marriage, Gender, and Amendment 2

On Amendment 2, the letter argues for rejection because it discards the truth of marriage and gender as defined by creation. Pastors affirm that God creates each person as male or female, with these distinct and complementary genders reflecting the divine image. Gender is presented as immutable and tied directly to biological sex, making any rejection of one's God-given identity a rebellion against divine design.

Marriage receives similar treatment as having only one meaning: the union of one man and one woman in an exclusive bond. The letter cites scriptural foundations from Genesis and the teachings of Jesus, noting that what God has joined together should not be separated or redefined by human authority. It warns against modern arrogance in attempting to alter institutions embedded in human civilization and DNA.

The ripple effects of denying these realities are described as harming individuals, families, schools, and sports teams. Ontology, the letter states, roots in objective reality created by God rather than self-perception. Voters are encouraged to uphold these truths instead of discarding them through constitutional change.

Call for Compassion and Civic Responsibility

The pastors extend an invitation for all Virginians to seek the good of the Commonwealth together while affirming love, kindness, respect, dignity, and compassion for every person. They repudiate hateful or harassing behavior toward any individual as contrary to scriptural commands to love one's neighbor. The letter acknowledges human sinfulness and points to redemption through Jesus Christ as the ultimate hope.

Readers without a Bible are encouraged to obtain one and read the Gospel of John, while those without a church home receive an invitation to visit local congregations. The signatories pray for grace upon Virginia and urge a no vote on both amendments as an act of seeking one another's true good.

Additional signatories continue to be reviewed and added, with the letter remaining open to qualifying pastors who affirm historic Christian creeds. The document has already garnered hundreds of signatures from across the state, demonstrating unity among many church leaders on these matters.

https://virginiapastors.org/

Manassas is an independent city in Northern Virginia.