Restore Minnesota March '24 Newsletter

A Restore Minnesota Action Alert Update

Clearing the Confusion

Clear-thinking Minnesotans are celebrating the decision made by Senator Ron Latz, Chair of the Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, because of his decision to postpone the very controversial 2024 “fix-it” version of the 2023 Minnesota Human Rights Act (MHRA) from the March 6 committee meeting agenda. That decision comes with both confusion and a cautionary warning.

First, the confusion

As mentioned above, this bill is a “fix-it” bill. That is, there is something in the 2023 version that needs fixing. I will attempt to explain.

The 2023 version of the bill has an appropriate discrimination prohibition section (see the text of the section needing fixing below). In that section, the words “and gender identity” were added. This means that “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” are no longer considered one and the same. Instead, it means that the bill has created a new protected class of people according to their “gender identity.”

Unfortunately, the religious exemption portion of the bill does not include the words “and gender identity.” It only includes the words “sexual orientation.” This means that, as of now, there is no religious exemption allowed for cases of gender identity. Without the fix, the bill creates potentially significant legal entanglements for religious organizations.

Rep. Niska and the House testifiers gave the benefit of the doubt by saying they were sure this was just an oversight and therefore an easy fix. All they needed was a commonsense amendment to include the phrase “and gender identity” providing religious organizations the exemption they have always had under the law.

Unfortunately, the committee chair made it perfectly clear that this was not a mere oversight. It was intentional.

In other words, it is a devious power-hungry strategy by those who identify themselves as members of the “Queer Caucus” to manipulate the law unconstitutionally and make ineffectual the 1st Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, and possibly also Article 1, Sections 2 & 16 of the Minnesota State Constitution.

Remember, these are the people who believe “inclusivity trumps the 1st Amendment.” They ignore the SCOTUS ruling in the 2015 case of the town of Greece, New York vs. Galloway, docket number 12-696, that ruled against this kind of attack against the large majority of Americans who are not LGBTQIPA+.

You can read the current version of the MHRA here: The MHRA

· It prohibits discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, public services, education, credit, and business based on protected class, such as: race, religion, disability, national origin, sex, marital status, familial status, age, sexual orientation, and gender identity, (emphasis mine) and

· Nothing in this chapter (363A.26) prohibits any religious association, religious corporation, or religious society that is not organized for private profit, or any institution organized for educational purposes that is operated, supervised, or controlled by a religious association, religious corporation, or religious society that is not organized for private profit, from:

limiting admission to or giving preference to persons of the same religion or denomination;
in matters relating to sexual orientation, taking any action with respect to education, employment, housing and real property, or use of facilities. This clause shall not apply to secular business activities engaged in by the religious association, religious corporation, or religious society, the conduct of which is unrelated to the religious and educational purposes for which it is organized; or,
taking any action with respect to the provision of goods, services, facilities, or accommodations directly related to the solemnization or celebration of a civil marriage that is in violation of its religious beliefs.

Notice what’s missing in the religious exemptions protections: There is no religious exemption protection regarding gender identity.

Now for the cautionary warning:

It ain’t over. The proponents of this bill are regrouping.

Just because the bill was pulled from this committee meeting does not mean it will not appear at some point later in this session. In fact, it needs to reappear with the proper amendment language attached. That language needs to add the words “and gender identity” in the religious exemption section or remove the words “and gender identity” in the prohibitions section. Adding them is likely easier (though not easy) than removing those words from last years “upgrade.”

So, keep the pressure on. Contact your state senators and tell them they must add an amendment to protect the current religious exemptions with additional religious exemptions that cover the new protected class, “gender identity.”

I hope this explanation helps. Let’s all keep watch for when this bill pops up again to go to committee.

Thanks for fighting the fight!

Dale

Rev. Dale Witherington, Chief Steward
Restore Minnesota / Restore Minnesota Action

Dear Christian Patriot,

Thank you for your continued interest in and support of Restore Minnesota. It is because of people like you that we are able to continue in the fight “to restore righteousness in Minnesota by promoting Biblical citizenship that educates, equips, empowers, and encourages Holy Spirit-led engagement”.

Those words from our mission statement drive everything we do. Hardly a day goes by without our mission statement being shared by you, a Restore Minnesota Christian Constitutional Patriot, as you display the Biblically constitutional values of Life, Love, Truth, Freedom, Liberty, Righteousness, Justice, Duty, Honor and Service (just to name a few) to your communities and families.

Thank you for being courageous and for standing strong and firm!

Let’s consider together two of the phrases from our mission statement:

To restore righteousness

Have you ever thought what life in your home and community would look like when righteousness is restored? How would business be conducted? How would local governments perform? How safe would our communities be?

According to one of my favorite authors and biblical scholars, Rick Renner, the word “righteousness” comes from the Greek word for “that which is right or just”. It generally refers to right living or just living and “it epitomizes those who live by a righteous standard that means upright living”. Renner continues and writes, “When used in connection with the word “instruction” (as in 2 Timothy 3:16), it tells us that when God’s Word is taken into our hearts and applied to our lives, it fully equips us to successfully live by a higher standard that leads to upright, godly living”. (See Renner’s Sparkling Gems from the Greek, Vol. II, p. 27)

Now, to be clear, the restoration of righteousness is something we aspire towards but not something that we can accomplish. Righteousness belongs to God alone. He is the one who declares righteous anyone who claims Jesus as Lord. The process of sanctification allows us to live in the righteousness God has declared on us but its fulness, completion and perfection will not be accomplished until Christ returns.

In the meantime, however, the Bible is clear in its instructions as to what living by God’s higher standards means. Our founding fathers understood this and that is why John Adams said, “Our constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.” As Proverbs 29:2 says, “When the righteous rule the people rejoice; but when the wicked (foolish) rule, the people groan.” And Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people.”

The job of God’s people is to live righteous lives and elect righteous leaders, leaders who support and defend the Biblical principles given in Scripture and applied in our nation’s Declaration of Independence and our U. S. Constitution.

At Restore Minnesota, we will continue to do our part in restoring righteousness in Minnesota by educating, equipping, empowering and encouraging Holy Spirit-led engagement for those who are drawn to work with us.

By promoting Biblical citizenship

The words “Biblical citizenship” have been gaining traction for the last few years. But, what is “Biblical citizenship”? A very helpful definition of the term has been proffered by Family Policy Alliance. They explain Biblical Citizenship in their statement, “The Hope for our country is found in God’s people, Christians, understanding the Truths of the Bible, applying them to our culture and acting upon them in love. And that’s what Biblical Citizenship is” (FamilyPolicyAlliance.com).

I love it!

Along with our friends Rick Green of Patriot Academy, who offers a wonderful 8-week Biblical Citizenship course, and Keith Downey, who has authored a very helpful study entitled “Biblical Citizenship: A Vital Calling for the Saints in America” and who has launched the “Big Sky Center for Biblical Citizenship” in Montana with its corresponding app, “Biblical Citizen,” Restore Minnesota offers the live Biblical Citizenship courses “Biblical Citizenship in a Non-Biblical World” and “Courageous Christianity”. We’d be glad to present either or both to your group, organization and/or church.

Philippians 3:20 tells us we who are “in Christ” are citizens of heaven. Combine that with 2 Corinthians 5:20 which tells us we are called to be “Ambassadors” to earth. Ambassadors represent the One who has sent them. Learning what the Bible has to say about Biblical Citizenship and effectively representing the One Who has sent us by applying His principles in our homes and communities will transform our culture.

Let’s all become more effective Biblical citizens. Our homes, our communities, our state and our nation is depending on us.

Rev. Dale Witherington
Founder and Chief Steward, Restore Minnesota

"For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." - 2 Timothy 1:7

The opening Day of Session, February 12, was filled with prayers, praises, and supplication to the Lord the God of Hosts. Pastors, Believers, Legislators, and Candidates from across the state gathered to lift up this legislative session to the Lord.

Acknowledgement was given for the need of repentance regarding the fallen state of man and the straying of Minnesota from God's Holy precepts. Praise was given for the characters of faith He has placed in Governments and for the Remnant the Lord has preserved in pockets throughout this beautiful State.

God is holding us tight and promises to never leave or forsake His people. Prayers for protection, guidance, and revival reverberated throughout the halls. The Rotunda was transformed into a center filled with the presence of our Lord and Savior. With knees bent and arms raised the State was given over to God the Father.

Pray for the continued outpouring of the Spirit and a deep-rooted Revival to sweep this land.

Restore Minnesota Community Action Teams

The Purpose and Mission of Restore Minnesota is to restore righteousness to our state. The strategy to do that is through developing Community Action Teams in all of the 87 counties. We currently have 15 active Community Action Teams serving at least 17 different counties. These meetings are private, by personal invitation only. If you want to be contacted about the details of attending any of these meetings, please inquire at our website...https://restoremn.org/contact-us/

1. Anoka County meeting in Ham Lake
2. Chisago County meeting in Lindstrom
3. Crow Wing County meeting in Baxter (This group is known as the Christian Constitutional Conservatives.)
4. Dakota County meeting in Burnsville
5. Douglas County meeting in Alexandria
6. Goodhue County meeting in Cannon Falls
7. Goodhue & Olmsted Counties meeting in Pine Island
8. Hennepin County meeting in Crystal
9. Isanti County meeting in Princeton
10. Kanabec County meeting in Mora
11. Pine County meeting in Sandstone (New!)
12. Ramsey County meeting in Shoreview
13. Sherburne County meeting in the Elk River area
14. Washington County meeting in Lake Elmo
15. Wright County meeting in Buffalo

If you know Christians, Conservatives, or Patriots in these areas that might be interested in Restore Minnesota and our Community Action Teams, please share this newsletter with them or direct them to our website … https://restoremn.org/contact-us … tell them to enter their information. Someone will contact them.

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