Dear Fellow Pastor,

On July 8, 2016, Governor Baker signed into law a bill that eliminates the right to privacy and safety in public accommodations including restrooms, locker rooms, showers and changing facilities. We think that’s bad for Massachusetts, particularly for the millions of women and children who are likely to be most affected by it. Parents will be prohibited from safeguarding the privacy of their children, as individuals can be fined up to $2500 or imprisoned for up to 1 year if found to be “discriminating” against a transgendered male wanting to use a women’s bathroom. Even more troubling, church bathrooms are considered “public accommodations” under this “Bathroom Law.”

(For a recent article on the problems this presented for a MA youth pastor, click here.)

That is why, as concerned citizens, we are exercising our constitutional right to seek a repeal of this dangerous bathroom, locker room and shower law.

On July 18, a team of dedicated and courageous citizens of the Commonwealth filed a repeal initiative with the Secretary of State’s office. Approved by the Attorney General last week, the petition is now available for signatures. Between now and September 22, 2016, Keep MA Safe will be collecting the 32,375 certified signatures needed to put this law to a vote by the people on the November, 2018 statewide ballot.

We absolutely need your help.

This is our ONLY opportunity to stop, once and for all, a bad law that threatens the privacy and safety of women and children. Our goal is to collect 60,000 raw signatures to ensure that we have 32,375 certified registered voter signatures by September 22. Churches are the very best environment to accomplish this goal, because this issue challenges God’s very creation of male and female. Would your church be willing to allow someone from Keep MA Safe come and collect signatures on a Sunday morning or whenever you gather corporately?

Collecting signatures in churches for a non-partisan ballot initiative is absolutely approved by the IRS. It is no different than voter registration, as this petition is just to put the question on the ballot. The ideal setting is tables in the foyer or fellowship hall to collect signatures as a public service. You can also combine this effort with voter registration.

(Click here for the Massachusetts registration form).

For more information:

If you have any questions regarding the legalities of this matter, please refer to the memo from our national legal partners, Alliance Defending Freedom. Also, please feel free to contact MFI or me directly with any questions.

You can learn more by contacting the field director in your area for petitions and get information on how and where to get involved.

The field directors are as follows:

Daniel Grayton: Northeastern MA (Essex, Middlesex) – [email protected]

Dan Creme: Central MA/Metro West – [email protected]

Andrew Surprise – Western MA – [email protected]

Steve Fruzzetti – Southeastern MA – [email protected]

Again, Keep MA Safe urgently needs your leadership to take a stand on this vital issue. Now is the hour for the Body of Christ in Massachusetts to once again be salt and light in the culture. We know how busy you are so we ask you to please identify one or more key contact people to work with Keep MA Safe on the signature effort in your church.

For our families,

Rev. Kris Mineau
Board Chairman, Massachusetts Family Institute

P.S. I highly recommend the recent article by Rev. George O. Wood, General Superintendent of the Assemblies of God (USA) and chair of the World Assemblies of God Fellowship concerning the criticality of this hour for the Body of Christ.