Marriage initiative sponsors intend to soon try again

By JOHN FORTMEYER
CNNW publisher
    BOTHELL, Wash. — Disappointed, to be sure, but by no means defeated.
    That is the mood of evangelical Christians who recently fell short on securing needed signatures to place an initiative on the Washington fall ballot that they saw as important to preserving traditional marriage in the state.
    Gary Randall, an Oregon resident who is president of Bothell-based Faith & Freedom Network, a Christian organization serving both states, said efforts to save traditional marriage in Washington will definitely continue. And churches will again eventually be approached for support, but how soon is not yet determined.
   “A renewed effort in the churches is appropriate,” said Randall. “We feel that God has called us to these things. It’s a matter of righteousness and a biblical mandate.”
    Faith & Freedom Network had worked with other Christians and conservatives in a recent drive to collect a minimum of 112,440 valid voter signatures to get Referendum 65 on the ballot. That measure would have given voters the opportunity to repeal ESHB 2661, a gay rights law passed in January by the Washington Legislature that went into effect last month. According to Faith & Family Network, ESHB 2661 opens the door for the courts to impose homosexual marriage.
    The initiative campaign included seven interdenominational prayer rallies held throughout the state — including one in Vancouver that drew 1,200 people — and saw about 30,000 to 40,000 initiative petitions distributed. But the drive ultimately only secured 105,000 signatures — about 7,000 short.
   “We’re very appreciative of all the people that did so much hard work,” said Randall. “But having said that, there is a degree of apathy in the church that manifested itself here and a degree of intimidation on any social issue, particularly this issue.”
    Also a contributing factor, according to Faith & Freedom chairman Rev. Joe Fuiten, was a lack of communication with the Christian organizations by Tim Eyman, who had filed the referendum. Eyman, a controversial figure in Washington for his various initiative efforts, failed to keep the evangelical groups informed on the status of signature gathering, said Randall. “Eyman wouldn’t tell us where we were,” he said.
    The battle over marriage in Washington now focuses on the state Supreme Court. All sides are inclined to think that the court will throw out the state's 1996 Defense of Marriage Act, which bans same-sex marriage, but a long-awaited ruling hasn’t happened yet.
    Gov. Christine Gregoire, a former state attorney general, predicts the court won’t announce a decision until after the fall election, given the volatility of the issue. Three justices are on the ballot and three more are up for re-election in two years.
    That bothers Faith & Freedom Network, which sees the state court as perhaps increasingly politically motivated. On his group’s website (www.faithandfreedom.us) Randall suggests this fall might be a good time to see some new faces elected to the court.
    A state court ruling approving homosexual marriage may be needed to galvanize Washingtonians around the issue, much as Multnomah County commissioners’ issuance of gay marriage licenses two years ago sparked statewide outrage in Oregon and helped lead to voter approval of Oregon’s ban on gay marriage, said Randall.