Mark Lattime, the Episcopal Bishop of Alaska has written publicly of his support for Prop 5, a marriage equality measure for the City of Anchorage that is to be on the April ballot.
In a letter to The Rev. Michael Burke, the rector of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Anchorage, who is serving as the Convener of Christians for Equality in Anchorage, Bishop Lattime writes:
“We who claim the life of Jesus, claim a life of striving for the new identity of a world restored by Grace through the resurrected life of Christ our Lord.
It is in the spirit of striving for this baptismal identity in Christ that I extend my endorsement and prayers to you, and those who stand with you, in your ministry of seeking support for the Anchorage Equal Rights Initiative. The Baptismal Covenant, as expressed in our Prayerbook, calls us to strive for justice and peace and to respect the dignity of every human being. Working and praying for the just and proper protection under the law of all human beings is certainly a faithful expression of the higher calling of the Baptismal Covenant.
The Episcopal Church, through the actions of General Convention, has a long history of standing with those who society has pushed to the margins and with those who are most vulnerable to discrimination. I give thanks for the Episcopal Church’s witness to non-discrimination and give thanks for the faithful response of those who are working for the inclusion of those for whom the protections of current non-discrimination laws do not apply — especially gays, lesbians and those of transgender identity.”