Federal Judge Declares Pastors Free to

Counsel Concerning Same-Sex Attraction

CHICAGO—On Thursday federal Judge Ronald Guzman ruled that pastors are not subject to the Illinois’ Youth Mental Health Protection Act (YMHPA) that went into effect January 1, 2016; consequently Illinois pastors can now feel less risk in telling counselees that Jesus can help them with unwanted same-sex attraction.

The plaintiffs, a group of five Illinois pastors and two church associations, expressed fear of being charged with consumer fraud should they counsel that homosexual conduct is a sin. They argued that ambiguous language in YMHPA threatened their ability to counsel to minors and others that homosexual conduct is a sin, especially because all of the pastors are compensated by their congregations for their counseling as part of their overall pastoral services. The Act reads, “No person or entity may, in the conduct of trade or commerce, use or employ any deception, fraud…in offering conversion therapy services in a manner the represents homosexuality as a mental disease, disorder, or illness.” The plain-tiffs all consider homosexual conduct to be a “disorder” in human conduction. They dare call it sin. The court ruled that the law does not apply to pas-tors because such counseling is not in trade or commerce, saying that “the ordinary meaning of these terms [trade or commerce] does not suggest they apply to private religious counseling.”

Although the ruling protects only Illinois pastors from liability under Illinois law, Guzman’s ruling has potential national implications consistent with the view of many religious freedom advocates that the government can never regulate pastoral counseling because pastors are not in commerce. Likewise, President Donald Trump’s recent declaration that the federal Johnson Amendment, which prohibits pastors and churches from endorsing candidates, suggests a larger scope of church autonomy where government may not or should not intrude. In this case, Guzman cited debate in the Illinois legislature indicating Illinois was choosing not to intrude.

The opinion considers different definitions of trade and commerce and determined that they in no way threaten pastors’ ability to use conversion therapy, stating that, “The Act’s only penalties apply to mental health professionals or to those who deceptively advertise conversion therapy for commercial purpose. Plaintiffs fit neither mold.”

The plaintiffs’ attorney, John W. Mauck from the law firm Mauck & Baker said, “Freedom of speech; the unrestrained freedom of pastors to counsel people and of people to obtain counsel so they can make fully informed wise decisions at the heart of this case. The Democrats in Springfield aimed to restrict reparative therapy even at the pastoral level because in 2016 they defeated an amendment to give pastors an explicit exemption from the act. “Yesterday’s ruling means men and women, girls and boys with unwanted same-sex attraction can receive reparative therapy help from pastors even though the law prevents them from obtaining it from licensed counselors.”

We are grateful for the faithful service of Christian attorneys who skillfully work to protect our religious freedoms. Mauck and Baker are some of the most noted attorneys in Illinois who fight to protect our churches, our religious liber-ties, and our personal liberties. We thank them for their faithful service, and thank God that our prayers have been answered in this particular piece of legislation!

Thank you for your continued prayers. We know that the “effective fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” There is much to pray for yet, since there are so many attacks on our freedom that are still ongoing and so many people who do not yet know Christ as their Savior.

God has opened doors to not only share the Gospel, but also to open the House in prayer and to meet with other legislative leaders for prayer. There is much to pray about, especially since the state is in such dire financial straits. Yet, it is during difficult times that people are most open to looking beyond themselves to the God Who is and Who created them.

“Who knows whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” was the question Mordecai asked of Esther. That same question applies to each of us in this day in which we live!

As we move into this new phase of our lives and ministry, we appreciate your encouragement. Once our move is accomplished, our desire is to continue to build relationships and partnerships in ministry to continue to minister effectively for the Church of Jesus Christ.

We see that the pressure on religious freedoms is continuing to grow, both on the federal and state level. That means we have an increased responsibility in working to defend our God-given freedom of the exercise of our religious beliefs.

Please pray for continued church and individual support so we can have the liberty to step out and do whatever is necessary to help defend our first amendment freedoms of the exercise of our religious beliefs and the freedom of speech. Remember, we are fighting a spiritual battle, not against people, but against principalities and powers of spiritual wickedness in high places. Thank you for your prayers and support.

I grew up on a farm in northwest Iowa with parents who were Christians. I never planned to go to college, but God closed the doors for any decent job (I had just turned 17)—so I went to college. I dropped out for a semester with only three courses to go to graduate—determined never to return. I returned and finished. I never planned to live in any kind of metropolitan area.

I visited friends in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, and moved there two weeks later—and never moved out of the Chicago area. I attended Bible studies in a basement in Chicago, then started attending Quentin Road Bible Baptist Church, where I met my wife. We worked with the teens, I taught adult Bible studies, and eventually went on staff as an assistant pastor.

Later I became the pastor of an independent church in the western suburbs of Chicago, where I spend 11 1/2 years, all the while teaching classes at Dayspring Bible College. I’ve had the opportunity to set up trips to Israel, and traveled there 5 times.

When I went back on staff at Quentin Road in 1994 as an associate pastor, teaching in the college and lobbying the legislature, God opened the doors for me to travel and speak. I have had opportunities to lead missions trips to India and Argentina.

Over the last 20 years, God has opened the door for me to preach in hundreds of churches. I am amazed to see how God is at work in various churches, with different leadership styles, different types of leaders, and different spiritual gifts. I have been thrilled to meet with legislative leaders, share the Gospel with legislators, staff members, other lobbyists, people I met in my travels, and at churches in Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Kentucky, and Ohio.

Now God is opening the door for a whole new chapter of our lives, as Barb and I look at selling our house, purchasing a new house in the Springfield area, and raising support for our ministry to churches on behalf of Jesus Christ. What a privilege to be a child of God, a husband of 37 years, a father of wonderful children, and a grandfather to two wonderful boys.

I look forward to the work God has for me in the years ahead, and ask for your prayers for Barb and me as we make this transition and move. Pray for buyer for our house, that we can raise the necessary support, and that we will never take our eyes off of Jesus.

I thank God for you regularly. Many of you faithfully send to us as God lays upon your hearts. Each day as I go to the Post Office and open P.O. Box 412, I am reminded about God’s faithfulness and your faithfulness in giving.

I thank God for the opportunity to represent Jesus Christ before the General Assembly, before the public, and in church services across this state. I thank God for the churches which financially support us, faithfully giving even when it is difficult at times.

I thank God for the faithful friends He has given to Barb and me, people we can count on. Thank you for your faithfulness. Many of you have given sacrificially as God has made it possible to give.

I know it is a miracle of God’s grace that we are able to continue on in ministry and have our needs met. I also know that the hand of God hearts and lays upon your hearts the needs of our ministry—and I am humbled by it. God is so faithful in providing for all of us. It is His provision for you that provides provision for us.

In the prologue of his 1382 English translation of the Bible, John Wycliffe said, “The Bible is for the Government of the People, by the People, and for the People.”

On November 19, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln concluded his Gettysburg address, sating, “…this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom–and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

Our type of government is a direct result of the intentions and design of the founding fathers.  Their intent was that Christians be involved and active in government.

By God’s grace, over 600 years after John Wycliffe translated the Scriptures into English, we still have a government of the people, by the people  and for the people.  It is God Who has given this government to us.  WE ARE THE GOVERNMENT.

When Christians fail to vote, they fail to carry out God’s sacred responsibility of stewardship.

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM

Our founding fathers came to America because they experienced religious persecution.  They designed a government that would allow them to express their religious viewpoints.

Because God has given us a representative form of government, we have a responsibility to vote for leaders who best express our convictions.

Christians have all the same rights as everyone else in society to express their viewpoints.  When Christians fail to vote, they fail to express their viewpoints.  When Christians fail to vote, they fail to express their viewpoint and leaders are elected whose viewpoints often contradict their religious beliefs.

It is no surprise then when legislation is passed that is contrary to Christian beliefs.  By failing to be involved in government, people with conflicting viewpoints will control the direction of government.

Be faithful! Know when the elections are.  Learn who the candidates are and what issues they stand on.  The only way to preserve your religious freedoms is to elect government officials who will protect your convictions!