by Penna Dexter

The federal government and state and local governments across the nation have been busy lately forcing upon businesses, schools, and public entities their version of non-discrimination which includes affirmation of all sexual orientations, and anyone’s chosen gender identity.

Amidst all the controversy about these sexual orientation and gender identity bathroom laws, we have taken one thing for granted: Churches are exempt from these laws and requirements and their associated legal penalties. But an unprecedented mandate surfaced in the state of Iowa revealing that church exemption from these laws is not a given.

The state’s Civil Rights Commission published a brochure entitled, “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity — A Public Accommodations Provider’s Guide to Iowa Law.” The guide states that churches are considered places of public accommodation. So they would generally not be exempt.

The stated policy extended problematic bathroom policies to churches. And worse, according to this brochure, the state was claiming some authority over what a church teaches, its doctrine — what is preached from the pulpit regarding sexuality.

These are the Iowa Civil Rights Commission’s stated requirements for public accommodations:

Patrons and congregants must be allowed to use living facilities, locker rooms, and restrooms based on gender identity rather than sex assigned at birth.
Pronouns used in addressing people must correspond to their gender identity. In addition, the definition of harassment is expanded.
Speech that conveys “hostility” or causes someone to feel “unwelcome” is forbidden. This could be interpreted as restricting a church’s ability to teach its religious beliefs about sexuality.

Is such a blatant violation of the First Amendment really the state’s intent? That question is actually answered in the brochure. There’s a section titled, “Does this law apply to churches?” The answer: “Sometimes.” If a church’s service, outreach or activity is “not related to a bona fide religious purpose,” it would have to comply. Who decides whether an activity is religious enough. The state.

When Cornerstone World Outreach, a non-denominational Sioux City church was made aware of these clearly stated requirements, its pastor, Cary Gordon, recognized that the church was in violation and, with its mission of outreach to the public, would never be able to comply.

First Liberty Institute, representing Cornerstone, sent a demand letter to the Iowa Civil Rights Commission asking that it retract this mandate.

The commission responded by revising the document and clarifying that churches are exempt.

That these requirements existed in the heartland of America, that the state of Iowa officially claimed the power to regulate church facilities and what they can teach about human sexuality, ought to send chills up the spines of pastors nationwide.

First they came for the florists and bakers who decline to participate in same sex marriages. Then they came for other businesses attempting to operate within the owners’ faith principles. Then they came for the schools. Now we must be very vigilant because they are coming for the churches.