Religion Outside the Box

While the term lobbyist brings up images of well-financed agents of special interests, there is a quite different type of lobbyist who walks the hallways of Missouri’s statehouse…those who represent the interests of religious faiths.

Recently, discussions about the current economic downturn are gradually becoming issues of no equal debate among lawmakers in Missouri capitol building. In spite of this overwhelming scenario, Kerry Messer, a lay minister, whose primary professional mission is to challenge and encourage orthodox Christian ethics in arenas of private, corporate, and civic life would rather spend as much as 16 hours daily at the state house opening a new era by redefining the relationship between religious faith and political policies and campaigns.

For the past 26 years, the Religious lobbyist spends his career and ministry in the capitol building reinforcing the nexus of religion and politics that has been the most persistent and controversial storyline in American public life since Ronald Reagan was elected president in 1980. Logistically, he is engaged by advocating active citizen involvement in all aspects of the public square, including both public and private forums. Though, recently Kerry has increasingly become outspoken on myriads of religious and social issues. His fearless campaign and lobbying strategies against legislations on stem cell research, abortion rights, gay marriage and other biotechnological issues have raised political red flag for many.

The Baptist minister, with work experience as president, Missouri Family Network (25 years), and registered lobbyist for Missouri Family Network, Missouri Baptist Convention – Christian Life Commission, Americans United for Life (nation’s oldest legal pro-life organization), Alliance for Life (network of Pregnancy Resource Centers & agencies), Families for Home Education, Samaritan Ministries ((healthcare financial sharing ministry), MACCCA (Missouri Association Christian Child Care Agencies), poised with deep conviction and zeal on what he does as a fulltime job not minding whose horse is goose, Mr. Messer says he spends his time “addressing the plague of pornography in culture, abortion issues, homosexuality”. Giving reasons why he lobbies on such issues he says ‘these types of issues, they was a lack of people stepping into the public square and articulate a sound reasoned expression of why those positions supporting these issues were wrong and why it is appropriate to oppose the free flow of pornography, the expression of homosexuality, the use of abortion contraception to mention a couple of them.” A mission he claims came “from the holy God.”

In addition to this, Messer claimed to be compelled by the Lord to the take the banner to be the spokes person for the conservative Christian community which he represents on broad spectrum of issues, the Gentleman would spent time lobbying because he does “not trust the folks (Legislatures) in the capitol building to themselves,” which according to him, “I feel more comfortable with the end of their results in the legislatures feeling that Christians or like myself have had some imputes” and his reason for that is that, “out of 197 legislatures in Missouri state legislature, 163 house members and 34 senate members, there are over a thousand registered lobbyists and of those registered lobbyists virtually every one of them comes from some special interest where some kind of money is being involved, we want to make sure that family values don’t get lost in the cracks.” He would do this by looking at broad rang of issues, evaluating them especially on what impact they would have on family life in Missouri and thus brings this perspectives to lawmakers attention.

The geometrical advances in biomedical research especially in the recent past have generated a lively public debate on the morality of embryonic stem cell research and human cloning across the country. Indeed, the embryonic stem cell research, which uses cells found in three- to five-day-old human embryos to seek cures for a host of chronic diseases, which many will see as "building blocks of nature." Though the discovery that offers the hope of cures for chronic and debilitating conditions, such as juvenile diabetes, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, spinal cord injuries and blindness to many patients and families is for Messer, a lee way to delivering the word of God before various committees in the statehouse.

In fact, to many other liberalists who would vehemently oppose his stand on stem cell research and his attempts to introduce religion outside the box, without apology, the religious lobbyist even amidst politicians insist, “I am not trying to push anything on anybody as far as religion is concern but from that open bias which am willing to admit, I do believe I have the right in this country to step into the public square and advocate for what I and my constituency, those within the Christian community believe public policies should be on variety of subjects” With his open bias, Kerry would oppose such legislation to the later. His opposition and perhaps his introduction of religious beliefs in to the statehouse could be supported by the fact according to him, “The constitution of our country and as well our state recognizes everybody’s religious liberties, at the same time, the state itself as well as the nation does not have a state religion.”

On other sensitive issues like abortion, which obviously about 36 years after the U.S. Supreme Court's historic Roe v. Wade decision granted a woman the constitutional right to terminate her pregnancy, Kerry would not allow such court verdict to sleep in limbo. Though views about the issue vary among Americans and as it thus to the rest of the world, with a great majority debating whether or not life begins at contraception. Missouri Legislation on this recurrent hot topic of this nature has constantly star the pot and defined Kerry Messer as a pro-lifer. In his Gospel of Life, Messer would leave no stone un turn defending the rights of the unborn, doing exactly what his clients (Missouri Baptist Convention – Christian Life Commission, Americans United for Life (nation’s oldest legal pro-life organization), Alliance for Life (network of Pregnancy Resource Centers & agencies) would expect of him. Resolutely he would not consider exceptions even for cases of rape, incest or some sort of malformation during prenatal development. His faith belief on abortion gives credence to what Pope John Paul II said, "Human embryos obtained in vitro are human beings and are subjects with rights; their dignity and right to life must be respected from the first moment of their existence." For Kerry abortion is bad and according to him, “we must tell the people about it.”

Another issue that keeps Kerry working round the clock at the capitol building is gay marriage and homosexual practices. Kerry lobbies and opposes legislations on gay marriage as well. For him gay marriage and homosexual orientations are neither genetically determined nor valid alternative lifestyles. Therefore, Mr. Messer the husband of Lynn M. Messer, father of two sons (Aarron & Abram) and eight grandchildren who also serve in the ministry of Missouri Family Network believes that advocacy for such (gay marriage and homosexuality) “undermines traditional marriage”. He views such practices as changing the culture negatively which his constituency is raising their children.

As a lay minister, he also lobbies for small church communities on issues of social impact. Kerry makes sure that the legislatures do not pass bills into law that would make the lives of these worshiping faith communities unbearable, if not impossible to exist. Talking specifically on the current water well regulations going in the statehouse, he says, “I am working on legislation that would exempt church houses of worship from these water well regulations”.

Walking along the length and breath of the capitol building where money plays the “magic role,” the religious lobbyist acknowledges the servitude nature of this oxymoron. “Money is very involved,” he says. Though he further states, “I do not have the kind of money it takes to buy influence, I am a poor lobbyist, I am the only Lobbyist I know that legislatures take to launch.“ Nevertheless, he lobbies very often by building enviable relationship with the legislatures instead of using money. Messer Kerry’s strategies of lobbying boldly speak out by admonishing citizens and rebuking vices, reminding the people of the need for moral rectitude, compassion and the transitory nature of our existence.