First United Church of Tampa, UCC

PRESS RELEASE
March 18, 2007

First United Church of Tampa SUPPORTS Largo City Manager Steve (Susan) Stanton.

RESOLUTION CALLING FOR THE REINSTATEMENT OF LARGO CITY MANAGER STEVE (SUSAN) STANTON

(Approved unanimously by the Church Council of First United Church of Tampa on March 18, 2007.)

Note: This press release was issued a few months before Susan Stanton legally changed her name. The press release appears here in its original form.

WHEREAS on February 28, 2007, the City Commission of Largo, Florida, voted 5-2 to begin the process of firing Steve (Susan) Stanton by placing him on administrative leave when it was revealed that he would begin the process of sexual reassignment surgery;

WHEREAS on June 19, 2005, the Church Council of First United Church of Tampa unanimously opposed the gay pride ban enacted by the County Commission of Hillsborough County;

WHEREAS First United Church of Tampa, a congregation of the United Church of Christ founded in 1885, has a long history of standing in solidarity with those who are oppressed and marginalized;

WHEREAS First United Church of Tampa is an Open and Affirming congregation that believes that persons of all sexual orientations and gender identities have gifts and talents to offer the church;

WHEREAS all persons are created in God’s image (Genesis 1:26);

WHEREAS Jesus Christ calls us to be welcoming to one another (Matthew 10:40);

WHEREAS General Synod 24 of the United Church of Christ passed a resolution entitled "Affirming the Participation and Ministry of Transgender People within the United Church of Christ and Supporting Their Civil and Human Rights";

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Church Council of First United Church of Tampa calls upon the City of Largo to fully reinstate Steve Stanton to his position as City Manager and hold the city true to its slogan as the "City of Progress";

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Church Council of First United Church of Tampa commends Mayor Pat Gerard and Commissioner Rodney Woods for voting against placing Steve (Susan) Stanton on administrative leave;

THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Church Council of First United Church of Tampa states its opposition to the potential firing of Steve (Susan) Stanton and expresses its solidarity with any peaceful actions aimed at reinstating him to his position of City Manager for the City of Largo.