A Letter to our Congress

Honorable Elise M. Stefanik June 13, 2016

Member of Congress 21st District

120 Washington Street

Suite 200

Watertown, NY 13601

Good morning your Honor. I hope this letter is finding you well and at peace?

I wanted to thank you for your letter, dated May 27, 2016, welcoming me into your district. I know that these are typically form letters, but nonetheless, thank you! I appreciate your priorities that you spelled out as to serve and represent me as well as your constituents. With that in mind, I wanted to bring up an issue that has brought a great amount of sorrow to not only me and my wife, but to the people I serve as well. As you will notice at my signature, I am a Pastor here in a small village in Port Leyden, NY (Lewis County). This area, not only our village, but our county, is very loving and caring to all of its residences. It amazes me each and every day as a Pastor, as a voucher writer for the Salvation Army and an Executive Board member of the “Loving Lewis County” organization how much our county really loves its people. You see my wife and I moved to New York a little over 6 months ago from a small town in Southeast Ohio. We have lived in Central Florida as well as Southern Florida and no where have we experienced such a pouring out of love and kindness in an area such as this. This county is filled with great people; from Ministers, DSS workers, ARC workers, School Boards, Hospital Staff, Sheriffs and local police and Volunteer Fire departments, Health care workers, just to name a few.

The issue of concern as well as disgust is the order that was passed down from the President to force all School Districts to comply with his order to allow transgendered students in the bathroom that makes them feel comfortable. Let me tell you upfront. The issue behind this is not our lack of love for transgendered or gay students, but the idea that 1) we are forming rights for immoral behavior; 2) we are punishing or jeopardizing the welfare of students that do not have a problem with their sexual identity. Once more is that the amount of transgendered students really only make up for less than 1% of the student population and we are changing the rules for this small percentage to affect the mass majority. If there is any violation of rights, it’s this issue! Additionally, our President has issued a threat of pulling government funds if school boards don’t comply with this order. Mind you, it is not a law! At least, not yet!

Your Honor, I don’t know where you stand on the aisle (Republican or Democrat or Libertarian), quite frankly I do not care. I don’t see this as a political issue, but a moral dilemma and an avenue that will only bring a continued moral decay upon our society, upon our schools and upon our way of life. At a time of growing discomfort for Congress, the Senate, Judicial corruption, Executive Branch debauchery, I would think that now is the time to act on behalf of your people, instead of a political position. Now is the time to stand for the sake of righteousness and good morals on which this country was founded! I plead with you along with my fellow ministers and on behalf of our church members and a community that is growing concerned by the day. Please stand your ground on behalf of the majority of your people. Care less about popularity and your positioning and care more for the people that had confidence in you to vote for you….please! I don’t want this to sound harsh or insensitive, but urgent and in desperation.

Please Help!

In all Sincerity and compassion for the people of Lewis County,

Rev. Stephen (Steve) V. Bolin, Sr. Pastor New Covenant Church Port Leyden, NY 13433 Office/Parsonage: 315-348-5274 Cell: 740-243-4107