Contributor

The Second Chances campaign today announced statewide support from faith leaders for Amendment 4. Currently, 1.4 million people in Florida, who have served their time and paid their debts to society, are permanently excluded from voting. Amendment 4 restores a person’s eligibility to vote after they have paid their full debt to society, and gives them an opportunity for redemption and a chance to be full members of their community.

Faith leaders from across the Sunshine State teach lessons of forgiveness, redemption, and restoration, and are prepared to vote Yes on Amendment 4 in November. Here’s what faith-based leaders from all parts of the Sunshine State are saying:

Ash Mason is the former Chairman of the Christian Coalition of Florida. He said, “At my church we engage with everyone regardless of their past because we know forgiveness comes to those who seek it. Amendment 4 gives a second chance to our fellow community members who have repaid society.”

Bishop Keith Robinson leads the Miracle Deliverance Healing Revival Center, Church of God in Christ, which services the communities of Richmond Heights, Perrine, Naranja, and Homestead in Florida. Bishop Robinson said, “As Christians, we often celebrate people’s redemption stories. We celebrate people having a second chance. We rejoice as they grow and change from their old way of life. I think that needs to go beyond churches and beyond faith communities. Amendment 4 gives us this chance and impacts people in all areas of their life.”

Bishop Angel Marcial of the Church of God is based in Tampa, Florida. Bishop Marcial said, “El comprometimiento y la unidad son una parte integral de la fe y del camino que Dios ha dispuesto ante nosotros. Las personas que han cometido errores en el pasado deben tener la oportunidad de pertenecer de lleno a sus comunidades, una vez que han pagado completamente sus deudas con la sociedad. La Enmienda 4 otorga esa oportunidad y nos afecta a todos en nuestra comunidad.”

Translation: “Community engagement and unity are an integral part of faith and the path that God has set before us. People who have made past mistakes ought to have the chance to fully engage in their communities once they have paid their full debts to society. Amendment 4 grants that opportunity and affects everyone in our community.

Rabbi Gale Pomerantz serves the congregation at Temple Beth Sholom in Miami Beach, Florida. She said, “I believe that Floridians should vote yes on Amendment 4 because we all need second chances. As a rabbi, the premise of what we teach in Judaism is Teshuva – which means having a second chance, and Amendment 4 speaks directly to that. In November, we should vote yes for second chances and yes on Amendment 4.”

Chad Woolf is the Lead Pastor at Christ Community Church in Fort Myers, Florida. Chad said, “As a follower of Jesus, I have learned to trust God and trust in his forgiveness. When we make mistakes and fall down, we all have the choice to get back up. Amendment 4 is the second chance so many of our community members have earned by repaying their debts.”

Minister Danielle Joseph teaches at the Kissimmee Haitian Church of God in Kissimmee, Florida. She said, “I am a minister but, first of all, I am a Christian. I believe that God wants us to have a second chance with Him and throughout our lives. We are not meant to live within the consequences of sin forever, and redemption means that we paid the price and can start over. Forgiveness, redemption, and second chances – that is what Amendment 4 is all about.”

Pastor C. Marcel Davis is the Senior Pastor of Adoration for a New Beginning Church, which has campuses in Tallahassee and Pensacola, Florida. He said, “At my church, I talk a lot about the second chance that we have. One of the most joyous times we have as a church is when we celebrate baptisms. I would like that to apply, not just to a person’s spiritual condition, but to apply to every part of their life. Through Amendment 4 a person can work hard, do what is asked of them, pay their debt to society, and regain their eligibility to vote.”

Pastor John Daniels, originally from Havana, Florida, leads the Outpouring Orlando Church. Pastor Daniels said, “As a Christian, I think Amendment 4 is an important issue. The Gospel teaches us that we are all guilty of sin but Christ died for His own. He redeemed us and therefore we benefit by having a second chance. Amendment 4 offers redemption, restoration, and ultimately, a second chance.”

Bishop José Renato Ramos serves the Church of God House of Refuge in Miami Gardens, Florida. Bishop Ramos said, “La Enmienda 4 es importante porque afecta a gente de todas las maneras de vivir. Como pastor, yo tengo la ocasión de pasar tiempo con las personas durante sus momentos más íntimos y vulnerables. Bien sea que sean ricos o pobres, bien educados o sin educación, independientemente de su raza, su género o sus creencias, la gente comete errores y toma decisiones equivocadas. Es importante que ofrezcamos perdón a aquellos que ya han pagado por su error.”

Translation: “Amendment 4 is important because it affects people from all walks of life. As a pastor, I get to spend time with people during their most intimate and vulnerable moments. Whether you are rich or poor, well-educated or have no education – regardless of race, gender or belief – people make mistakes and make poor choices. It is important that we offer forgiveness to those that have paid for their mistake.”

Ken Dewalt is a United Methodist pastor that retired to sunny Southwest Florida 4 years. He said, “Faith teaches us that God forgives those who make mistakes so long as they seek forgiveness and atonement. This is taught throughout the Bible and a lesson I taught when I was the Lead Pastor of Hope Church in Douglassville, Pennsylvania, and now try to exhibit as a retired United Methodist pastor attending Alva UMC near Fort Myers, Florida. It’s time for forgiveness to be realized. Vote YES on amendment 4.”

Lisa Fields is the Founder and CEO of the Jude 3 project based in Jacksonville, which helps the Christian community know what they believe and why they believe it.Lisa said, “Everyone makes mistakes, and people who have made a past mistake come from every possible background. I engage with people of many diverse backgrounds within my church and community every day. Amendment 4 would improve the lives of people from all walks of life.”

Pastor A.D. Lenoir leads the Westview Baptist Church in Opa-Locka, Florida. He said, “Because we live in a fallen and broken world, it sometimes translates into broken processes and institutions. But, that does not mean that we leave them broken. As a faith leader, my job is to try to encourage people and drive people to make the changes that are necessary. Florida’s system for restoring a person’s eligibility to vote is broken. Amendment 4 is an opportunity to make a broken system right.”

To learn more about the Second Chances Campaign, please visit SecondChancesFL.org

Pd. pol. adv. paid for by Floridians for a Fair Democracy, Inc.,
3000 Gulf-to-Bay Blvd., Suite 503, Clearwater, FL 33759.