Marriage Amendment Opponents Conduct Phonathon at Northfield Church

If a South Metro resident received a phone call concerning Minnesota’s proposed marriage constitutional amendment this past weekend, that call probably originated in Northfield.

First United Church of Christ of Northfield played host on Saturday to a phonathon conducted by Minnesotans United for All Families.

On Nov. 6, Minnesotans will vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that would define marriage as between a man and a woman, which would limit marriage to opposite sex couples.

Minnesotans United is the official campaign opposed to the proposed amendment.

Phonathon organizers said early Saturday afternoon that volunteers were on pace to make more than 3,000 calls to registered voters in Rice, Dakota, Scott and Goodhue counties before the event ended at 4 p.m. Volunteers hoped to discuss the amendment and its potential ramifications with at least 300 of those voters.

Roughly 60 volunteers—with cell phones, caller lists and scripts in hand—made calls from the basement of the Union Street church. Most of those volunteers were making calls for Minnesota United for the first time.

A majority of the volunteers are students at Carleton and St. Olaf colleges.

Before being permitted to make calls, first-time volunteers attended an orientation in First UCC’s sanctuary. Those receiving instructions could be seen practicing their scripts while seated in the pews.

First UCC—which has expressed its opposition to the marriage amendment by placing an orange Minnesotans United sign in its front lawn and affixing a black-and-red “Vote No” sign to the front of the church—is no stranger to hosting calling events for amendment opponents. Since May, volunteers have made calls from the church every Tuesday and Sunday. Typically, about 20 volunteers make calls during each of those sessions.

While those twice-weekly calling sessions are expected to continue until Election Day, Minnesotans United is scheduled to conduct another phonathon later this month at Carleton College.

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