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American Family Outing Seeks to Dispel Divisive Tactics

Austin, TX (PRWEB) April 10, 2008

On Thursday, April 3, 2008, The Gay City News reported on a Family Research Council (FRC) fundraising letter devoted to the American Family Outing, a project that aims to create dialogue between lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) families and members at six American mega-churches. The letter, dated March 2008 and signed by FRC President Tony Perkins, asks for $ 50,000 to create “Church Crisis Response Teams” to react to same-sex couples and their children who have expressed a desire to attend church and share a meal with families at the mega-churches between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day 2008.

“The frantic tone of the letter is a testament to the vital need for the American Family Outing. For too long, fear and dehumanization have kept people of faith divided over issues of sexual-orientation and gender-identity,” says Jeff Lutes, Soulforce Executive Director. The American Family Outing is a collaboration between Soulforce, COLAGE, the National Black Justice Coalition, and the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.

In late 2007, the four partner organizations wrote letters to:

    Rev. Joel Osteen and the Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas
    Bishop T.D. Jakes and The Potter’s House in Dallas, Texas
    Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr. and Hope Christian Church in Beltsville, Maryland
    Bishop Eddie Long and New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Lithonia, Georgia
    Rev. Bill Hybels and Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois
    Dr. Rick Warren and Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California.
The letters set a date when the LGBT families will attend a worship service. The letters also invite each Pastor “to match our families with an equal number of families from your congregation” for a meal and conversation.

In contrast to the alarm bells sounded by Perkins, reaction from the churches and America’s diverse evangelical community has been more positive.

“We want those Christian brothers and sisters who have read terrible untruths about us to meet us and to know who we really are. We are those children of God who happen not to be straight and their straight allies who, like myself, grieve the fact that those who judge us do not really know us,” says Peggy Campolo, Baptist author and editor.

Campolo is one of several Christian leaders who are helping The American Family Outing reach out to the six mega-churches. Other clergy supporters include Rev. Jay Bakker, son of Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Bakker-Messner, Rev. Gil Caldwell, Rev. Phil Lawson, and Rev. Troy Sanders.

Although The American Family Outing is a collaborative effort, the Family Research Council fundraising letter named only COLAGE, a social justice organization for children, youth, and adults with LGBTQ parents.

“Tony Perkins probably knows, as well as we do, that when children, youth and families speak truth to power, we expose the injustice of the Family Research Council’s discriminatory agenda,” shared Beth Teper, COLAGE Executive Director. “His letter and fundraising ploy demonstrate the great significance of a simple invitation — for six mega-church communities to meet our members and hear our message of acceptance and unity.”

Soulforce is a national civil rights and social justice organization. Our vision is freedom for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people from religious and political oppression through the practice of relentless nonviolent resistance.

The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (UFMCC) is an international fellowship of Christian churches with a special ministry to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.

The National Black Justice Coalition(NBJC) is a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black same-gender-loving, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people. The Coalition works with our communities and our allies for social justice, equality, and an end to racism and homophobia.

COLAGE is a national movement of children, youth and adults with one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer parents. We build community and work toward social justice through youth empowerment, leadership development, education, and advocacy.

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Who Is The Unworthy Servant?

Las Vegas, NV (Vocus) September 27, 2010

Aaron Finkelstein turned to his friend’s cultic religious group for fellowship and a spiritual experience. That he found, but his pursuit of a personal relationship with God became a trek through a maze of legalism and confusion of doctrine. He discovered that though this cult is stricter than mainline Christianity as it insists on a homeless, penniless, and celibate ministry, some indecent and illegal practices are overlooked when convenient. Has he truly found the right Way? Readers are about to find out in author Bob Williston’s The Unworthy Servant.

Aaron is a young man from a Los Angeles beach community with prospects of a career as a high school history teacher. After an unusual awakening one night, however, he feels driven to inquire into the religious association of Nico, his best friend from high school and college days. And thus begins his adventure, or misadventure, through the inner circles of the new religious group commonly referred to as the Way. Throughout the story, Aaron will meet interesting characters who would prove that the Way may not all what it seems to be or preach. There’s Chester, the servant from South America whose gospel impressed Aaron sufficiently for him to consider investing his life savings in the Way and pursuing a life of preaching instead of teaching; Trent, a young preacher who has been raised in the Way and befriended Aaron at his first retreat and who is a closet gay; Floyd, the aloof and stodgy gentleman in his nineties who has directed the affairs of the Way for decades. Along the way, Aaron also meets Ted, the kindly preacher companion who is well versed in servant etiquette but performs poorly as a tutor of scripture and doctrine; Bart, the egotistical and controlling hellfire and brimstone servant with whom Aaron has wrestled mentally and emotionally for a year; Norman, Aaron’s first preacher protégé who frustrates his tolerance. There’s also Victor, the crafty millionaire and prominent Way member who shows no compunction in using his wealth to manipulate everyone to his advantage; Marty, the unruly college student who could never resist the urge to investigate what’s meant to remain hidden; Clay, the criminal defense attorney the servants hate to need but for some reason could not disown completely.

Being a Jew who also had been parented by a Muslim, Aaron has surprisingly less shared background with other Way members than many would expect. He turns out to be a novelty, a curiosity, and a celebrity as a convert to the Way. But it soon becomes apparent that as an individual and a preacher he is a bit of a maverick—and somewhat more charismatic than the hierarchy appreciates. Because he would not denounce anything he had inherited of value from his previous life, he has to be gotten rid of. But even that proves somewhat more of a problem than they are used to handling. The Unworthy Servant is sure to rivet readers from beginning to end.

This book will be featured in the Frankfurt International Book Fair in Frankfurt, Germany on October 6-10, 2010. For more information on this book, log on to Xlibris.com.

About the Author

Bob Williston was raised in Miramichi, New Brunswick, and is a graduate of the University of New Brunswick. He has studied the cultic practices of new religious groups, has published articles on spiritual and emotional abuse, and writes from personal insight into the social structures and interpersonal dynamics of such groups. This is his second novel about the Way. He is presently working on a third novel about the same religious group. He lives in Las Vegas, Nevada with his family and teaches Character Education at a middle school for troubled adolescents.

The Unworthy Servant * by Bob Williston

Publication Date: June 11, 2008

Trade Paperback; $ 23.99; 405 pages; 978-1-4363-3611-6

Trade Hardback; $ 34.99; 405 pages; 978-1-4363-3612-3

Members of the media who wish to review this book may request a complimentary paperback copy by contacting the publisher at (888) 795-4274 x. 7879. To purchase copies of the book for resale, please fax Xlibris at (610) 915-0294 or call (888) 795-4274 x. 7879.

For more information on self-publishing or marketing with Xlibris, visit http://www.Xlibris.com . To receive a free publishing guide, please call (888) 795-4274.

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
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Got Moms?: Intersections International Launches Campaign to Unite One Million Christians for LGBT Equality with Video Welcoming Gay Families in Church This Mother’s Day

Want more info on Believe Out Loud? http://www.believeoutloud.com/

New York, NY (PRWEB) May 05, 2011

His mothers are teaching him to treat everyone the same. Just like Jesus did. His church should too.

Determined to give voice to the millions of Christians who believe in equal rights for all, including the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered (LGBT) community, Believe Out Loud, a project of Intersections International, is today launching a campaign to get one million Christians to break the silence and join the burgeoning chorus for full LGBT equality in the church.

Progressive Christians across numerous denominations believe that Jesus’ message of justice, compassion and love compels them to be fully welcoming of all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. Now is the time to speak up and remind the world that it is possible to be Christian AND believe in LGBT inclusion. This Mother’s Day, Believe Out Loud is inviting mothers and children everywhere to break the silence.

“To celebrate the diversity of all families, we chose Mother’s Day to kick-off this campaign,” said Sung Park, Program Director of Believe Out Loud. “Mothers teach us to value everyone equally, to treat others the way we would like to be treated. Jesus also taught us that. What better day than Mother’s Day to remind people of this universal value.”

To help get the word out, Believe Out Loud is releasing a video that is both heart-warming and thought-provoking, demonstrating why Christians cannot remain silent on the issue of LGBT inclusion. “Our hope is to encourage people to break the silence and show their support for LGBT persons by opening their church doors to embrace everyone,” said Rev. Robert Chase, Founding Director of Intersections International. “This video is an effective tool to start a conversation among those who may need encouragement in ‘coming out’ with their beliefs that LGBT persons deserve equality in the church and wider society.”

The release of the video comes at a critical time in the debate regarding LGBT inclusion in the church. The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) is just weeks away from ratifying a resolution for LGBT ordination. This will be a huge milestone in realizing LGBT equality in the Christian community.

Rev. Susan Sparks, who was raised as a Southern Baptist and is now Senior Pastor at the Madison Avenue Baptist Church in New York, strongly believes in the mission of Believe Out Loud. “As Christians,” she said, “we have a moral obligation to follow the teachings of Christ who welcomed everyone to the banquet table. Believe Out Loud is helping us live that mandate.”

Believe Out Loud is an unprecedented coalition of the nation’s leading religious and secular LGBT organizations, including the Human Rights Campaign (HRC); Gays & Lesbians Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD); the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force; Progressive Christians Uniting; Christian Community Inc.; The Religious Institute; Many Voices; The Association for Welcoming and Affirming Baptists (American Baptist Church USA); Gay, Lesbian and Affirming Disciples Alliance (Christian Church/Disciples of Christ); Integrity USA (Episcopal Church); Lutherans Concerned (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America); More Light Presbyterians (Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)); The Coalition for LGBT Concerns (United Church of Christ); and The Reconciling Ministries Network (United Methodist Church).

Intersections International is a multi-cultural, multi-faith, global initiative of the Collegiate Church of New York, the oldest corporation in North America dating back to 1628. Dedicated to building respectful relationships among diverse individuals and communities, Intersections works to forge common ground and develop strategies that promote justice, reconciliation, and peace.

For more information, please visit http://www.believeoutloud.com or http://www.facebook.com/believeoutloud.

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©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

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National Tour of Christian Colleges Faces Harassment, Anti-gay Slurs in the Heartland

Sioux Center, IA, and South Bend, IN (PRWEB) March 12, 2007

In the first two days of Equality Ride 2007, the 50 young Riders faced grim reminders of why they are on 2 buses, headed for 32 Christian colleges with policies that silence or exclude lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender students. Six Riders were arrested on Friday, March 9, for walking onto the University of Notre Dame campus in a show of support for gay and lesbian equality.

The Riders were joined by two Notre Dame students, Eddie Velazquez and a graduate Theology student who requested anonymity, as they walked two by two carrying flowered wreaths intended for a campus memorial to Tom Dooley, a gay alumnus of Notre Dame who served in silence as a doctor in the Navy. The Equality Ride’s mission is to open a dialogue at Christian colleges about the painful consequences of discrimination and the religion-based prejudice that sustains it.

Previously, on March 8, Notre Dame campus police had issued trespass warnings to two Riders for speaking with students in the cafeteria. Those Riders were the first arrested Friday for misdemeanor criminal trespassing. The other four Soulforce participants were given written citations and then arrested on the same charges after attempting to continue their walk. Velazquez and the graduate student received an “official summons subject to immediate suspension” from campus officials. They were able to deliver one of the three wreaths to the Dooley memorial site.

“As a gay Catholic man who was once in seminary, I walked onto Notre Dame today to help make my church a universal church. I did as Jesus Christ did and went all the way for love,” said Rider Delfin Bautista who helped organize the stop in South Bend.

The arrested include: Haven Herrin, Delfin Bautista, Jess Kalup, Kelsey Pacha, Dan Seda, and Mike Cramer. They were released within hours with a ticket to appear in court at a later date.

Notre Dame remains at the top of a list of least gay-friendly schools according to a Princeton Review survey of students at the college. AllianceND, an LGBT student group, has been denied official status as a student organization: Official student organizations may not be in conflict with the teachings of the Catholic church, which holds that homosexual orientation is “a more or less strong tendency ordered toward an intrinsic moral evil.”

Two days earlier, on March 7, the eastbound Equality Ride bus made its first stop in Sioux Center, Iowa. Riders were harassed at their hotel that evening and awoke on the morning of March 8 to find their bus defaced by graphic anti-gay graffiti.

The Equality Ride traveled to Sioux Center to visit Dordt College, a school whose student handbook identifies “sexual activity with someone of the same gender” as possible grounds for “an employee’s discharge or a student’s dismissal.”

The bus full of young adults, including former students of conservative Christian colleges, straight allies and gay evangelical Christians, arrived in Sioux Center in the early evening. On the night of March 7th, three vehicles circled the hotel where the Equality Riders were staying, harassing the young adults who were staying inside. In the morning, anti-gay slurs were found written on the side of the bus, along with a hate-filled message on a piece of cardboard: “God does not love feary f****.”

Last year, the Equality Ride received a similar welcome in Cleveland, TN. There community members wrote “fags-mobile” on the side of the bus. Katie Higgins, co-director of the Eastbound bus and a rider from last year commented, “This is the reality created by fear and misunderstanding. It saddens me that people have such hatred in their hearts, but this just demonstrates why we feel called to spread our message of the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings.”

In spite of the harassment, the Equality Riders remained undeterred in their determination to bring a message of inclusion and academic freedom to Dordt College. They visited the college to have conversations with students about faith and sexual orientation. Many Riders spoke from personal experience about the pain of discrimination. During the visit, Dordt’s President publicly apologized for the harassment that the Riders experienced in Sioux Center.

Both buses will continue their journey on March 12. The westbound bus will stop at Wisconsin Lutheran College in Milwaukee, Wisc. The school has agreed to a limited off-campus meeting but has yet to welcome the Soulforce Equality Ride for discussion of faith and gay and lesbian issues and may arrest Riders for walking on campus. The eastbound bus will visit Central Bible College in Springfield, Mo.

Soulforce Q is the young adult division of Soulforce, a social justice organization that works to end political and religious oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people. For more information, go to http://www.equalityride.com.

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

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Book Alleges Secularists Are Waging War on Traditional Values

Longwood, FL (PRWEB) July 26, 2008

Over the last two decades, Christian author Scot A. Goodroe has seen the decline of social development and moral standards in our nation, which he says is handicapping our next generation of hope. That’s why he put pen to paper and produced America’s Sustainability ($ 9.99, paperback, 978-1-60647-090-9), a new Xulon Press release that alerts readers of the need to get back to the foundational truths on which this country was built. This book will rally all Christians together in order to win the battle currently being waged by the secularists on traditional values.

Says Goodroe, “Our founding fathers’ intent was to recognize God as our authority in establishing and preserving our nation. Separation of church and state does not exist in our constitution. Christians have a key role in sustaining America for our children and grandchildren.”

Christians have but to take action, the author notes. With approximately 82% of the nation’s population Christian, it is anybody’s guess how secularism has gained a foothold. “If Christians would be as active as the gay movement, pro-abortionists, and secularists of this nation, Christians would win every moral battle today,” he says. “Those movements have been successful because the majority of their minority groups are active. The majority of Christians are not active, and therefore we allow the minority groups of America to speak as though they are the majority.”

Scot A. Goodroe and his wife, Daren, reside in Sicklerville, New Jersey.

Xulon Press, a part of Salem Communications Corporation, is the world’s largest Christian publisher, with more than 5,000 titles published to date. Retailers may order America’s Sustainability through Ingram Book Company and/or Spring Arbor Book Distributors. Salem Communications is the country’s leading Christian communications company with interests in radio, Internet, and magazine publishing.

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, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.

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“Black, Gay & Christian” Author Makes Atlanta And Los Angeles Debut With Book Signing And Discussion Events

Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) March 11, 2004

PRESS RELEASE

Date: Immediate

Primary Contact:

Herndon L. Davis

blackgaychristian@yahoo.com

Voice: 770-323-1544

http://blackgaychristian.com

“Black, Gay & Christian” Author Makes Atlanta And Los Angeles Debut With Book Signing And Discussion Events

ATLANTA — The nationwide book tour for Herndon L. Davis’ controversial new book “Black, Gay & Christian” kicks off in Atlanta and Los Angeles a week a part and promises to bring dynamic discussion and accompanying workshops dealing with the issues of spirituality, sexuality and the politics which surround it within the black community.

Released in late February, “Black Gay & Christian” is a 16 chapter gay/lesbian affirming, biblically based, spiritual empowerment tool geared towards the entire black community, and not just gays/lesbians. (http://blackgaychristian.com).

The book’s author, Herndon L. Davis emphasizes that “this book is one of joy and inspiration as it deals not only with the deeply rooted spiritual and cultural issues of the duality of being both black and gay/lesbian, it also targets the non-affirming black clergy and families in assisting them in their ministry and love towards their gay/lesbian loved ones and parishioners.”

Davis adds that “this book also touches upon and speaks up for many contemporary social black gay/lesbian issues such as parenting, homophobia on the job, and even managing personal finances, directly from a black gay/lesbian perspective.”

As the Gay Marriage debate continues to swirl in the epicenter of various political, religious and cultural arenas, there is also an equally forceful initiative mounted by conservatives vying for votes from the Black Church and community in order to form an alliance against it. Hence, “Black, Gay & Christian” falls squarely in the line of fire voicing the opinions, concerns and life experiences of black gay/lesbians who have traditionally led either a closeted or “don’t ask, don’t tell” existence.

Books will be available for purchase and can also be ordered online for $ 16 at http://blackgaychristian.om. The Atlanta and Los Angeles Book Signing Event dates are as follows:

Atlanta

Saturday March 20, 2004, 6-8pm

Bulldogs Bar, 893 Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA

404-872-3025

http://bulldogsbar.com

Los Angeles

Matais, Books, Cards and Arts, 7pm

3202 E. Broadway

Long Beach, CA

562-434-1180

http://www.matais.com

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©Copyright 1997-

, Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.
Vocus, PRWeb, and Publicity Wire are trademarks or registered trademarks of Vocus, Inc. or Vocus PRW Holdings, LLC.