Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz broke his contract to speak at a conference at the Chicago-area mega-church Willow Creek Community Church because a few hundred people signed a petition threatening a Starbucks boycott saying the church is "anti-gay."
It would appear that Willow Creek's recent decision to break ties with Exodus International, the world’s largest ‘ex-gay’ ministry, wasn't enough.
For background, read Homosexual Activists Heading for Willow Creek This Weekend and also read Should Willow Creek Have Met With Soulforce? as well as Megachurches Targeted for Pro-Gay Campaign
-- From "Starbucks CEO cancels Willow Creek speech" by Rachel Zoll, Associated Press Religion Writer 8/11/11
Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz canceled an appearance at one of the most prominent megachurches in the country after an online petition condemned the congregation as anti-gay — a charge the church denies.
Schultz had been scheduled to speak Friday at the Global Leadership Summit organized by the Willow Creek Association, based in South Barrington. The annual event draws tens of thousands of viewers via satellite. Past speakers have included former President Bill Clinton, GE’s Jack Welch and rock singer Bono.
The petition at Change.org accused the megachurch of “anti-gay persecution” over Willow Creek’s past relationship with Exodus International, a Christian ministry that offers to help gays and lesbians change their sexual orientation. Willow Creek cut ties with Exodus in 2009, church spokeswoman Susan DeLay said.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Global Leadership Summit coming to Willow Creek" posted at The Daily Herald 8/5/11
Willow Creek’s Global Leadership Summit . . . will be held this week at the South Barrington church, with 8,000 expected to attend.
The summit Thursday and Friday, Aug. 11-12, will be transmitted live via satellite to 185 locations throughout the U.S. and videocast to more than 270 cities internationally in the fall, reaching 165,000 people.
In an era where businesses, nonprofits and churches need strong leadership to figure out how to say afloat, it’s focused training events like this that can help leaders navigate the difficult waters of leading in times of turmoil. It has a 16-year history of training church leaders, and leaders in industry, the arts, service organizations, nonprofits and public service.
Other speakers include: Dr. Henry Cloud, a clinical psychologist, leadership consultant, and best-selling author; Len Schlesinger, president of Babson College, Harvard professor, former vice chair of Limited Brands; Rev. Dr. Brenda Salter McNeil, founder and president of Salter McNeil & Associates, a Chicago-based leadership development organization; Michelle Rhee, founder of StudentsFirst.org; and Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Willow Creek Mega-Church Cuts Ties With Exodus Outreach to 'Gays'" by Dave Bohon, The New American 7/25/11
Willow Creek officials said the move has more to do with the church’s overall ministry approach than to a change in its view on homosexuality, which has been traditionally viewed by Christians as sinful. . . .
While Willow Creek made the decision to sever its relationship with Exodus in 2009, the decision became widely known only in June. . . .
. . . Alan Chambers, president of Exodus International, said that Willow Creek’s move reflected an emerging tendency among some evangelicals to shy away from dealing with controversial issues. . . .
Throughout the 1980s and ’90s, Exodus enjoyed a close ministry relationship with Willow Creek . . .
But that all changed after Willow Creek’s head pastor, Bill Hybels, agreed to a meeting in 2008 with members of SoulForce, a homosexual activist group that specifically targets churches and Christian organizations. According to the Chicago Tribune, Hybels was one of the nation’s few mega-church pastors who had agreed to meet with the homosexual group. Others, including Joel Osteen, pastor of the massive Lakewood Church in Houston, did not respond to SoulForce’s request for a sit-down.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Willow Creek Drops Exodus International, 'Ex-Gay' Ministry" by Rev. Dr. Cindi Love, Executive Director, Soulforce - Huffington Post 7/22/11
Today is a red letter day at Soulforce, where I work. We practice relentless nonviolent resistance to religious oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, their families and allies. One of the organizations with whom we have worked, Willow Creek Community Church, has finally ended its formal relationship with Exodus International.
In 2008-2009, Soulforce was on the Willow Creek campus to meet with Pastor Bill Hybels to encourage his congregation to cease its prominent partnership with Exodus, which included "equipping events" at the church to help Willow Creek leaders and other local pastors work with those experiencing same-sex attraction.
Those of us who long for the Church Universal to equip its saints in the walk of peace and justice and inclusion are celebrating today that Willow Creek has found a door in the wall of religious bigotry and walked through it in such a public way.
Thank you, Pastor Bill. Thank you, Willow Creek Elders and Congregants. May the movement of the Holy Spirit continue within your community and one day may we all share a meal at the same Table of Grace.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Willow Creek Church Is Not Anti-Gay, Pastor Clarifies" by Alex Murashko, Christian Post Reporter 8/12/11
. . . Pastor Bill Hybels said on the first day of the annual Willow Creek Leadership Summit . . . “In the last seven days an online petition started to boycott Starbucks if Howard Schultz did not cancel his signed contract to this event. The issue driving this petition, which so far has been signed by 717 people, is homosexuality. The petition claims that Willow Creek Community Church is anti-gay. Therefore, if the president of Starbucks speaks here then Starbucks should be boycotted, or so the thinking goes.”
“The mat at every door on this campus has always read ‘welcome.’ . . . So, to suggest that we check sexual orientation or any other kind of issue at our doors is simply not true. Just ask the hundreds of people with same-sex attraction who attend our church every week.”
The senior pastor went on to clarify the church’s stance on homosexuality.
“Now, what is true is that we challenge homosexuals and heterosexuals to live out the sexual ethics taught in the scriptures which encourages full sexual expression between a man and a woman in the context of marriage and prescribes sexual abstinence and purity for everybody else.”
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Showing posts with label Willow Creek. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Willow Creek. Show all posts
Friday, August 12, 2011
Monday, July 19, 2010
Liberal Media Claim Evangelicals Back Obama on Immigration
According to the New York Times, "immigration overhaul . . . supporters have unleashed a secret weapon: a group of influential evangelical Christian leaders." However, any such Christians will "jump ship" if the immigration bill includes national recognition of same-sex "marriage."
UPDATE 6/17/11: Southern Baptists back 'path to legal status' for undocumented immigrants
-- From "Obama Wins Unlikely Allies in Immigration" by Laurie Goodstein, New York Times 7/18/10
Normally on the opposite side of political issues backed by the Obama White House, these [evangelical] leaders are aligning with the president to support an overhaul that would include some path to legalization for illegal immigrants already here. They are preaching from pulpits, conducting conference calls with pastors and testifying in Washington — as they did last Wednesday.
When President Obama gave a major address pushing immigration overhaul this month, he was introduced by a prominent evangelical, the Rev. Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois. Three other evangelical pastors were in the audience, front and center.
Their presence was a testament, in part, to the work of politically active Hispanic evangelical pastors, who have forged friendships with non-Hispanic pastors in recent years while working in coalitions to oppose abortion and same-sex marriage. The Hispanics made a concerted effort to convince their brethren that immigration reform should be a moral and practical priority.
Hispanic storefront churches are popping up in strip malls, and Spanish-speaking congregations are renting space in other churches. Some pastors, like Mr. Hybels, lead churches that include growing numbers of Hispanics. Several evangelical leaders said they were convinced that Hispanics are the key to growth not only for the evangelical movement, but also for the social conservative movement.
Although other religious leaders have long favored immigration overhaul — including Roman Catholics, mainline Protestants, Jews and Muslims — the evangelicals are crucial because they have the relationships and the pull with Republicans.
To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.
UPDATE 6/17/11: Southern Baptists back 'path to legal status' for undocumented immigrants
-- From "Obama Wins Unlikely Allies in Immigration" by Laurie Goodstein, New York Times 7/18/10
Normally on the opposite side of political issues backed by the Obama White House, these [evangelical] leaders are aligning with the president to support an overhaul that would include some path to legalization for illegal immigrants already here. They are preaching from pulpits, conducting conference calls with pastors and testifying in Washington — as they did last Wednesday.
When President Obama gave a major address pushing immigration overhaul this month, he was introduced by a prominent evangelical, the Rev. Bill Hybels of Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois. Three other evangelical pastors were in the audience, front and center.
Their presence was a testament, in part, to the work of politically active Hispanic evangelical pastors, who have forged friendships with non-Hispanic pastors in recent years while working in coalitions to oppose abortion and same-sex marriage. The Hispanics made a concerted effort to convince their brethren that immigration reform should be a moral and practical priority.
Hispanic storefront churches are popping up in strip malls, and Spanish-speaking congregations are renting space in other churches. Some pastors, like Mr. Hybels, lead churches that include growing numbers of Hispanics. Several evangelical leaders said they were convinced that Hispanics are the key to growth not only for the evangelical movement, but also for the social conservative movement.
Although other religious leaders have long favored immigration overhaul — including Roman Catholics, mainline Protestants, Jews and Muslims — the evangelicals are crucial because they have the relationships and the pull with Republicans.
To read the entire article, CLICK HERE.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Should Willow Creek Have Met With Soulforce?
What does the bible say about it?
From "Willow Creek Should Not Have Met With Soulforce" by Sonja Dalton, posted 6/16/08 at AmericansforTruth.org
A fundamental question has been lost amid the sensation over the recent meeting between Willow Creek leadership and pro-homosexuality activists affiliated with the group Soulforce:
Did Pastor Bill Hybels have Biblical authority to welcome, meet with, and dine with Jay Bakker and Soulforce?
First, let’s examine who these Willow Creek “guests” were…
Jay Bakker (right) is the cigarette-puffing, tattooed, punk-rocker son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker; he’s the star of the Sundance Channel series “One Punk Under God” and “pastor” of the “gay”-affirming Revolution NYC. He is quoted as having said:
“…I felt like God spoke to my heart and said ‘[homosexuality] is not a sin.’”
(You might want to pencil that into your Bible, somewhere near Leviticus 18:22 or I Corinthians 6:9-11. Or not.)
On Sunday, June 8th, Bakker served as the “clergy leader” for “The American Family Outing” — a group of homosexual, bisexual, and transgender “families” who imposed themselves upon Bill Hybels and Willow Creek Community Church. These counterfeit “families” are, in fact, “queer” and allied activists associated with Soulforce, whose website states:
“The mission of Soulforce is to cut off homophobia at its source – religious bigotry…”
The founder of Soulforce is Mel White, who left family and church to engage in homosexuality and who unabashedly preaches:
“I am gay. I am proud. And God loves me without reservation.”
(The question is, Mel, do you love God? For Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep my commandments.” John the Baptist taught: “Whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.”)
This is an excellent and very helpful commentary for understanding all the issues. To read the entire commentary CLICK HERE.
Subsequent to the meeting with Pr. Hybels, Soulforce activists reported in various news sources that Willow Creek leadership agrees with them about the following:
(1) Sexual orientation is unchangeable.This is, of course, very worrisome to faithful Christians. Did Willow Creek leadership really say this? What does Willow Creek leadership really believe regarding homosexuality? They have yet to issue a statement rebutting the homosexual activists' accounts of this meeting.
(2) "6 of the 7 verses used to condemn homosexuality are irrelevant; really referring to other things."
Please read the rest of this commentary and consider contacting Willow Creek leadership to respectfully ask them to set the record straight about what was said at that meeting and what their position on homosexuality really is.
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
Homosexual Activists Heading for Willow Creek This Weekend
From "The Gay Activists are Headed for Our Churches" by Harry R. Jackson Jr., posted 6/2/08 at Townhall.com
While their letters and discourse promised civility, we believed that the invitation carried a veiled threat of picketing or disruption if we did not “talk.” Because of our church’s activism in religious freedom disputes, I have received death threats and intimidating e-mails and phone calls from individual gay activists. In light of this history, our church had a feeling akin to those of US leaders who have to decide whether or not to negotiate with terrorists.
Homosexual behavior is NOT morally superior to other kinds of sexual sin - regardless of the acceptance it currently enjoys in our culture. In fact, God calls it an abomination - suggesting that He considers it a particularly serious offense.
SoulForce is composed of people who claim to be Christians yet promote what amounts to out and out rebellion to the clearly expressed will of God. The Bible is also clear about how we are to respond:
Interestingly enough, homosexual activists seem to understand what Pr. Hybels does not. Dialoging with "wolves in sheeps clothing" lends credibility - to the wolves...
Recently, an American Psychiatric Assoc. symposium on the subject of reparative therapy was canceled for precisely that reason. Homosexual activists protested because they did not want to lend credibility to the notion that change is possible for homosexuals. Homosexual activist Wayne Besen said this about it:
Not to waste a good PR opportunity, SoulForce is predictably spinning the event for all it's worth. Here are excerpts from an article from the SoulForce website [which has since been pulled down, since my/this Blog article was first posted].
Jay Bakker Leads LGBT Families to Sup with Willow Creek Church
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Pr. Hybels has entertained wolves. In April, he gave a platform to apostate emergent church leader, Brian McLaren, to address youth ministry leaders at the Shift conference. Read about it HERE.
It should be noted that Pr. Hybels is not the only mega-church pastor who has agreed to meet with SoulForce. Thus far, it appears 4 out of 6 mega-church pastors, have followed suit. See the SoulForce website for a progress report of furthering the gay agenda.
Pray for discernment and wisdom for our Christian leaders. They surely need it in the growing darkness...
While their letters and discourse promised civility, we believed that the invitation carried a veiled threat of picketing or disruption if we did not “talk.” Because of our church’s activism in religious freedom disputes, I have received death threats and intimidating e-mails and phone calls from individual gay activists. In light of this history, our church had a feeling akin to those of US leaders who have to decide whether or not to negotiate with terrorists.
Two Saturdays ago (May 24) the radical gay rights group, SoulForce, showed up at our church in Beltsville, MD for a “discussion/debate ” with our pastors. The next day their group of gay “families,” including children, attended one of our worship services. The group of 31 kept their word to act respectfully this time.
So why did they come to our church along with TD Jakes’ Potter’s House, Eddie Long’s New Birth Community Church, and Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church? And why are they going to Willow Creek Community Church and Saddleback Community Church? The answer is simple. Their goal is to force us to accept their lifestyle by slowly desensitizing us to their aberrant theology and practices. This change in tactics is an attempt to play the pity card. Continue reading...
Homosexual behavior is NOT morally superior to other kinds of sexual sin - regardless of the acceptance it currently enjoys in our culture. In fact, God calls it an abomination - suggesting that He considers it a particularly serious offense.
SoulForce is composed of people who claim to be Christians yet promote what amounts to out and out rebellion to the clearly expressed will of God. The Bible is also clear about how we are to respond:
But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindlers not even to eat with such a one. - I Corinthians 5:11
Interestingly enough, homosexual activists seem to understand what Pr. Hybels does not. Dialoging with "wolves in sheeps clothing" lends credibility - to the wolves...
Recently, an American Psychiatric Assoc. symposium on the subject of reparative therapy was canceled for precisely that reason. Homosexual activists protested because they did not want to lend credibility to the notion that change is possible for homosexuals. Homosexual activist Wayne Besen said this about it:
"The cancellation of this forum is welcome news because it gave the wrong impression that the American Psychiatric Association endorsed 'ex-gay' therapy, when, in fact, the organization soundly rejects such therapies."Likewise, Bill Hybels sitting down for a meal and dialogue with SoulForce gives the impression that the acceptance of homosexual behavior in the church is something worth discussing.
Not to waste a good PR opportunity, SoulForce is predictably spinning the event for all it's worth. Here are excerpts from an article from the SoulForce website [which has since been pulled down, since my/this Blog article was first posted].
Jay Bakker Leads LGBT Families to Sup with Willow Creek Church
(Chicago. IL) Jay Bakker, star of the Sundance Channel series One Punk Under God, will be the clergy leader for a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) and straight-ally families who will join Rev. Bill Hybels and members of his Willow Creek Community Church for a meal and conversation on Sunday, June 8, 2008.Sup? They make it sound like an intimate 'tete a tete' among friends. CLICK HERE to see Pr. Hybels' dining companions.
One of the dads coming to Willow Creek is Jeff Lutes, Executive Director of Soulforce. Lutes and his partner, Gary Stein, have three adopted children.
"Pastors like Bill Hybels are part of a new generation of evangelical leaders," says Lutes. "We're asking them to get to know us and our families, because -- looking beyond the things that divide us -- we believe that they can exercise a new kind of leadership by speaking out for the safety and inclusion of our families."
Also joining the church supper with Willow Creek will be Reverend Kevin Downer of Chicago's Metropolitan Community Church and his partner, Toby Bishop. In his ministry, Downer hears stories of LGBT members of Willow Creek who are denied opportunities to be of service because they are openly gay.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Pr. Hybels has entertained wolves. In April, he gave a platform to apostate emergent church leader, Brian McLaren, to address youth ministry leaders at the Shift conference. Read about it HERE.
It should be noted that Pr. Hybels is not the only mega-church pastor who has agreed to meet with SoulForce. Thus far, it appears 4 out of 6 mega-church pastors, have followed suit. See the SoulForce website for a progress report of furthering the gay agenda.
Pray for discernment and wisdom for our Christian leaders. They surely need it in the growing darkness...
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Willow Creek Conference Speaker Denies Basic Christian Doctrine
Attendees told Christian doctrines of hell and the second coming of Jesus inhibits believers from living effective lives of service in this world...
From "Lessen focus on eternity, McLaren says at Willow Creek student ministries conference" by David Roach, posted 4/18/08 at Baptist Press
The emphasis Christians place on the traditional Christian doctrines of hell and the second coming of Jesus inhibits believers from living effective lives of service in this world, according to speaker and author Brian McLaren.
McLaren explained his views April 9-10 at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., as a featured speaker during the Willow Creek Association's annual Shift student ministries conference. During the conference's opening session, Bo Boshers, executive director of student ministries for the Willow Creek Association, said he does not agree with all McLaren's views but that all youth ministers should consider his thoughts.
...Though he did not specify at Willow Creek which traditional doctrines need revision, McLaren wrote in his 2007 book "Everything Must Change" that the doctrine of hell needs radical rethinking. He argues that people who believe in hell may be inclined to dominate and take advantage of other people, rather than help them.
"Many of us have been increasingly critical in recent years of popular American eschatology in general, and conventional views of hell in particular," he wrote. "Simply put, if we believe that God will ultimately enforce his will by forceful domination, and will eternally torture all who resist that domination, then torture and domination become not only permissible but in some way godly."
The orthodox understanding that Jesus will return at a future date and forcefully conquer all His enemies also needs rethinking, according to McLaren.
Read the rest of this summary.
Tim Roach has written another article, "SBTS prof: McLaren serpent sensitive" that is very helpful in understanding the complicated of the Emergent Church.
In it, Roach talked to Russell D. Moore, senior vice president for academic administration at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, about Mr. McLaren's views. Moore says that denials of hell and a literal second coming of Christ by emergent church leader Brian McLaren are absurd and actually lead to the kind of violence McLaren seeks to prevent. Moore says:
Read the rest of this very helpful analysis.
Apostasy is spreading throughout American churches, both large and small, at an alarming rate. We must be vigilant and be ready to contend for the truth in our own churches.
More information on Brian McLaren's apostate views:
Examine a list of quotes from his books and lectures that very clearly show him denying God's authority as clearly expressed in Scripture. Click HERE.
Read a review of McLaren's latest book, "Everything Must Change," that is rather disturbing (indications of socialism, the social Gospel and utopianism.) Click HERE.
Here is a link of a must listen interview of McLaren. If you are in a hurry, the first two minutes are the most important. Click HERE.
From Wikipedia: (not necessarily the most reliable source)
"Brian McLaren admits to not knowing why Jesus died on the cross, and he maintains that even Jesus did not know the reason for this sacrifice." Click HERE.
"...snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh." - Jude 1:23
From "Lessen focus on eternity, McLaren says at Willow Creek student ministries conference" by David Roach, posted 4/18/08 at Baptist Press
The emphasis Christians place on the traditional Christian doctrines of hell and the second coming of Jesus inhibits believers from living effective lives of service in this world, according to speaker and author Brian McLaren.
McLaren explained his views April 9-10 at Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Ill., as a featured speaker during the Willow Creek Association's annual Shift student ministries conference. During the conference's opening session, Bo Boshers, executive director of student ministries for the Willow Creek Association, said he does not agree with all McLaren's views but that all youth ministers should consider his thoughts.
...Though he did not specify at Willow Creek which traditional doctrines need revision, McLaren wrote in his 2007 book "Everything Must Change" that the doctrine of hell needs radical rethinking. He argues that people who believe in hell may be inclined to dominate and take advantage of other people, rather than help them.
"Many of us have been increasingly critical in recent years of popular American eschatology in general, and conventional views of hell in particular," he wrote. "Simply put, if we believe that God will ultimately enforce his will by forceful domination, and will eternally torture all who resist that domination, then torture and domination become not only permissible but in some way godly."
The orthodox understanding that Jesus will return at a future date and forcefully conquer all His enemies also needs rethinking, according to McLaren.
Read the rest of this summary.
Tim Roach has written another article, "SBTS prof: McLaren serpent sensitive" that is very helpful in understanding the complicated of the Emergent Church.
In it, Roach talked to Russell D. Moore, senior vice president for academic administration at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, about Mr. McLaren's views. Moore says that denials of hell and a literal second coming of Christ by emergent church leader Brian McLaren are absurd and actually lead to the kind of violence McLaren seeks to prevent. Moore says:
"When a Christian understands that he does not fight for his own honor, but that justice will be done by God, either through union with Christ and His cross or at the judgment itself, the Christian is freed then to trust God, not his sword or his gun or his fists or his tongue," he said. "It is McLaren's vision of a life that consists only of the justice achieved in this era that leads to violence and Darwinian struggle to see that a pound of flesh is exacted.Christians should know by now that McLaren displays "hostility to the most basic aspects of the Gospel message," Moore said, adding that Willow Creek should not have invited him to speak.
"It is the kind of world that McLaren envisions, without a messianic hope of a second coming, that leads to the bloody utopian experiments we have seen throughout the twentieth century. If human beings do not expect a Messiah in the skies, they will expect to elect one or anoint one or biochemically engineer one. And, do not be deceived, such pseudo-Messiahs always eventually have a sword."
Read the rest of this very helpful analysis.
Apostasy is spreading throughout American churches, both large and small, at an alarming rate. We must be vigilant and be ready to contend for the truth in our own churches.
More information on Brian McLaren's apostate views:
Examine a list of quotes from his books and lectures that very clearly show him denying God's authority as clearly expressed in Scripture. Click HERE.
Read a review of McLaren's latest book, "Everything Must Change," that is rather disturbing (indications of socialism, the social Gospel and utopianism.) Click HERE.
Here is a link of a must listen interview of McLaren. If you are in a hurry, the first two minutes are the most important. Click HERE.
From Wikipedia: (not necessarily the most reliable source)
"Brian McLaren admits to not knowing why Jesus died on the cross, and he maintains that even Jesus did not know the reason for this sacrifice." Click HERE.
"...snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear--hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh." - Jude 1:23
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
Megachurches Targeted for Pro-Gay Campaign
From "Megachurches Targeted for Pro-Gay Campaign" by Nathan Black, posted 12/3/07 at christianpost.com
Two homosexual groups plan to launch a national campaign targeting the most influential megachurches and its leaders in an attempt to change their views on gays and lesbians.
Two homosexual groups plan to launch a national campaign targeting the most influential megachurches and its leaders in an attempt to change their views on gays and lesbians.
Soulforce, which promotes "pro-gay" interpretations of Scripture, and COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere) are currently recruiting LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender) parents and their children along with other supporters for "The American Family Outing" in 2008. Selected families will visit six major megachurches to "educate" the public on the issue of homosexuality.
"Through our visibility we hope to peacefully challenge the false stereotypes about LGBT people and same-gender families, and educate the public through authentic and personal conversations - real parents sharing their stories and describing the hurtful effects of prejudice and religious condemnation," said a statement describing the national campaign, which will run from Mother's Day weekend in May through Father's Day weekend in June.
Churches being targeted are those led by Joel Osteen, Bishop T.D. Jakes, Dr. Rick Warren, Bishop Harry Jackson, Jr., Bill Hybels and Bishop Eddie Long. Along with most Christian leaders, all have expressed to some degree an opposition to the homosexual lifestyle.
Soulforce contends that these younger generation evangelical leaders "are striving to change the tone of the national political debate with messaging that is less punitive, therefore making religion-based discrimination seem more palatable to the mainstream American public."
The upcoming campaign comes at a time when more evangelical churches are showing compassion toward the homosexual community. While still rejecting homosexual behavior as sin, Christians are increasingly welcoming and loving homosexuals, departing from the hateful and homophobic labels often attached to churches.
Read the rest of this article.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
