Exodus: Live Out Loud

Liberty Sunday Press Conference

Who: Tony Perkins (Family Research Council), Alan Chambers (Exodus), Pastor Pendleton (Tremont Temple Baptist Church), David Parker, Robert Wirthlin, Kris Mineau (Massachusetts Family Institute), Bishop Harry Jackson (Hope Christian Church).

What: Press conference concerning Liberty Sunday Simulcast

When: 3:00 pm EDT, October 15, 2006

Where: Tremont Temple Baptist Church

Disclaimer: The following is simply notes and paraphrasing I (Randy) wrote down during the press conference.  Direct quotes are properly noted within the text.  Everything else is paraphrased and spring from my understanding of what the presenters said.

First up Tony Perkins with the Family Research Council.  Tony shares that he was very excited about tonight's simulcast.  the reason they chose Boston is because same sex marriage started in this state and what we see in its wake is the loss of religious freedom.  As they have condoned same sex marriage, the state condemns Christian expression in the public square.  He said that this press conference and the simulcast won't be just about organizational spokespersons.  The message will be brought by the people who have been detrimentally affected by the decision of four judges in Massachusetts.  A decision that is setting a dangerous precedent and conflict around the country.

Dr. Ray Pendleton Pastor at Tremont Temple Baptist Church stated, "We think it is important to uphold what is best for the culture and the country.  We want to speak what is truth, in love."

Kris Mineau, heads up Massachusetts Family Institute said something to the effect of tonight's events will help emphasize the point for the Mass legislature should finally allow the people of Massachusetts to speak for themselves instead of unelected judges ignoring the will of the people and speaking for them.

David Parker was up next.  His son, when  in kindergarten was given a diversity book-bag that indoctrinates children with beliefs about homosexuality that are  contrary to the beliefs of the parents and the welfare of these five year olds.  The rights of parents are being trampled for the rights of a rampant gay agenda.

David Parker quotes Robert Scutch,  the author of pro-gay children's book, "Who's a Family?" put in the "diversity book-bag":  Scutch states, "I wrote the book for children before they know that there is any other way." 

David Parker continues, that the gay agenda is being promoted non-stop in many ways;  Day of Silence, Coming Out Day, High School students going to lower grades to talk about coming out and resources being made available to grade school and beyond.  Mr. Parker simply wants parents to be notified and given their right to opt out.  The Lexington school system will not notify parents.  Mr. Parker's conclusion is that where Religious liberty is compromised all liberties are compromised.  Parents need to take a stand for children around the country.  The ACLU is trampling on religious freedom and parents by helping the school system against the parents.

Rob Wirthlin is the father of a seven year old who, without Mr. Wirthlin's knowledge or consent, was read a book by his second grade teacher called King and King which is about romantic love between two princes who eventually marry. The Wirthlin's asked the teacher for a meeting but the night before that meeting, the principal called and intimated that the Wirthlin's had ulterior motives and she was gong to be there whether they wanted her to be there or not.  The Principal said that the Teacher said she chose the book specifically because she felt it was something that the little boys could relate too.    Mr. Wirthlin says, "I am standing for parents rights. Parents should be the ones who decide when where and how to approach these subjects with their very own children."

Tony Perkins announces Freedom Watch.  As long as liberty is in danger... FRC will keep watch and fight for liberty.

Alan Chambers was next.  Tony said that Alan was, "the most controversial speaker."  He said Exodus takes a message of hope across the country. There is a message of hope for the homosexual who wants to find freedom from homosexuality.   Tony said, "Those who are the trumpeters of tolerance have little tolerance for Alan's message."  Alan shared about how religious liberty is in danger as evidenced by the huge protest at last year's Love Won Out Conference at Tremont Temple Baptist church.  Close to two thousand people screamed, among other things, "Shut down Focus On The Family!" "Shut down Dr. Dobson!" "Shut down ex-gays!" "Shut down Tremont Temple!" no call for tolerance, just a desire to impose silence against those that disagree with the gay activists.  While it is important to fight for the preservation of religious liberties and important social issues, we must also have grace and compassion.  We must provide hope and help for those seeking freedom from homosexuality.

Tony Perkins says that the opponents say that religious conservatives use gay issues as wedge issues but Tony calls them a bridge issue.  There is no other issue (gay agenda) that has brought modern Christians together so well.  One of the side benefits of this unnecessary battle is an increasingly colorblind church.

Bishop Harry Jackson is the senior pastor of Hope Christian Church.  He gave a stirring history of black community struggling and leading the way to liberty. He states that the black pulpit in America has actually been the engine for the black community.  Black Pastors deserve to be heard and to have their voices count.  In the mid-term election you are going to see a growing union in the church and that is going to change the tide and turn back the gay agenda.  More than ever before you are going to see Values Voters show up and make a difference in America.

Afterward, the media questions were basic fact finding and not much else to report except one incident that deserves it's very own post.

Before closing this post however, I wanted to say that all the presenters were very calm, humble and eloquent.  My notes do not do them justice.  I also met Mr. Parker and Mr. Wirthlin after the press conference and I have to tell you, they are two very protective, humble and loving Dad's.  They were not activists before the Lexington School Board decided to usurp their parental rights but now that this school board has forced the fight... they will do whatever it takes to protect their children.  I genuinely enjoyed meeting these two men.

Also at the press conference, I met John Schroeder with Blogotional and Joe Carter with Evangelical Outpost.  These guys are serious bloggers and you really should check out their blogs on a regular basis. I truly enjoyed meeting them and discussing Christians, politics and blogging!  They were a lot of fun to meet.

ADF Defends Marriage in California Successfully

The Alliance Defense Fund successfully defended marriage in the California Court of Appeals today.

The Appellate court reversed a lower court decision that would have redefined marriage in California. The Court wrote:

"The respondents in these appeals are asking this court to recognize a new right. Courts simply do not have the authority to create new rights, especially when doing so involves changing the definition of so fundamental an institution as marriage.... Judges are not free to rewrite statutes to say what they would like, or what they believe to be better social policy." http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=3877

For more information, go to:

More: La Shawn Barber

Values Voters Summit

Exodus brought a redemptive view of homosexuality to this years The Washington Briefing: Values Voters Summit.  At our booth we handed out plenty of informative material including general information about Exodus, testimonies and newsletters.  Person after person came up to us seeking prayer and ministry concerning their own struggles or their family member who identifies as gay.

The Washington Briefing is mainly about public policy concerning a broad spectrum of issues.  However, since the issue of redefining marriage into a gay worldview is of such importance (along with other gay-centric efforts in public policy), many leaders at The Washington Briefing have gone out of their way to welcome the Exodus message and bring a very important perspective to the table.  Our perspective includes preserving marriage, an extremely important social institution,  while reaching out with compassion.   Wherever, public policy affects the people we are ministering too, we will be there to offer a personal and redemptive view.

Included in the "continue reading" reading link below will be a couple of articles covering the summit and excerpts as they pertain to the battle over marriage.

Black Pastors Support Marriage Amendment

Our Friend Dr. Owens just released the following ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 20, 2006

  ...  

 

Black Pastors Support Marriage Amendment

Coalition of African-American Pastors to take 100 Leaders to Washington

 

MEMPHIS , TN -- William Owens, Founder and President of The Coalition of African-American Pastors, announced today that he will lead a group of 100 black pastors to Washington , DC , May 25, to rally support in Congress for the Federal Marriage Amendment and to discuss critical issues facing black America .

“We want America to know that as black leaders we are standing on our faith and not with a political party,” exclaimed Owens. 

According to Owens, despite a historic association with the Democratic Party, the black community has always been conservative about family values.  In fact, Margaret Farr Young with Agape African Methodist Episcopal Church in Maryland says polls show that over 70% of all African American support a federal marriage amendment. “We value family and share a strong faith in God and the teachings of the Gospel.  Faith is non-partisan; it demands that we choose candidates who will distinguish between right and wrong in their political actions,” stressed Owens.   The visit to Washington by these black pastors will underscore the fact that righteousness and justice should be more important to black Americans than party affiliation. 

The press and some organizations have implied that African-American ministers who stand for natural marriage between one man and one woman are pawns of the Republican Party. “This is inaccurate. In the black community, it has been the tradition for politicians to go to ministers for advice.  Today some ministers are going to politicians for advice rather than standing on the word of God,” stated Owens.

 “I believe it is important for black pastors to organize and make this trip, so that there can be no doubt in the minds of anyone in America that we are standing up in support of what Scripture says on the issue of same-sex ’marriage,’ and that we are not doing it because we were asked to do it by any individual or political party.   Scripture was here before we had any political parties and it is Scripture that is our foundation,” he emphasized.

Owens declared, “any politician of any party who does not take a position on moral issues that are consistent with Biblical principles does not deserve our vote, adding a person who does not stand for something will fall for anything.”

 “We are living in a society where the public will tolerate immoral behavior, but doesn’t want to hear about our faith.  Many want to ban faith from the public square, and we say ‘No, we will not allow our faith to be silenced’! We are going to Washington , and we want to face our Representatives and Senators and want them to tell us where they stand on the same-sex ‘marriage’ issue,” he proclaimed.

            Owens stated that a reporter asked him last week why the Federal Marriage Amendment is so important to African-Americans. “My answer was simple. Same-sex ‘marriage’ will destroy our families and our culture, and the black community has enough challenges already in holding our families together.”

The Coalition of African-American Pastors is a group of pastors and community leaders who are focused on bringing about positive change in their communities! We want to give a voice to the majority of African-Americans who share a belief in the importance of Faith and Family.  For more info rmation about CAAP, visit the web page at http://www.caapusa.org/

 

 

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Technorati Tags: Christianity, Marriage, CAAP

Marriage From Another Perspective

Read: La Shawn Barber’s Corner - Black Marriage.

La Shawn does it once again.  She provides a fascinating look at marriage within the black community.

Black is her description and all of you who want to yell at me for not saying African American... take it up with La Shawn.

One of the things I keep telling my friends is that it is not enough to be "against" redefining marriage.  We have to be FOR marriage and celebrate the union as understood by the Creator's intent of one man and one woman*.  The problem with marriage in the west didn't start in 2003 with the advent of "gay" defined marriage in Canada.  The problem started a LOOOONNNNGGG time ago.  The sexual revolution  of the '60's and '70's tried throwing the baby (marriage) out with the bathwater (dysfunction), passivity and irresponsibility among men, feminists, abortion, no fault divorce ... all kinds of problems have led to the modern renouncement of marriage.  It has been reduced from a once in a life time treasure to be shared forever to a optional social contract of me centered benefit.  La Shawn does a great post reminding us of the importance of marriage and why the core structure of the family is important to maintain.  It really is a must read.

Even as a single person it is obvious how powerful marriage is in and of itself as well as its affects on the world around us.

Technorati Tags: Marriage

New Marriage Poll Doesn't Tell Whole Story

http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0039941.cfm

"A national poll by the Pew Forum seems to indicate that Americans are weakening in their resolve to defend traditional marriage...

Matt Daniels, director of the Alliance for Marriage, said the poll results aren't really an accurate reflection of Americans' attitudes.

"We've seen routinely with these polls that what people will say is at least 10 percentage points different from what they do when they go to the voting booth," he told Family News in Focus.

Apparently even gay lobbyists doubt the polls, he added, noting that there must be some reason they are fighting so hard to legalize same-sex marriage in the courts. "-CitizenLink, 24 Mar 2006

Apparently these pollsters do not trust the American voting public to make a decision without the 'help' of "smoke and mirrors poll taking." They are perfect examples of what Abraham Lincoln was referring to when he said, " I am firm believer in the people. If given the truth, they can be depended upon to meet any national crisis. The great point is to bring them the real facts." I pray that we can get the real facts out before our national crisis becomes a national tragedy. -Nancy S. Brown

Hidden Homosexuality - A Husband Writes

At Exodus we get over 400,000 emails, phone calls and letters a year asking for help concerning homosexuality.  It is a good thing we have such a large network to refer people to!  We get many emails that tug at your soul and the following is one of them.  We get correspondance like the following frequently, I am going to protect the anonymity of the sender but want to make my response public in case it might be found helpful to others in a similar situation.

T. writes ...

Hi Randy,

I'm reading Chuck Colson's book, The Good Life, in which he mentions your story of transformation.  It's riveting because it hits close to home for me.

When I got to work this morning I googled "Exodus International" and found your website and this e-mail address.  I have a question for you that I hope you have the time and inclination to answer.  You probably get dozens or more of this type of e-mail every day, so I will understand if you just can't respond.

What can I do to partake of the benefits of an Exodus program without revealing to my spouse that I have this struggle?  I have been married for quite a while, and she has no idea whatsoever. 

First, thank you for emailing us and your consideration of our time.  I am always honored and amazed when people are willing to share their story.  Thank you for being so brave.