Exodus: Live Out Loud

Dismissal of gay teacher upheld

http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/news/local/12458376.htm

"

A gay Lutheran pastor forced to resign his teaching job at a Christian high school when his sexual orientation was revealed to church leaders cannot sue for discrimination under Minnesota's Human Rights Act, the state Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday.

While the state civil-rights law prohibits most employers from discriminating based on sexual orientation, religious organizations are exempt when hiring employees for faith-based assignments, the court concluded."- Shannon Prather, Pioneer Press, Aug. 24, 2005

Love Won Out

http://headlines.agapepress.org/archive/8/292005h.asp

"The Colorado Springs, Colorado-based Focus on the Family ministry is bringing its international Love Won Out (LWO) conference to Birmingham, Alabama, on September 17. Metropolitan Church of God will host the one-day event, which is designed to educate and equip attendees on the issues surrounding homosexuality, as well as to provide help for the individuals who are struggling -- or whose loved ones are struggling -- with their unwanted same-sex attractions. Conference host Mike Haley, a former homosexual, says he and thousands of others know firsthand that there is a way out of the homosexuality for those who want to leave that lifestyle, and LWO's ministry exists to help those people. "While the gay life is often glorified in 'pride' festivals and through the media, we offer a distinctly different message, one of hope and healing for those who don't share that sense of pride," Haley says. "The issues of homosexuality and same-sex 'marriage' are becoming increasingly politicized in our culture, but Love Won Out's message continues to focus on the hope and love that is found in Jesus Christ," he adds. Birmingham-area homosexual activists have announced plans for a counter-conference to be held in response to LWO. Haley says unfortunately the tolerance that the homosexual community usually calls for is not extended to the message of the Love Won Out conference."- Jenni Parker Agape Press

Retirement and Nursing Home Caregivers Admit to Intolerance When Caring for Gay and Lesbian Residents

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/8/prwebxml277661.php

"PRWEB) August 29, 2005 -- This month’s edition of 50plus Online Magazine (www.50plusMag.com) features an interview Judy Mann, Director of Learning and Professional Development at The Center of Applied Gerontology had with Gary Geyer, Editor of 50plus Online Magazine.

50plus Online Magazine (50plusMag.com) reports that a recent survey revealed that more than half of retirement and nursing home social workers believe that their co-workers are intolerant and are condemning of homosexuality in residents. The other half, for the most part, didn’t answer that question.

Judy discussed with Gary the innovative training program now in place to help correct that “unacceptable situation.”- Gary Geyer
ALIVE & KICKING ENTERPRISES

Liberals Reveal 'Destructive Trends' in Mental Health Profession

http://www.family.org/cforum/feature/a0037683.cfm

"Psychologists Rogers H. Wright and Nicholas A. Cummings, in the book they edited entitled, "Destructive Trends in Mental Health: The well-intentioned path to harm," included an expose' on the American Psychological Association's (APA) political—rather than clinical—bias. They don't hesitate to confront taboo subjects often left without representation within the organization.

A. Dean Byrd, clinical professor at Brigham Young University and the University of Utah, called it "The most important book of the decade, perhaps of the last several decades, in mental health."- Aaron Atwood, Assistant Editor, CitizenLink, Aug. 26, 2005

Leading homosexual groups announce opposition to Roberts

http://www.bpnews.net/bpnews.asp?ID=21470

"WASHINGTON (BP)--Some of the nation's leading homosexual activist groups Aug. 25 announced their opposition to John Roberts' Supreme Court nomination, joining abortion rights groups, liberal organizations and a handful of Democratic senators who have stepped up their criticism of Roberts in recent weeks.

Four homosexual groups -- the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, and Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays -- issued a joint statement, saying Roberts' confirmation would endanger homosexual causes. HRC is the nation's largest homosexual activist organization, while the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force claims to be the oldest."- Michael Foust, Baptist Press, Aug. 26, 2005

Worker Demoted for Supporting Traditional Marriage

http://www.family.org/cforum/news/a0037682.cfm

"An Orange County, Calif., computer technician demoted by his supervisor after expressing his personal belief in traditional marriage has filed a lawsuit in federal court....His offense? According to Brad Dacus, president of PJI, the employee had posted a bumper sticker in his cubicle that said, "Marriage = man + woman." When his supervisor demanded that he take it down, he did so without incident. "-Wendy Cloyd, senior editorial coordinator, CitizenLink, Aug. 26, 2005

Press Release from Tim Wilkins

http://www.crossministry.org/bothways.htm

Bishop calls former homosexual "troubled, sick"

contact: Tim Wilkins 919/569-0375

Wake Forest, NC-- When Tim Wilkins, a former homosexual, wrote an article which called into question the United Methodist Church’s (UMC) position on homosexuality and church discipline, he did not expect to be labeled "troubled and sick" by UMC Bishop William Willimon.

Before Willimon became Bishop of the North Alabama Conference of the UMC, he was Dean of the Chapel at Duke University where he, on at least two occasions, invited openly gay "preachers" to the pulpit. But his invitations appear not to have harmed his appointment to Bishop.

On the other hand, UMC pastor Edward Johnson was recently put on "forced unpaid leave" by another Bishop and Superintendent, because he declined to admit into the church’s membership an openly gay man.

When Willimon read Wilkins’ article, Church Discipline takes a turn, he emailed not only Wilkins–labeling him "troubled and sick" but communicated much of the same in a mass emailing to his constituents.

Said Wilkins, "the continuing intolerance of former homosexuals is reaching new heights; for such hatred to come from a denominational leader is mind-boggling. If Willimon made such comments about a practicing homosexual, he would become the target of criticism world-wide and removed from office."

Wilkins is founder/director of Cross Ministry–a member ministry of Exodus International–which proclaims freedom from homosexuality through Jesus Christ. Wilkins, his wife of twelve years and their three daughters live near Raleigh, NC.

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In order to clear any misunderstanding, I do not dislike homosexuals. On the contrary, I love homosexuals more now than when I was one.

Tim Wilkins
Cross Ministry
PO Box 1122
Wake Forest, NC 27588
919/569-0375

www.crossministry.org

Equipping the Church to Evangelize and Disciple the Homosexual

Lutheran vote fails to heal rift over gay issues

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bal-md.lutherans28aug28,1,3283902.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true

"Richard Dirk Selland, a gay member of Christ Lutheran Church in Federal Hill, traveled to the national assembly of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America this month, hoping that members would approve the blessing of same-sex couples and the ordination of practicing homosexuals as ministers.George Paul Mocko, a former bishop of the Delaware-Maryland Synod of the ELCA, went to the assembly in Orlando, Fla., hoping members would ban those practices. Both came away disappointed."- Matthew Hay Brown, Baltimore Sun staff, Aug. 28, 2005

Gay Fathers of five end child custody dispute

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/nation/3327257

"Two gay men who made worldwide news by parenting quadruplets and then a fifth child with a surrogate mother have been fighting for custody and time sharing of the quads for more than a year, court records reveal.

Moreover, Michael Meehan, the 3-year-olds' biological father, alleges in court documents that the couple actually ended their same-sex partner relationship two months before the quad babies were born in Lexington in 2002."- Lexington Herald, Aug. 27, 2005

Revived measure removes gender from legal definition

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2005/08/26/BAG46ED6N11.DTL&feed=rss.news

"A revived bill to allow same-sex marriage is headed for the Senate floor early next week after clearing the Senate Appropriations Committee on Thursday...AB849 would make marriage as defined by law gender neutral by taking out the notion that marriage is between a man and a woman."- Lynda Gledhill, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau, Aug. 26, 2005