# Poly Strikes Out for Christian Equality **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 29, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417 "2002-05-29T19:02:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 7:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/1 "2002-05-29T19:02:56Z")
Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh called a new co-pastor who is a gay woman; an article on her appeared in the April 29 issue of the _News and Observer_. The article evoked [this letter](http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/letters/story/1414530p-1448245c.html) from a man who obviously has issues with her and with homosexual people claiming to be Christian. Remembering a discussion with **Esprix** and dear old **Friend of God** last year, and **Freyr** ’s repeated comment that we Christians who despise beating gays with the Bible need to make ourselves heard, I felt I needed to speak out, and prepared the following as a letter to the editor. > [@](#): > > Sirs: > > I noted with interest the letter from a gentleman signing himself “Rev. Ron H. Wood” of Chapel Hill commenting on your April 29 article on the new co-pastor at Pullen Memorial Baptist Church in Raleigh. > > For several years now, the priests at our church have been speaking of a man who taught the importance of living one’s life in total commitment to God and showing a spirit of love evinced in respect and compassion to all of one’s fellow human beings. In fact, this man so lived out what he taught that the one man who knew him best was moved to call him God’s Word in human form, living and breathing, joying and sorrowing, as one of us. > > It would appear from your story that the pastors and people at Pullen Memorial know Him and are doing their best to live according to His example. > > Basted on the tone of his letter, Mr. Wood is apparently not familiar with Him, and I’d be happy to supply him with information about Him. In fact, based on what He had to say about the men of His day who insisted on quoting short snippets of Scripture in order to judge their fellow men, I’d encourage Mr. Wood to learn more about Him, for his own sake. url tags fixed - ub ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 7:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/2 "2002-05-29T19:14:09Z")
[Fixed link](http://www.newsobserver.com/editorials/letters/story/1414530p-1448245c.html) ---
**Author:** ![Homebrew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/c89c15/32.png) [@Homebrew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Homebrew)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/3 "2002-05-29T19:17:30Z")
Thanks for the support, yet again, **Poly**. ---
**Author:** ![mountain\_man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9de053/32.png) [@mountain\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mountain_man)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/4 "2002-05-29T19:23:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Polycarp \* > Basted on the tone of his letter… Did you really say ‘basted’? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Triskadecamus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b19c9b/32.png) [@Triskadecamus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Triskadecamus)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/5 "2002-05-29T19:23:34Z")
Go tell the Christians, you who travel by, that here, obediant to their law, Polycarp lies. Tris ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/6 "2002-05-29T19:30:08Z")
It always completely throws me for a loop when Poly posts in the Pit. Well done. ---
**Author:** ![gobear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8dc957/32.png) [@gobear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gobear)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/7 "2002-05-29T19:33:02Z")
**Polycarp** , as always, you rock! **Tris** , a Mr. Thucydides is on line 1, and he seems to be hopping mad about something. ---
**Author:** ![Polycarp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/82dd89/32.png) [@Polycarp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Polycarp)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/8 "2002-05-29T19:34:57Z")
**basted** : Typo (in the thread quote, not the original letter, thank God!) **Tris** : I did attend Michigan State U.; how’d you know I was a Spartan! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/9 "2002-05-29T19:53:40Z")
Yay! Esprix ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/10 "2002-05-29T19:55:52Z")
well done, POLY, give 'em . . . uh, heck. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Freyr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freyr/32/5763_2.png) [@Freyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freyr)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/11 "2002-05-29T20:21:12Z")
_ **YES** _ (grabs pom-poms) Gimme a “P” !! (crowd responding) **P!!** Gimme an “O” !! (crowd responding) **O!!** Gimme an “L” !! (crowd responding) **L!!** Gimme a “Y” !! (crowd responding) **Y!!** Gimme a “C” !! (crowd responding) **C!!** Gimme an “A” !! (crowd responding) **A!!** Gimme an “R” !! (crowd responding) **R!!** Gimme a “P” !! (crowd responding) **P!!** What’s that spell? **POLYCARP!!** Rah-rah-rah-rah!!! ---
**Author:** ![Mars\_Horizon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mars_horizon/32/2804_2.png) [@Mars\_Horizon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mars_Horizon)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/12 "2002-05-29T21:00:00Z")
There you go again Poly. Taking up for the oppressed and the despised of society. Better be careful or someone might get the idea that you were following the [instructions](http://bible.gospelcom.net/cgi-bin/bible?passage=matthew+22%3A37-40&NIV_version=yes&language=english). :rolleyes: _note proper use of the rolleyes smilie_. Seriously, good show my friend. MH ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/13 "2002-05-29T21:26:06Z")
You know, if there were more Christians like **Polycarp** , I might be persuaded to go to church. Which makes me kinda glad he’s so exceptional, because I like sleeping in on Sundays. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/14 "2002-05-29T21:30:57Z")
Once again, **Poly** leads with a quick jab from his heart, followed by a haymaker from his brain. Another KO for **Polycarp**! ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/15 "2002-05-29T21:38:40Z")
Nice one Poly; once again I learn just how spectacularly wrong I can be. (A while back in a GD thread, I said that liberal Christians can’t tackle fundamentalist bigotry head on without lowering themselves to the same level; this clearly isn’t true). ---
**Author:** ![Journeyman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/779978/32.png) [@Journeyman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Journeyman)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/16 "2002-05-29T22:29:13Z")
Very nicely done. Huzzah for Poly! ---
**Author:** ![SisterCoyote](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/958977/32.png) [@SisterCoyote](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SisterCoyote)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/17 "2002-05-29T22:34:21Z")
Yay **Poly**. Told you you and **Jodi** and **Esprix** should take over a TV network somewhere… 😉 ---
**Author:** ![andros](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e480ec/32.png) [@andros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/andros)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/18 "2002-05-29T23:15:47Z")
Hey, **Poly**. . . have you sent the letter in yet? 'Cos if not, you might consider a slight edit in your second paragraph for the benefit of the slower-witted among your readers. It sounds to me like this Wood feller just might not get it. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2002, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/19 "2002-05-29T23:38:58Z")
**Polycarp** , to paraphrase Ghandi, if only Christians were more like you, what a better world this would be. ---
**Author:** ![Siege](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dbc845/32.png) [@Siege](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siege)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2002, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417/20 "2002-05-30T00:53:14Z")
Once again I am in awe. Then again, when it’s Polycarp, that seems to be my usual state. CJ’ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/poly-strikes-out-for-christian-equality/111417.md?page=2)