Soulforce Announces "Out and About" in Lynchburg

[Polycarp]

Note: The OP is not a GD but rather a reprint of a press release, but in view of the subject matter is very likely to become a GD. So I started it here.

SOULFORCE ANNOUNCES “OUT AND ABOUT IN LYNCHBURG” October 25 - 27, 2002

Events Include First-ever Pride Festival Intended to Make Lynchburg More “Gay-Friendly” – Lynchburg Mayor Carl Hutcherson to Kick Off the Event

Contact: Laura Montgomery Rutt
Cell: 717-278-0592
soulforcemedia@aol.com

(Lynchburg, VA) - Hundreds of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender (GLBT), and allied Soulforce supporters and friends from across the nation will gather October 25 - 27, 2002 in Lynchburg, VA, home of far right televangelist Jerry Falwell.

Plans for the weekend include the first-ever gay pride festival in Lynchburg history. The mini-festival with educational materials, entertainment, and speakers, will take place from 1 - 4 on Saturday, October 26, 2002 at Riverside Park on Rivermont Avenue in Lynchburg. Mayor Carl Hutcherson will kick off the event. Additional activities include workshops to educate people about a variety GLBT issues, vigils at Thomas Road Baptist Church, and a picnic in the park with residents of Lynchburg.

Rev. Mel White, co-founder of Soulforce, and his partner Gary Nixon leased a home across the street from Falwell’s Thomas Road Baptist Church last month and have been attending services at the church. Rev. Falwell, who is known for his condemnation of gays and lesbians, Muslims, and others who he deems offensive, has thus far refused to meet with White and Nixon since they became neighbors.

Three years ago, 200 Soulforce volunteers met with 200 members of Thomas Road Baptist Church, but were denied a meal because fundamentalist leaders told Falwell that eating with gays and lesbians violated their religious doctrine. Additionally, Falwell promised to tone down his anti-gay rhetoric, but continues to make fear-based anti-gay statements to the media, from the pulpit, and through fundraising letters.

“OUT and ABOUT” is intended to help make Lynchburg more friendly to GLBT people, despite Jerry Falwell’s rhetoric," said Rev. White. “In a city filled with fear, coming out poses great risks because GLBT people can lose their jobs and custody of their children. We are hoping GLBT people and allies will come out to be with us, and support equality for all people everywhere.”

Participating organizations include Soulforce, Inc., National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, People For the American Way, Human Rights Campaign, Interfaith Working Group, Q-Spirit, Roanoke 7, New Beginnings Christian Church (Richmond), Virginians for Justice, Lynchburg Friends Meeting (Quakers), First Christian Church - Lynchburg, PFLAG - Roanoke, The Richmond Lesbian and Gay Pride Coalition, Al-Fatiha (GLBTQ Muslims), and Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation.

#

MEDIA * - Members of the media are invited to join in the weekend at any time, which begins of Friday night, October 25 and runs through Sunday afternoon, October 27. Additional schedule details are available at www.soulforce.org .

The Pride Festival at Riverside Park from 1- 4 pm offers the opportunity for photos and extensive interviews with individuals from Lynchburg and across the United States who have come to “make Lynchburg gay-friendly.”

Soulforce, Inc. is a national interfaith movement committed to ending spiritual violence perpetuated by religious policies and teachings against gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people.

Source: http://www.religionnews.com/press02/PR101002.html

Anyone have reactions, positive or negative, to what’s being planned here?

[gobear]

It sounds like a capital idea to drown out the hate spewed by falwell and his droogs.

[photopat]

No problem with it here. I hope it goes well, without any unpleasant conflicts occurring.

[Diogenes_the_Cynic]

It’s interesting that Falwell’s disciples would refuse to eat with “sinners.” Wasn’t that one of the primary charges thrown at Jesus himself.

[gobear]

Yeah, but they are, after all, Falwell’s disciples, not Jesus’s. It’s odd, but it seems to me that there are very few followers of Jesus in the churches. Most nominal Christians, IMO, are really just Pharisees in apostles’ clothing.

[Guinastasia]

Not only would Jesus have met with them, he’d probably bring a dessert.

[photopat]

I agree Guin. Possibly a cheesecake?

I just hope the mayor doesn’t end up out of office because of this. (You know, Falwell condemning him, lots of his followers voting.) He’s got guts for being involved with it. Bravo.

[Maeglin]

Dessert? Jesus would definitely bring blood pudding.

I am going straight to hell.

[Diogenes_the_Cynic]

Wouldn’t Jesus bring the wine?

[Mars_Horizon]

*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic *
**It’s interesting that Falwell’s disciples would refuse to eat with “sinners.” Wasn’t that one of the primary charges thrown at Jesus himself. **

I am certain that their reasoning was based on their interpretation of 1 Corinthians 5:11, which says

But now I am writing you that you must not associate with anyone who calls himself a brother but is sexually immoral or greedy, an idolater or a slanderer, a drunkard or a swindler. With such a man do not even eat.

Since they consider the Gay Lifestyle :rolleyes: to be oh so sinful, and since Soulforce is a christian group, the verse applies. So, in a sick twisted way, they are being consistent.

[photopat]

*Originally posted by Diogenes the Cynic *
**Wouldn’t Jesus bring the wine? **

Noooo, he’d bring the water. He’d make the wine.

Also, he might bring dessert, or possibly…hot cross buns?

[Opengrave]

*Originally posted by gobear *
**It’s odd, but it seems to me that there are very few followers of Jesus in the churches. Most nominal Christians, IMO, are really just Pharisees in apostles’ clothing. **

(emphasis mine) This is one of the most insightful things I’ve read in a while.

I keep a text file of some of the better things I’ve read on this board and sometimes referer back to them for various reasons. I decided to paste this into that file. I am not trying to make a point here, just a quirky observation - but the paragraph directly above this one in my text file…

Extreme leftist protesters share with fundamentalist Christians the belief that their views are the only possible views any rational, moral person can take, and that anyone who disagrees with them is not merely mistaken, but evil and must be silenced. - gobear

NP: Judas Priest - Defenders of the Faith

[Polycarp]

I agree, Opengrave – provided that you take note that gobear used the adjective “nominal”

[Duck_Duck_Goose]

Lynchburg is a big place, 96,000 people, and only a couple hundred of them go to Jerry’s church. I wouldn’t expect anything much to happen.

BTW, the rally isn’t mentioned on falwell.com at all. Beneath the radar, I’m guessing.

[samclem]

I prefer to think that if Jesus had traveled around the US, he might have preferred to eat something like they serve at

The Silver Pig, in Madison Heights, Virginia, is proof that miracles happen. Just across the James River from Lynchburg, on US 29 North, the Silver Pig is owned and operated by Jim Moore, who learned his trade at Stamey’s Old Fashioned Barbecue on High Point Road in Greensboro. And learn it he did–the Silver Pig is, without a doubt, in the very top rank of North Carolina barbeque joints.

From The Lexington Collection

Note that they even say “proof that miracles happen.”

[tracer]

Um … let’s just hope that the town being named “Lynchburg” isn’t an indication of how its residents will react to a gay-pride display. :eek:

[Guinastasia]

But um, Jesus was Jewish-wouldn’t he want to eat at a deli?

[samclem]

But um, Jesus was Jewish-wouldn’t he want to eat at a deli?

One of the benefits of starting a new religion. You can swing both ways.

Ummm! Delis & pork BBQ. ;j

[JohnCocktoasten]

*Originally posted by Duck Duck Goose *
Lynchburg is a big place, 96,000 people, and only a couple hundred of them go to Jerry’s church.

I grew up in North Carolina and seem to remember the membership figure for Thomas Road Baptist at ~20,000. Like most churches, I would imagine ‘membership’ is greater than actual attendance, but the church is FAR bigger than ‘a couple hundred.’