Ray Boltz, singer and songwriter, and official spokesperson on tour for Soulforce in 2010-2011 now has his new album “True” posted on the Out Music Awards web site.  You can hear the new album at the OMA site and the song in which he mentions Mel’s book “Stranger at the Gate” at http://outmusic.com/artistaudio2.html?audid=530.  I hope you will help us promote his tour and sponsorship of Soulforce by going to the site and listening to this song and others and then tell your friends! You can order Ray’s music online now from iTunes as well.

Another way to help us is to listen to his music and leave a comment here about what you heard and felt about the issues of today that he addresses.

Ray and Azariah Southworth will be performing at the upcoming 2010 Soulforce Symposium Rally in Philadelphia and in Town Hall Meetings & Celebration Concerts at selected Equality Ride stops in 2011-2012.

Dear Friends & Allies of Soulforce,

We invite you to leave your responses to this letter in the comments below.

Dear Friends and Allies,

I am aware that some of you have not yet reconfirmed that you are willing to receive our e-mails now that we have transitioned to a new system.  We are required to ask you to “opt in” on the new system due to the privacy act and, as a courtesy to you, to ensure that you want to continue to receive our posts.

You can be assured that we will not inundate you with e-mails.  Our web site is being updated to ensure that you can go to it every 24 hours and get the most recent information and, therefore, e-mails will be used for specific calls to action, events and the highest priority information.

So, if you are willing, please make sure you clicked the confirmation link. If you don’t remember getting the confirmation email, or are unsure if you confirmed, please re-subscribe on our website (no risk of getting duplicate emails from us!).

Thank you!

Peace,
Dr. Cindi Love
Executive Director

P.S. If you are a monthly donor to Soulforce, we have also transitioned to a PayPal system for donations on our web site.  This system as well as our new credit card processing system require you to provide the security code on your credit card when you make your donations. If you started your donations several years ago, this was not a requirement.  So, we would really appreciate it if you would call Gary in Lynchburg ((434) 384-7696) and give him your code so we can continue processing your donations.  We are experiencing some very significant cash flow challenges during this last quarter of the year and every dollar will help. If you wish to sign-up as a monthly donor, you can do so here.  Thank you!

Our co-founders Mel White and Gary Nixon received a heartfelt email of thanks which we want to share with you.

Dear Rev. Mel White and Gary Nixon :

Thank you so very much for paving the way for GLBTQ Americans, showing that they are real people who deserve respect and should be allowed to be in the churches.  We need more love to allow for more hope.

You have shown how to dream, hope and also to set the wheels in action
and get it DONE !! You both have done a fabulous job and out of all the gay organizations. I really feel that you have been able to quietly make a big difference in the heartland as well as the coasts. Your background shows to the Christian right that gays aren’t the creepy perverts that they want to make them out to be !!!    You are outstanding!!!!!

I’ll never meet you but know that I read your books and shared it with numerous friends.   We admire you and hope that you continue to grow the SOULFORCE message.

Sincerely,
Anita
Kansas

Throughout the history of struggle for justice and equal rights, most struggles are multi-pronged. Our struggle for equal and fair treatment for queer people and all of the of the people we are…people of color, differently abled, working poor and All…is no different. Soulforce knew from the beginning that we are an important spoke in the wheel of justice. And, right now, there is an ally organization, Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), that needs our support to bring down the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy of the U.S. military!

Following is an important message from Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN executive director, calling all of us to action RIGHT NOW to call urge our senators to make passage of DADT repeal legislation a top priority the week of September 20th. And, ask them to urge their Joint Leadership (Senators Reid and McConnell) to schedule this vote right away!

Ending DADT is an important step in the work of our movement to challenge the institutional oppression of all people. The more these institutions are challenged and these policies are ended, the sooner we can find reconciliation around this historic inequity.

As a member of the Freedom to Serve Roundtable, Soulforce encourages you to read SLDN’s call to action below and call your Senators right away.

PS if you’d like more information and resources about all of the great work that is being done to end DADT, you can access information here.
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