Notes & Reflections from the Soulforce Journey

The Layman: LGBT Advocates Interrupt Assembly

Posted in Presbyterian Church by Brian Murphy on July 26th, 2010

The Layman covered Soulforce’s actions at the recent PC(USA) General Assembly. Here is an excerpt from the article.

PC(USA) General Assembly moderator Cindy Bolbach speaks with Soulforce Director of National Actions Bill Carpenter during a direct action at the 2010 General AssemblyMINNEAPOLIS – Deliberations at the 219th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) were interrupted Friday afternoon by members of Soulforce, an LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) rights advocacy group.

Approximately 20 protestors, some wearing badges identifying themselves as GA commissioners or observers, walked through the area restricted for commissioners only, surrounded the platform and sang “Lord Hear Our Prayer.”

After refusing requests to end the protest from PCUSA staff, GA Moderator Cindy Bolbach, building security and finally police officers, 11 protestors were arrested and escorted from the Minneapolis Convention Center. They were issued trespassing citations and released. Some protestors left the convention center voluntarily and were not cited for trespassing.

Read the full article at The Laymen

What do you think of the news coverage and of other reactions to the events at the General Assembly? Why is non-violent resistance necessary and what are some other creative ways we might speak truth to power?

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