Soulforce Email Update - April 7, 2006

The Soulforce Equality Ride Rolls On; Pushes for Acceptance of GLBT People at Abilene Christian, Texas A&M, the 2006 CCCU Conference, Biola, California Baptist, and Asusa Pacific Univeristy

With media coverage in The Washington Post, The LA Times, Newsweek, and a video on MTV news, the Soulforce Equality Ride is getting out the message: Learn from history. End religion based oppression.

Abilene Christian University allowed the Riders full access to the campus. Events at the school included Soulforce presentations on the history of religion-based violence, a theological conversation with students in training for ministry with the School of Theological Studies, a panel discussion on portrayals of sexuality in the media (with Brokeback Mountain as the starting point) and numerous informal conversations at receptions and meals held with students and faculty throughout the campus.

On Sunday night, March 26th, Equality Riders worshipped at the University Church of Christ just off campus, taking communion, singing and praying with about 800 students. On Monday, Equality Riders joined students in Moody Coliseum for ACU's daily chapel service. The services were conducted in the Church of Christ tradition of unaccompanied singing with the congregation joining in four-part harmony.

Despite the warm greeting extended to Soulforce Equality Riders, Abilene Christian University continues to hold a student conduct policy forbidding "homosexual behavior," which has led to students being expelled from the school.

From Abilene the Ride traveled on to College Station, Texas, the first stop where the Military's "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy was a main focus.

Texas A&M has the largest ROTC program in the country outside of the service academies, and contributes more officers to the military through its program than any other school. Although students at Texas A&M who participate in "the Corps," or military school section of the university can be openly gay, those among the Corps who participate in the ROTC program must abide by the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy instituted by the U.S. military.

Riders talked to cadets clad in khaki military school uniforms or green camouflage ROTC fatigues during lunch and dinner in the Corps dining hall. The Riders brought up the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy," personalizing the issue by asking cadets, "Would you serve with me?" and wearing t-shirts with the same question printed across the front. Cadets were open to the question, often considering it for several seconds before answering, but often answering in the negative.

From College Station the Ride continued on to Dallas, Texas to visit the 2006 Council for Christian Colleges and Universities international conference. After their stop in Dallas, the Riders spent the next three days on the bus traveling to Los Angeles where they visited Biola, California Baptist, and Azusa Pacific University.

There are still 8 more stops on the route, including Brigham Young University. You can continue to follow the Soulforce Equality Ride at www.equalityride.com

Donate an Easter Lily to be Part of a Historic Processional at BYU

The Equality Riders need your help during their visit to Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah.

On the afternoon of Tuesday, April 11, 2006, the riders will create a floral display of Easter lilies as a gift to the school and as a memorial of Mormon people who have suicided. The Easter lilies are a testament to a safe future for all GLBT youth that can result from the emerging dialogue with BYU.

Donate an Easter Lily plant that will become part of this historic processional. We are asking for a donation of $40 or more to cover the cost and transportation of your lily.

To donate an Easter Lily, please go to www.soulforce.org/donatelily

New York City "End of the Road" Fundraiser on April 25th

On Tuesday, April 25th at 6:30pm there will be an "End of Journey" gathering and fundraiser at the New York Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Community Center in New York City. The event will be held the night before the riders' historic last stop at West Point.

To learn more go to www.gaycenter.org/evites

Soulforce Expresses Sadness at the Death of our Friend, Bob Hill

We are deeply saddened to inform you that Robert "Bob" Hill passed away on Sunday, April 2 at his family's home in Port Orchard, Washington.

Bob and Jeaneane have a gay son and have been volunteering with Soulforce since the beginning. Jeaneane has made by hand the ceramic crosses and pins that have become part of our Soulforce trademark, creating over 25,000 crosses over the last 7 years. Bob & Jeaneane celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary with Soulforce in St. Louis, with Jeaneane getting arrested inside the Southern Baptist Convention. She commented that it would be an anniversary she would never forget.

In a letter to a Southern Baptist leader, Bob wrote about how he and Jeaneane were caught offguard by their son's coming out in 1993 and how it sent them on a journey.

I think our epiphany was when we attended worship service at the local Metropolitan Community Church, a glbt Christian community. As members of PFLAG (Parents, Families, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) we had been invited to a potluck and a worship service where we were going to be honored for our work in affirming all people. This worship service took place in a rundown community hall. The ceiling was stained and the lighting was dim. The church was filled with wonderful songs and powerful prayers. Gay couples worshipped and took communion together. It was Spirit filled. We participated in wonder and joy. Worship was happening in that humble place among humble people worshipping God. When we left we turned to each other and declared that if God was not there that day how could he be anywhere. We both decided that we would return to our own Presbyterian church and after three years of hiding our secret we would declare God's love and our love for our gay son.

Bob and Jeaneane joined their son, Troy, in Colorado Springs at our Focus on the Family action in May, 2005.

We will all miss Bob's beautiful smile and gentle nature and we will hold Jeaneane and her family in our prayers.