Soulforce Email Update - May 15, 2008

Soulforce issues statement on California Marriage Ruling

Soulforce commends the California Supreme Court in doing justice for same-gender couples by striking down the state's ban on gay marriage. In a historic 4-3 decision today, the court ruled that the voter approved Proposition 22 is unconstitutional. The decision paves the way for California to join Massachusetts as the second state where same-gender couples can legally marry.

The 172-page opinion included the following:

"Accordingly, in light of the conclusions we reach concerning the constitutional questions brought to us for resolution, we determine that the language of section 300 limiting the designation of marriage to a union 'between a man and a woman' is unconstitutional and must be stricken from the statute, and that the remaining statutory language must be understood as making the designation of marriage available both to opposite-sex and same-sex couples."

Soulforce Executive Director, Jeff Lutes, stated, "The ruling today is the glorious result of decades of nonviolent activism by many brave souls, including our friend Rev. Troy Perry (founder of UFMCC) and his spouse Phillip Ray De Blieck, and LGBT activist Robin Tyler and her partner, Diane Olsen. We rejoice and give thanks for Troy, Phillip, Robin, and Diane who jointly brought this lawsuit, and we call on all Americans who care about equality to stand up, speak out, and even sit-in (civil disobedience) until justice is served in every state."

You can help fund Soulforce activism at www.soulforce.org/donate.

Jay Bakker Meets with Joel Osteen on Mother's Day

On Saturday, May 10th, families participating in the American Family Outing hosted a picnic in a Houston park for families from Lakewood Church -- the largest mega-church in the country. The picnic followed a five-month effort by Jeff Lutes, Jay Bakker, and Peggy Campolo to contact Lakewood via multiple letters and telephone calls. The letters and calls asked Lakewood families to share a meal with our families to discuss faith, family, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. Lakewood Church did not respond to these appeals until early last week when a church official called Jeff Lutes and expressed an unwillingness to meet with our couples, parents, and children. In keeping with the principles of nonviolence, Soulforce then held a press conference on Wednesday, May 7th and publicly invited Lakewood to attend a Soulforce sponsored picnic on Saturday. After the press conference, Jay Bakker, son of Jim and Tammy Faye Bakker, attempted to hand-deliver a picnic invitation to Lakewood officials. Jay and Houston area families waited in the lobby until a security guard returned and stated that there was no one available from Lakewood to receive the invitation.

On Saturday, a few Lakewood members did attend the picnic and expressed their appreciation for the effort to start an open conversation about the status of LGBT people at Lakewood. After the picnic, Jay Bakker attended the Saturday night service at Lakewood with Jeff and Soulforce Director of National Actions, Bill Carpenter. Bakker sought out Osteen after the service and the two briefly exchanged remembrances of Bakker's late mother and agreed to meet privately the next day.

On Mother's Day, May 11th, Jay Bakker and several dozen families attended the 11am service and afterwards stood in the line for first time visitors. In the line, our families spoke briefly to Osteen, and his wife Victoria; introducing them to our children and sharing short messages of hope that Lakewood might someday become a safe and welcoming congregation for openly LGBT people and their families. Steve Wright, who fathers two sons with his partner John, summed up our message when he shook Osteen's hand and said "You have such tremendous influence. Without opposing or condoning us, you could say just a few words from the pulpit that would make the world much safer for our children." A number of church members thanked us for being there and encouraged us to continue our efforts - including an older gentleman who told our group that he has a lesbian niece and wants the church, and the world, to be a safe place for her to live.

Later, Jay met privately with Joel Osteen and two senior church leaders. Jay released the following statement about his conversation:

"Joel Osteen and his family were very kind and courteous. They reserved special seats for our group of families, and they spoke compassionately to me on the first Mother's Day since my mom's death. But our conversation indicated that they do not share our convictions and that Lakewood Church is not yet ready for an open dialogue with LGBT families. I believe it's important for the church to have these conversations, because we are all one body. Open dialogue can dispel the fearful misperceptions that keep us apart. In the end, it's about communion and loving one another in spite of our differences. I have hope for the future that LGBT families will be able to meet with Lakewood Church eventually."

The second of two articles in the Houston Chronicle can be found at www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/life/religion/5777857.html.

Photos can be viewed at www.soulforce.org/album/4.

This Weekend: Bishop T.D. Jakes and The Potter's House

The American Family Outing now prepares to visit Bishop T.D. Jakes who has graciously agreed to share food and conversation with us on Sunday afternoon, May 18th. Our families also look forward to attending worship services at The Potter's House. Several dozen families making the visit will be led by Pastor Troy Sanders of Atlanta, Georgia, and other clergy leaders.

Pastor Troy says, "I've joined the American Family Outing team because I have a passion to see us engage in healthy, holistic dialogue around sexuality and faith. I have experienced oppressive theology first hand and I see the damage it does to men, women and children on a daily basis. I am constantly in contact with people who have lost faith in church and spiritually because of the damage done at the hand of individuals who think they are doing God's will. We are quickly approaching a time in our community and culture where we can no longer avoid having these type conversations. I look forward to fostering the kind of environment with American Family Outing that lends itself to peaceful discourse with clergy and families without the fear of being badgered or imposed upon."

The American Family Outing is a nationwide fellowship effort which aims to connect one-on-one and family-to-family with congregants at six prominent mega-churches. Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois, and Hope Christian Church in Maryland, have also agreed to meet lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender families and we approach these opportunities with the belief that it is possible for families to have meaningful conversations in spite of perceived differences. Rice University Professor Stephen L. Klineberg's data can confirm the impact of simply getting to know someone who is gay or lesbian:

"One of the most powerful predictors of area residents' attitudes toward gay rights, as powerful among religious fundamentalists as it is for the more secular respondents, is the simple question, 'Do you have a personal friend who is gay or lesbian?'"

"It seems clear that the opportunity to get to know someone who is homosexual helps to break through the stereotypes and fears, and to reinforce the sense of common humanity," says Klineberg, who is a Professor of Sociology and the founding-director of the Houston Area Survey (1982-2008), which has tracked Houston's demographics and public attitudes for the past 27 years.

"Support for gay rights (e.g., allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly in the military, or to teach in the public schools, or to be legally permitted to adopt children) has continued to increase steadily and consistently among Harris County residents over the past two decades," Klineberg continued.

To sponsor one of the families participating in the American Family Outing click here.

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