Turn to the left for Campolo?

[Daniel]

I've been licking my wounds after the not unexpected, but still hurtful, NY court decision on gay marriage- my spouse and I live in NYC. This news item, from the HuffintonPost caught me eye. Not sure what to make or it, or what it will amount to, but after the bad news this past week, anything that counters the hatespeech of the conservative right is welcome. I think I remember Mr. Campolo from my AG student days. And I thought he was very conservative himself. Does anyone know how his turn towards the left came about? Or am I misinformed?



http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/09/eveningnews/main1786860.shtml

Religion Taking A Left Turn?
Conservative Christians Watch Out: There's A Big Churchgoing Group Seeking Political Power

July 10, 2006

Reverend Tony Campolo said: "We are furious that the religious right has made Jesus into a Republican. That's idolatry." (CBS)

CBS) At a church in Washington, hundreds of committed Christians met recently and tried to map out a strategy to get their values into the political debate.

But these are not the conservative Christian values which have been so influential lately. This is the religious left.

"Jesus called us to love our neighbor, love our enemy, care for the poor, care for the outcast, and that's really the moral core of where we think the nation ought to go," Dr. Bob Edgar, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches told CBS News correspondent Russ Mitchell.

The National Council of Churches represents about 50 million Christians in America — the majority of them mainline Protestants.

"Jesus never said one word about homosexuality, never said one word about civil marriage or abortion," Edgar said.

[Jamie McDaniel]

I'm hoping for the day Tony Campolo comes to publicly affirm marriage for same-gender couples. His wife Peggy spent 30+ hours in jail with Dotti Berry during a Soulforce civil disobedience outside the 2000 Southern Baptist Convention in Orlando. Peggy Campolo spoke during the 2002 Soulforce action in Lynchburg and was in Colorado Springs last year as well. She's fabulous.

[pnggrad79]

Peggy came to the Charismatic Conference in Long Beach, CA, this past February. Charismatic Conference is a yearly conference hosted by Glory Tabernacle, pastored by Sandy Turnbull and her partner, Janet Robertson. She has long been affirming to gays and lesbians and speaks openly about her support. Tony, her husband, also is affirming but believes that they should not be allowed to marry. (Don't get that, but whatever). Peggy is tireless and a great supporter. I had the privilege of meeting her and hearing her speak. She is affiliated with Evangelicals Concerned, a gay affirming group headed by Ralph Blair. She is wonderful.:D

[Steven E. Webster]

Friends,
Last I heard Tony Compolo on the subject, it appeared that his position was something like "lgbt people deserve respect and legal equality, but the scripture forbids Christians to engage in homosexual behavior." I suppose he does not support same-gender marriage. He takes stands against gay bashing but holds to a "conservative" interpretation of scripture and scripture authority.

His wife Peggy is totally on our side. Besides what Jaimie mentioned, Peggy also joined our Soulforce action at the Pittsburgh General Conference of the United Methodist Church in 2004.

Tony often cites the disagreement between he and his wife on the LGBT issue as an example of how Christians can live together peaceably with their disagreements.

I'm hoping Tony's views can evolve a little more.

Steven Webster