Soulforce Background

What is Soulforce?
Soulforce is named for Gandhi's teaching of satyagraha, Gandhi's term for "truth force" or "soul force," which he defined as a plan of action that developed inner lives while working to transform society. These soul force principles guide many nonviolent justice movements, including Martin Luther King Jr.'s fight for racial equality.

Soulforce Mission Determined to help end the suffering of God's lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered children...Determined to help change the minds and hearts of religious leaders whose anti-homosexual campaigns lead (directly and indirectly) to that suffering...Determined to be guided in our every action by SOULFORCE - the principles of relentless nonviolent resistance as lived and taught by M.K. Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr...And in the process of bringing hope and healing to our society, find redirection and renewal for our minds and spirits.

Soulforce Strategy
Soulforce Inc. is a non-profit organization located in Lynchburg, VA, co-founded by the Rev. Dr. Mel White and his partner, Gary Nixon. Soulforce operates as an ecumenical network of staff and volunteers committed to teaching and applying the principles of nonviolence on behalf of sexual minorities.

White believes he is called to work directly with religious leaders and bring the truth to them about homosexuality. "We must continue fighting the antigay political actions. We must continue helping those who suffer. But we must also work to cut off that suffering at its source. That's why we launched Soulforce," White explains. "The toxic rhetoric flows unabated, primarily from sincere but misinformed religious leaders. It is poisoning the national discourse, dividing homes and churches, ruining families and wasting lives. We must do our best to stop that flow of poison at its source, and the 'soul force' rules of nonviolent resistance show us how."

Soulforce Tactics
Soulforce is educating thousands in the principles of nonviolence through its educational program, Journey into Soulforce. Soulforce also is producing films and other informational/educational materials, as well as developing and maintaining its comprehensive web site. Soulforce founders White and Nixon have also been tracking, for over a decade, anti-gay rhetoric in television and radio programs, as well as fund-raising letters, pamphlets, and other printed material, and responding to it in a number of ways in line with its mission.

Soulforce will approach several individuals or ministries for negotiation or direct action, in line with its mission. The first two direct actions in process are with Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson. (More information about the process with Pat Robertson can be found at the web site.)

What is the Journey into Soulforce?
The Journey into Soulforce is a self-study education program on nonviolence, broken into several steps, that takes about eight weeks to complete. Each step's message contains information and ideas, assignments for personal reflection and writing, and recommended readings and videos.

At the web site, you'll find a four-step Journey and a seventeen-step Journey. The four-step Journey lays out the principles of Soulforce and nonviolence, the nature of the issues faced by sexual minorities in the United States, and the different ways these problems are being addressed. It also invites participants to move toward making solemn commitments in their own lives that Gandhi and King believed were important for those involved in nonviolent movements.

The seventeen-step Journey builds on that base and is focused around preparing ourselves for the Soulforce process of nonviolent resistance.

How Does One 'Join' Soulforce?
There is no formal membership. All are warmly invited to participate, regardless of sexual orientation, religious belief, or attitude about homosexuality. However, we encourage participants to inform Soulforce about your own Journey as you go through it, since hearing each person's story, sharing in each other's Journey, strengthens us all. Also, let us know how to get in touch with you so we can keep you informed about and invite you to participate in our plans, events, and progress.

Through the education from the Journey and, likely more so, from the personal writing and reflection that are core to the Journey, you will become aware of the ways in which you are called to participate, both in your personal life and in concert with White and this movement.

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