wfn.org | Soulforce Response to the Sad News from Canterbury

[UfmccHq@aol.com]

^From the News Service
of the Universal Fellowship
of Metropolitan Community Churches
http://www.ufmcc.com

A Soulforce Response to the Sad News from Canterbury
Dr. Mel White, UFMCC Minister of Justice

	The truth about God’s lesbian and gay children suffered a tragic (though
temporary) setback this Wednesday, August 5, 1998.  In Canterbury, England,
bishops from 160 nations representing 70 million Anglicans worldwide
(including the Episcopal Church in the U.S.) voted 526 to 70 (with 40
abstentions) that homosexual practice is incompatible with the Bible, that the
churches will not endorse the blessing of same-sex marriage or the ordination
of non-celibate gay men and lesbians.  

        Our faithful friend, Bishop John Shelby Spong reacted with his usual
candor and courage: "Once you take a prejudice and put it out in the clear
light of day," he  said, "the prejudice is finally doomed."  Now, until that
day, how do we respond to this latest triumph over truth by untruth?

         Before volunteering to work with the Universal Fellowship of
Metropolitan Community Churches, my partner, Gary, and I were long time
members of All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena, California, a congregation
that welcomes gays into full and unqualified membership.  We thank God for all
the individual bishops, clergy, and laity who are struggling to bring the
truth in love relentlessly to the Anglican church.  We know how painful this
Lambeth decision must be to millions of Anglicans, especially to the people of
Integrity (our lesbian sisters and gay brothers and their allies in the
Episcopal church.)  We promise them our prayerful support.  

       Each person of faith must determine how he or she will respond to this
tragic decision. But the Soulforce principles of relentless nonviolent
resistance (as taught  by Jesus, Gandhi, and King) make one thing clear. In
Gandhi’s words, "It is as much our moral obligation NOT to cooperate with evil
as it is to cooperate with good."  The Lambeth decision is evil.  It lends
credibility to the untruth that leads to  suffering and death for God’s gay,
lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered children.  We must not cooperate with
that evil decision.

      We urge all people of faith to use this coming Sunday, August 9, 1998,
as a day of mourning.  Wear black arm bands to signal our grief that once
again Christian leaders are supporting ignorance and intolerance as they did
against Gandhi’s people in India and South Africa and against King’s people in
the U.S.  However, we must never forget the courageous Anglicans who took
their stand against colonial brutality and the courageous Episcopalians who
marched against slavery and segregation. Once again, we will see determined
Anglican Christians taking their stand against untruth. I hope all people of
faith will join them. 

      I’m hoping that Episcopal clergy will either use this Sunday to preach
the truth or  to stand in silent protest, unwilling to preach, or pray, or
serve the Eucharist.  I’m hoping that Episcopal organists will refuse to play
and that Episcopal choirs will refuse to sing.  I’m hoping that Episcopal
laity will withhold their tithes and offerings and send them instead to
Integrity to help support their truth mission within the Episcopal church.
I’m hoping that all people of faith, regardless of our religious affiliation,
will not let this Sunday pass without registering our deep concern about the
rising power of fundamentalism among us. 

      How each of us responds is a deeply personal decision.  But if we do NOT
respond, if we let the forces of untruth triumph without protest, if we refuse
to stand for truth, we will break the heart of Christ and our own souls will
begin to die a little.

For more Soulforce information see: 
www.melwhite.org or send us your e-mail address.

(END)

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, CONTACT:
James N. Birkitt, Jr.
UFMCC Communications Department
8704 Santa Monica Blvd.,  2nd Floor
West Hollywood, CA  90069

Tel. (310) 360-8640
Fax: (310) 360-8680

E-mail: info@ufmcchq.com

website: http://www.ufmcc.com