Articles in Religion
Palin church promotes converting gays
Update: The LGBT community is hosting three events on the truth about the ‘pray away the gay’ conference. See “God loves you just as you are” for more on these events.
Palin church promotes converting gays
By RACHEL D’ORO Associated Press Writer
Sep 5th, 2008 | ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Gov. Sarah Palin’s church is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.
“You’ll be encouraged by the power of God’s love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality,” according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church, where Palin has prayed for about six years.
Palin’s conservative Christian views have energized that part of the GOP electorate, which was lukewarm to John McCain’s candidacy before he named her as his vice presidential choice. She is staunchly anti-abortion, opposing exceptions for rape and incest, and opposes gay marriage and spousal rights for gay couples.
Focus on the Family, a national Christian fundamentalist organization, is conducting the “Love Won Out” Conference in Anchorage, about 30 miles from Wasilla.
Palin, campaigning with McCain in the Midwest on Friday, has not publicly expressed a view on the so-called “pray away the gay” movement. Larry Kroon, senior pastor at Palin’s church, was not available to discuss the matter Friday, said a church worker who declined to give her name.
Gay activists in Alaska said Palin has not worked actively against their interests, but early in her administration she supported a bill to overrule a court decision [and] to block state benefits for gay partners of public employees. At the time, less than one-half of 1 percent of state employees had applied for the benefits, which were ordered by a 2005 ruling by the Alaska Supreme Court.
Palin reversed her position and vetoed the bill after the state attorney general said it was unconstitutional. But her reluctant support didn’t win fans among Alaska’s gay population, said Scott Turner, a gay activist in Anchorage.
“Less than 1 percent of state employees would even apply for benefits, so why make a big deal out of such a small number?” he said.
“I think gay Republicans are going to run away” if Palin supports efforts like the prayers to convert gays, said Wayne Besen, founder of the New York-based Truth Wins Out, a gay rights advocacy group. Besen called on Palin to publicly express her views now that she’s a vice presidential nominee.
“People are looking at Sarah Palin as someone who might feasibly be in the White House,” he said.
God loves you just as you are: Three events
The LGBT community is hosting three special events for families struggling with homosexuality, for Christians trying to reconcile same-sex attractions with their faith, and for everyone who wants to learn the truth about the “pray away the gay” conference.
1) “God Loves You Just as You Are” and Truth Wins Out
Metropolitan Community Church of Anchorage, an inclusive church with a special outreach for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgendered, and straight allies (GLBT), is sponsoring an Ecumenical seminar called “God Loves You Just as You Are.” The seminar’s main focus will be to assure parents of GLBT adolescents/adults and the GLBT persons themselves that God loves them just as they are.
Four local clergy will share their denominations’ stand on homosexuality. Other speakers include representatives from the National Association of Social Workers Alaska Chapter, the Alaska Counseling Association, and a school psychologist. The main presentation is by Wayne Besen, founder of Truth Wins Out, a non-profit organization that travels the country presenting research on the so-called “reparative therapy” and “ex-gay” movements.
The seminar will be at the Metropolitan Community Church, 7208 Dubin Avenue (corner of Oklahoma St) at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, September 11. A dinner ($6 donation if able) will be served at 6:30 and the presentations will begin at 7:15. Following the presentations, members of the clergy as well as PFLAG (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) will be available to have one-on-one discussions with participants.
Please RSVP to Edie Bailey, Worship Coordinator, if you’re coming for the dinner.
“God Loves You Just as You Are” and Truth Wins Out
Thursday, September 11, 2008
dinner at 6:30 p.m. ($6 suggested donation) and program at 7:15 p.m.
Metropolitan Community Church of Anchorage
7208 Dubin Avenue, Anchorage, AK
2) “God Loves You Just as You Are” with Wayne Besen and Dr. Ellen Cole
Metropolitan Community Church of Anchorage welcomes everyone to a special Sunday program on September 14, 2008 with two guest speakers: Wayne Besen and Dr. Ellen Cole. Wayne Besen is the author of Anything But Straight, written to give the truth about the so-called “ex-gay” movement. He founded Truth Wins Out, a non-profit organization dedicated to spreading the truth about Exodus and the other “ex-gay” organizations.
Dr. Ellen Cole is a Professor of Psychology at APU, a certified sex therapist, and the immediate past-president of the Alaska Psychological Association. She co-edited the books Loving Boldly: Issues Facing Lesbians and Lesbian Therapists and their Therapy and has conducted research on lesbian sex at menopause. She is married to Doug North, president of APU. The presentations are followed by a potluck in the fellowship hall.
Wayne Besen and Dr. Ellen Cole
Sunday, September 14, 2008
2 p.m.
Metropolitan Community Church of Anchorage
7208 Dubin Avenue, Anchorage, AK
3) A Loving Alternative to “Reparative Therapy”
PFLAG (Parents, Families & Friends of Lesbians & Gays) welcomes families who have questions about so-called “reparative therapy” and the “ex-gay” movement to join their support group at Immanuel Presbyterian Church. For more information, contact PFLAG Anchorage.
“Reparative Therapy” Discussion with PFLAG
Thursday, September 18, 2008
7 p.m.
“Ex-gay” roadshow targets Anchorage
As if the gloomy weather wasn’t bad enough, the “ex-gays” are coming to town. The anti-gay groups Focus on the Family and Exodus International are bringing their de-gaying conference to Anchorage’s Abbott Loop Community Church on September 13, 2008.
Appreciating MCC’s Rev. Johnathan Jones
- Johnathan left Australia in 2004 when he was only 24 to accept a position as the pastor of MCC-Anchorage.
- He had already experienced a divorce from a heterosexual marriage and was a physical and sexual abuse survivor.
- He threw himself into the work and began building the church.
- He labors to lead a service that has wide appeal, because the congregation is very diverse.
- His sermons make positive references to the GLBT community.
- He quotes scripture that dispels the notion that homosexuality is condemned in the Bible.
- He made MCC known in the community.
- He works on the Identity Helpline and fields questions concerning homosexuality and the Bible.
- He is Co-Chair of the PrideFest 2008 Committee and leads the Gay Memorial & MCC Pride Service.
- He accepts numerous speaking opportunities at UAA and in the community at large.
- He gives interviews on radio talk shows about homosexuality and religion.
- He speaks out through Compass pieces in the Anchorage Daily News.
- He is often interviewed on TV when there is an issue in the news about the GLBT community.
- He lobbied the Senate and Congress in DC concerning the Matthew Shephard Act. (Equal Opportunity Law Enforcement Act and Equal Non-Discrimination Act.)
- He personally met with Senator Murkowski to discuss the bills. (She did vote for the Matthew Shephard Act.)
- Johnathan is a very personable young man who laughs easily and loves deeply.
- His sincerity is immediately apparent to all who meet him.
- He shares many of his life’s experiences with the congregation, demonstrating that one can survive all sorts of discrimination, prejudice, and abuse and still be a Christian.
- He is deeply loved by his congregation.
