Religious group merges with gay rights task force

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 3/14/6 | Wyatt Buchanan

[SmithL]

1,400 'welcoming' congregations are represented -- hopes for 10,000 in 5 years -

The gay rights movement has found God.

After decades of working to change secular institutions, the national movement, which has largely convinced society that homosexuality is neither a mental disorder nor a crime, is focusing on what its leaders say is their last, and biggest, challenge: convincing believers that it's not a sin.

The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the country's oldest gay rights organization, announced Monday that a religious organization representing 1,400 Protestant congregations that unconditionally welcome gays and lesbians has merged with the task force.

Over the next five years, the task force wants to increase membership in the Institute for Welcoming Resources to 10,000 congregations.

"It's a very proud and happy day for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender movement," said Matt Foreman, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, which is based in New York. "We see this as a critically important step in reclaiming the language of faith and moral values from those on the right that attempt to hijack faith and moral values."

The merger means organizations working for acceptance of gays and lesbians in several denominations -- including the Presbyterian, Methodist and Lutheran churches -- will be part of the task force.

"This is the first of its kind in terms of scope and collaboration," said the Rev. Rebecca Voelkel, who heads the Institute for Welcoming Resources, which is now part of the task force.

The move comes two months after the first national Black Church Summit in Atlanta, which created a network of clergy to counter discrimination against gays and lesbians in African American churches across the United States.

[SmithL]

...is focusing on what its leaders say is their last, and biggest, challenge: convincing believers that it's not a sin.

And there you have it.

[Zender500]

After decades of working to change secular institutions, the national movement, which has largely convinced society that homosexuality is neither a mental disorder nor a crime, is focusing on what its leaders say is their last, and biggest, challenge: convincing believers that it's not a sin.

Tough job, there. So many new Bible "translations" to write, so many semantic contortions to wriggle into, so much eisegesis to do.

[little jeremiah]

One for the list; needs triple bagger alert.

Pretending something is so doesn't make it so.

[little jeremiah]

In case you missed it.

Like you have nothing do to!

[DirtyHarryY2K]

Homosexual Agenda Ping!

FReepmail if you want on/off the ping list.

Free Republic homosexual agenda keyword search

[trubluolyguy]

The gay rights movement has found God.

---

I pray He watches his 6.

[trubluolyguy]

How about, they shouldn't get the $hit kicked out of 'em for being perverted (assuming no children involved) other than that they get the same rights everyone else does.


They already have the right marry. A gay man can marry any woman that I can.

[NYer]

Over the next five years, the task force wants to increase membership in the Institute for Welcoming Resources to 10,000 congregations.

Re your ping to the Bible thread ... this simply adds fuel to the fire. Here's the "fruit" of sola scriptura.

[markomalley]

Re your ping to the Bible thread ... this simply adds fuel to the fire. Here's the "fruit" of sola scriptura.

You're absolutely right. Without the authentic teaching of the Magesterium, these ecclesiastical groups are left with a situation where "every man did what was right in his own eyes." (Jdg 17:6)

[VOA]

well, here's a place to find "welcoming" churches:
http://www.welcomingresources.org/usa.htm

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