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Gay group reaches out to Lakewood [Osteen]
Houston Chronicle ^ | 8 May 2008 | CLAUDIA FELDMAN

Posted on 05/11/2008 6:24:42 AM PDT by Gamecock

The son of evangelical Tammy Faye Bakker Messner will spend his first Mother's Day weekend since her death in Houston, waiting to hear from Lakewood Church Pastor Joel Osteen.

Jay Bakker, a high-profile supporter of Soulforce — a group that fights religious and political oppression of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders — wants Osteen to join the nontraditional families at a picnic Saturday and welcome them to church on Sunday.

As the tattooed and pierced Bakker spoke at a Soulforce news conference Wednesday, it was clear his mother was in his thoughts. Though she died of cancer last July, she remains a near-legend in the LGBT community.

"I want to celebrate my mother's life," said Bakker, pastor of Revolution New York City, "and help spread the message she lived and preached. We need to stop thinking of ourselves as 'us' and 'them.' We hope the families of Lakewood Church will open their hearts and minds to us and sit down and have a conversation and share a meal. ... Let's put our differences aside and share the love and hope of Christ."

Osteen has been largely silent on LGBT issues.

But for Bakker, "That's as destructive as speaking out against the LGBT community."

Bakker began trying to reach Osteen in December as part of a nationwide fellowship effort called The American Family Outing. Letters were sent to the pastors of six megachurches, including The Potter's House in Dallas and Willow Creek Community Church in Illinois.

Organizers asked the pastors to meet with members of the LGBT community over a meal and talk about shared family values.

While four megachurch pastors answered positively, Osteen and one other didn't respond, Soulforce spokeswoman Paige Schilt said.

After Wednesday's news conference, Bakker drove to Lakewood with a local lesbian mother who is an Osteen fan.

"Families come in all forms," said Kim Beggs, a real estate broker. "God loves us."

They were turned away after a brief wait with the assurance that the letters would reach their destination.

Donald Iloff, Lakewood's chief of communications, later told the Houston Chronicle that Osteen wasn't able to meet with Bakker or attend the picnic because he is busy writing his Sunday sermon. It's a four-day process, he said.

Iloff went on to say, "If we met to talk, would this group be satisfied if we agreed to disagree? ... Soulforce wants to use Lakewood to further their agenda."

The picnic will go on from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Levy Park. The group welcomes people who attend Lakewood Church, Schilt said.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Extended News; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: bakker; homosexualagenda; osteen; religiousleft; sin; ybpdln
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1 posted on 05/11/2008 6:24:43 AM PDT by Gamecock
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***Osteen has been largely silent on LGBT issues.***

That’s because Osteen is silent on most Biblical issues, like Jesus, sin, salvation, atonement.


2 posted on 05/11/2008 6:25:49 AM PDT by Gamecock ("I find your lack of faith-disturbing" Darth Vader)
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To: Gamecock

Imagine how f***** up the child of Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker must be. Yikes!


3 posted on 05/11/2008 6:27:48 AM PDT by Wally_Kalbacken
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To: Gamecock
welcome them to church on Sunday.

He might as well - he paraded the Clintons on stage with him a few weeks ago.
4 posted on 05/11/2008 6:28:09 AM PDT by day10 (Rules cannot substitute for character.)
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To: DocRock; del4hope; Alex Murphy; Gamecock; Dr. Eckleburg; jude24; Ottofire; fishtank; ...

YBPDLNPL Ping


5 posted on 05/11/2008 6:29:10 AM PDT by Gamecock ("I find your lack of faith-disturbing" Darth Vader)
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To: Wally_Kalbacken

Sins of the parents visited....


6 posted on 05/11/2008 6:29:47 AM PDT by Gamecock ("I find your lack of faith-disturbing" Darth Vader)
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To: Gamecock

Absolutely correct. A little more time spent in the scripture would really benefit him.

Hoss


7 posted on 05/11/2008 6:33:44 AM PDT by HossB86
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To: Gamecock

why would this be surprising, one Religion Charlatan wants the blessing of another Charlatan, Osteen is probably taking polls of his membership to see what they would do starting with the largest donors first.


8 posted on 05/11/2008 6:34:30 AM PDT by padre35 (Conservative in Exile/ Isaiah 3.3/Cry havoc and let slip the RINOS)
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To: HossB86

I think Joel uplifts people.


9 posted on 05/11/2008 6:35:11 AM PDT by JaneNC (I)
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To: Gamecock
That’s because Osteen is silent on most Biblical issues, like Jesus, sin, salvation, atonement.

"Brother love's traveling salvation show", pass the collection plate, have they finished the wax job on my new plane yet???http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=djeEFiOyqrY&feature=related

10 posted on 05/11/2008 6:38:58 AM PDT by org.whodat (What's the difference between a Democrat and a republican????)
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To: JaneNC

We aren’t called to be uplifted, but to die to ourselves.


11 posted on 05/11/2008 6:39:25 AM PDT by Gamecock ("I find your lack of faith-disturbing" Darth Vader)
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To: JaneNC

“I think Joel uplifts people.”

He is a fantastic speaker and certainly provides encouragement and inspiration to his audience. Its sad that its not biblically based.


12 posted on 05/11/2008 6:40:36 AM PDT by driftdiver
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To: Gamecock

Joel should welcome them to church and love them, but to legitimize their relationship is out of the question assuming Joel really believes the Bible.


13 posted on 05/11/2008 6:42:37 AM PDT by Always Right (Was it over when the Germans bombed Pearl Harbor?)
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To: Gamecock

I don’t think Joel is ready to come out of the closet yet with him mom in the front row every week.


14 posted on 05/11/2008 6:47:49 AM PDT by TigersEye (Berlin 1936. Olympics for murdering regimes. Beijing 2008.)
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To: Gamecock

Iloff went on to say, “If we met to talk, would this group be satisfied if we agreed to disagree? ... Soulforce wants to use Lakewood to further their agenda.”

He’s got that right.


15 posted on 05/11/2008 6:52:18 AM PDT by kalee (The offenses we give, we write in the dust; Those we take, we write in marble. JHuett)
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To: Gamecock
"Families come in all forms," said Kim Beggs, a real estate broker. "God loves us."

God also loves those who have relations with farm animals. That doesn't mean he approves. God's love and forgiveness is not license to remain in sin.

16 posted on 05/11/2008 7:01:57 AM PDT by Grizzled Bear ("Does not play well with others.")
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To: JaneNC
I think Joel uplifts people.

I agree. I've watched several of his sermons....and have heard him use scripture throughout each of them. He focuses on a humble attitude of the heart....faith....and loving your neighbor.

IMO, no one preacher expresses the message of salvation and Christian living in the exact same way. Does it mean they aren't of the body of Christ? 1 Corinthians 12

17 posted on 05/11/2008 7:02:48 AM PDT by LaineyDee (Don't mess with Texas wimmen!)
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To: padre35
You shall not lie with a male as one lies with a female; it is an abomination.” Leviticus 18:22 (New American Standard)

“If there is a man who lies with a male as those who lie with a woman, both of them have committed a detestable act; they shall surely be put to death. Their bloodguiltiness is upon them.” Leviticus 20:13 (New American Standard)

Do you not know that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, and in the Spirit of our God.”(19)

You are very mistaken in your comment about Joel or any of the Osteen.Don't try to put a guilt trip on this man he is not the problem..I can tell you this he and many more Christians will be in heaven with God when our Lord comes back and I really feel sorry for the ones that are left behind..We will leave the earth to you people and let you run it the way you want becasue we Christians won't be here..

18 posted on 05/11/2008 7:05:32 AM PDT by PLD
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To: Gamecock

“a group that fights religious and political oppression of lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders...”

I don’t think they’re oppressed at all...they just resent that society doesn’t give them widespread approval.


19 posted on 05/11/2008 7:09:23 AM PDT by STONEWALLS
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To: Wally_Kalbacken
Imagine how f***** up the child of Tammy Faye and Jim Bakker must be. Yikes!

Oh I don't know. Looks like a fine upstanding Christian boy to me!


20 posted on 05/11/2008 7:09:44 AM PDT by Bommer (There's an (R) next to his name! I must trash my principles & beliefs and vote for the (R)!)
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