Date: Sat, 22 Jun 1996 11:15:06 -0400 (EDT) From: A Jay Eddy Subject: Evangelical Fundamentalist PCA Brands Gays An Abomination Broward Log Cabin Club of Florida P.O. Box 1281, Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33302 Immediate Release June 22, 1996 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ A WALK FOR JUSTICE AND PRAYER FOR TOLERANCE IGNORED On Wednesday evening, June 19th, a severe storm appeared to halt any possibility of the Ft.Lauderdale "Walk for Justice & Prayer for Tolerance" occurring at the multi-million dollar church and media complex of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Ministries. One passerby called to a small band of 20 people, under the protective overhang of a local store-front, "God has sent you this heavenly message in response to your evil life-style, you demons will burn in hell." Within minutes the rains stopped and the small band poured onto the Federal Highway sidewalk fronting the religious complex and surprisingly, coming from "out of the blue," the crowed swelled to over 300 wet demonstrators. It was not common knowledge that the extremely conservative Presbyterian Church of American (PCA) was conferencing thus proving quite a shock to the demonstrators who had a brief and pleasant encounter with Mr. William Devlin, Director of the Philadelphia Family Council. Devlin, alleged that many attendees were not aware of such harsh anti-gay sentiment seemingly being promulgated by the Rev. Kennedy's "Reclaiming America for Christ" movement. According to Damon Adams, staff writer for the Sun-Sentinel, "Church leaders said Kennedy and his church are a success story that encourages others. 'He's got an international audience' ......But with the praise has come criticism from gay activists, who say Kennedy preaches hate for homosexuals. Kennedy denies the claim....If the assembly noticed the protesters, its response came at the closing session on Friday afternoon. The delegates passed a resolution....branding homosexual behavior "an abominable sin, calling for God's judgement."....the article also noted that the confab derided the Disney Company "for helping 'promote the homosexual lifestyle.' " The activities of D.James Kennedy's ministries reach into Washington as former Deerfield Beach resident, Frank Wright, directs the D. James Kennedy Center for Christian Statesmanship. Wright noted, in a Sun-Sentinel "Lifestyle" article, that the center operates on a $400,000 yearly budget and is named after "Rev. D. James Kennedy, one of the nation's most prominent Christian broadcasters and authors." The center was established not to lobby in Washington but purely "as a spiritual outreach....set up to minister to members of Congress and their staff." Contrary to alleged current and former calls for dialogue, the followers of Kennedy's form of evangelical fundamentalism, which seems to ignore the idea of "Freedom from Religious Persecution" and the concept of "Separation of Church and State," have seemingly never openly met its olive branch commitment to gay women and men. To this day, the Rev. Mel White, Justice Minister of the Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, pleas and prays for some sign of tangible Christain love and response over the skewed silence.