Subject: Fwd: Media Release for Magazines on Phelps
From: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 30 Jul 1998 16:46:07 EDT

Pictures of Protest and Counter-Protest available upon request.

Paul David Stanko
Minister of Music/Administrator
All God's Children Metropolitan Community Church
Minneapolis, MN

Media Release:

All God's Children MCC of the Twin Cities is still celebrating the incredible
events of this past weekend.  The Westboro Baptist Church of  Topeka, 
Kansas arrived in the Twin Cities this past weekend with 20 congregants 
to picket the church with a message, "God hates Fags".  Unfortunately, 
Rev. Phelps underestimated All God's Children Metropolitan Community 
Church and the Twin Cities as over 1,000 people gathered at the church 
on Sunday morning to attend a counter rally, stating "Minnesota says 
No to Hate".  Crowds gathered on the steps of the church spilling out 
on the lawns and into the streets.  The crowds burst into applause as 
the Attorney General of the State, Skip Humphrey, and 3 other candidates
for governor lead a procession of numerous State Senators, State 
Representatives, and city and government officials into the sanctuary. 
Pastors from area churches stopped to joined the 9:30 am counter rally, 
as they were enroute to their own worship services.  An ecumenical group of
representative from religious groups, Civil rights organizations, GLBT
organizations, heterosexual and homosexual groups, numbering over 100 
all joined together in an overwhelming spirit of unity.

The 9:30 rally held in the sanctuary could not contain the crowds.  Over 
600 packed into the standing room only gathering to hear Government 
officials, community leaders, and gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered 
spokespersons speaking out against hate in Minnesota.  The Mayor of 
Minneapolis signed a proclamation making this day "say no to hate day". 
Television cameras swarmed the church along with press, and radio to cover 
this event with such an incredible "who's who" list.

The congregation joined hands as the 28 voice Chancel Choir and 24-piece
orchestra under the direction of Paul David Stanko sang a resounding 
"Let there be peace on Earth and Let it begin with me." It was followed 
by a moment of silence for all those who have died or experienced hate 
crimes in Minnesota.

Rev. Fred Phelps's group sang hymns outside on the street corner. They 
carried signs, with messages saying "Gays are going to hell, your Pastor 
is lying, Gays deserve AIDS."

All God's Children Metropolitan Community Church position was one of 
non-violent activism, sharing a message of love vs. the Westboro Baptist 
churches message of hate.

The 400 that could not get into the building stood on the steps of the 
church and began to sing "Jesus loves Me this I know" as Phelps's group 
shouted statements of hate.

A reportor for the St. Paul Pioneer Press stated "It was amazing to hear 
the language that the Phelps's group used. I was shocked that this 
so-called Christian church would stand on the street corner and yell, "you 
are all a bunch of butt-f**kers."

There were no acts of violence and no one was arrested.  The Twin Cities
community honored the request of Rev. Paul Graetz, and the church that
this rally be an act of love and affirmation of God's inclusive love for all. 
AGCMCC had groups praying on the church steps as the crowds gathered, 
bottle water and packaged snacks were available for Rev. Phelps'
group as gifts of love.

The rally transitioned into the 10:00 am morning worship service, with a 
call to be a people of love in action.  The Chancel Choir and Orchestra 
performed "Without Love" from 1 Corinthians 13 and the congregation was 
touched by the presence of God.  The Holy Spirit's power was so present 
that the overwhelmed crowd sat with tears streaming down their faces.
Rev. Paul Graetz, Pastor spoke on "A more excellent way, the journey 
of a lifestyle of love." ! Corinthians 12:27-13:13

Outside the service, were Police officers who had gathered around the 
church as early as 7:00 in the morning. They asked if they could receive 
communion with the congregation.  The spirit of ecumenicalism moved 
throughout the room as the crowds came forward to break bread together.  

The service ended with the congregation, chancel choir and orchestra 
singing "Here I am, Lord", responding to the pastor's call that each one of
us let love be lived out from our word, actions, deeds.

After the service a peace and justice resource fair and reception was 
held in the social hall.  30 organizations had booths to network together 
on GLBT issues.  

"We could not have asked for anything better", says Pastor Paul Graetz, 
Thank you, Rev. Fred Phelps! You gave this church, city and state an 
opportunity to gather in unity and love.  We were able to turn a negative 
into a positive and proclaim the message we are ALL God's Children.