From: SoulForce1@aol.com Date: Thu, 7 Oct 1999 00:53:18 EDT Subject: Falwell Dinner On. Protests Threatened. Press Credential Dear Editor, I've enclosed a press release and two recent articles from the Lynchburg paper on our Soulforce Journey to Lynchburg, Virginia. The media are fascinated by this experiment in reconciliation. Jerry is under fire from his friends, but he's not backing down. THE DINNER IS ON. Fred Phelps and other hate groups have promised to protest our presence in Lynchburg. A gay activist is bringing folks from Florida to join in that protest. (See articles below) If you want an interview with me for up to date information or with someone in our delegation from your area call my partner, Gary Nixon, at 949-455-0999. To be credentialed for the press conference, interviews, and official coverage of the events, see information below. I had no idea when we began our email Journey into Soulforce with 5,000 folks where it all would end. We still don't. Follow the news on our web page: www.soulforce.org. In the meantime, I want to ask a favor. Two hundred lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered people of faith and several of our heterosexual allies (like Jimmy Creech) are making this Soulforce Journey to Lynchburg, October 22-24. We're setting out to help change the minds and hearts of Jerry and 200 of his leaders who will spend the weekend with us. During our dinner, we're going to present checks totaling $20,000 dollars to help Habitat for Humanity build a three bedroom home for a homeless family. We're encouraging Jerry and his people to build it with us. We need your help to raise the funds. We're asking each delegate to get 10 friends to write a check for $10 to Habitat for Humanity. Here's how you can help. 1. Will you encourage your readers to write a check to Habitat for Humanity for $10? Every dime will go towards building the Agape (friendship) house in Lynchburg. Each gift is tax-deductible. The donor's name (or the name of someone he/she wants to memorialize) will be written on a scroll and buried in the foundation of that house. The media will report to the world that gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people and their allies came to Lynchburg and built a house for a needy family. It's just another way to demonstrate that we have family values, too!!! 2. Would you also tell your readers that we're actually going to build the house in Lynchburg over about 12 weekends. If they live anywhere near Lynchburg, or could drive there for a weekend (or even want to fly), we need volunteers to help us build. Gay men are OK. Our lesbians can train them. If youreaders would like to be on our email Volunteer Builder's List, just let me know. Being on the list doesn't commit you to anything but an occasional Soulforce email announcing the weekends when we'll be building a house together. We could really use your help. Even if your October edition is out, the checks can come in through 2,000. All it takes is $10, the price of a movie and a bag of popcorn to leave an impression on Lynchburg and the country that will help us change minds and hearts about God's GLBT children. Thanks for your work on behalf of our community. Mel PS: Have your readers send their check to Soulforce Central First Christian Church 3109 Rivermont Avenue Lynchburg, VA. 24503 ATTN: Sandy Knodel A Falwell Press Release Jerry Falwell to Host Anti-Violence Summit With Gay Leaders; Lynchburg Minister and Gay Minister Mel White to Lead Forum, October 23 LYNCHBURG, Va., Sept. 30 - Jerry Falwell and 200 guests of his ministries will host Mel White, gay minister and author of Stranger at the Gate: To Be Gay and Christian in America, and 200 of White's guests for a forum on Saturday, Oct. 23. Participants in the forum will discuss the tragic and unprecedented rise of violence in the nation and the inflammatory language that often leads to violent acts. The meeting will be held on the campus of Liberty University in Lynchburg, from 4:00-5:30 p.m. and will be followed by a formal press conference at 5:30 p.m. Mel White is chairman of Soulforce Inc., "an ecumenical network of volunteers committed to teaching and applying the principles of nonviolence on behalf of sexual minorities." Soulforce is conducting an invitation-only weekend gathering in Lynchburg for some 200 gay men, lesbians, their friends, and family members from 30 states. Falwell met with White in Lynchburg in August and offered to host a meeting next month during White's weekend gathering to "engage in charitable and civil discourse on homosexuality and to encourage activists on both sides of the issue to unite in opposing hatred and violence toward homosexuals and toward those who sincerely believe homosexuality to be morally wrong." Fax credential request media organization letterhead to "Lynchburg Credntials" (770) 476-0122. Include the number of credentials needed, along with media position/function (names are not required). Deadline for credential requests is 12 noon, Thursday, October 21. Response to credential requests will be mailed within three working days of request reception. To contact Jerry Falwell or for more information: Jeremy Blume/Mark DeMoss (770) 813-000 pager: (800) 204 3446 To contact Mel White or to get the number of a local member of the Lynchburg200, call Gary Nixon, (949) 455-0999 or email your request to GaryNixon@aol.com. Cell phone and after October 13 (949) 933-3592 Gay Minister Will Still Meet With Falwell Gay, anti-gay sides will discuss issue Oct. 22-24 Shannon Brennan, The News & Advance, September 22, 1999 (http://www.newsadvance.com/index.htm) Plans are firming up for an unusual meeting in October between the Rev. Jerry Falwell and gay minister Mel White.Each will be flanked by 200 supporters who hope to get acquainted-with the goal of lowering inflammatory rhetoric on both sides. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org] Gay, Anti-Gay Groups May Protest in City A Miami Organization Gets Permit to Protest Falwell-White Meeting Shannon Brennan, The News & Advance September 23, 1999 (http://www.newsadvance.com/newsitems/news1.htm) Once home to the Moral Majority, Lynchburg may soon be hosting the Oral Majority - along with Tinky Winky and a donkey. A Miami Beach pro-gay organization, the Oral Majority, has a permit to protest the upcoming meeting Oct. 23 between the Rev. Jerry Falwell and 200 of his followers and the Rev. Mel White and 200 of his supporters. [Deleted article. filemanager@qrd.org]