August 11th, 2007
Darlene Bogle, a former Exodus-affiliated leader in the ex-gay movement, and Christine Bakke, a former ex-gay client, appeared in Nashville this week to petition the Southern Baptist Convention to reconsider its full-bore endorsement of ex-gay ministries. The Southern Baptist Convention recently appointed Bob Stith, a Ft. Worth, Texas, pastor and chairman of Living Hope Ministries in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, to become the denomination’s first national strategist for gender issues.
Darlene and Christine stood near the Billy Graham statue outside Southern Baptist headquarters and shared their stories. Then they went inside to deliver copies of their statements and framed collages about their experiences to a receptionist, and asked that they be passed on to Rev. Stith.
The Tennessean has an article this morning about Darlene’s and Christine’s appearance in Nashville. Soulforce issued a press release describing last week’s action and you can see video of the event here:
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5765073255230473421&hl=enLatest Posts
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On February 10, I attended an all-day “Love Won Out” ex-gay conference in Phoenix, put on by Focus on the Family and Exodus International. In this series of reports, I talk about what I learned there: the people who go to these conferences, the things that they hear, and what this all means for them, their families and for the rest of us.
Prologue: Why I Went To “Love Won Out”
Part 1: What’s Love Got To Do With It?
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Bill Ware
August 13th, 2007
There’s a lively discussion going on in the comments to the Tennesean article. So far there are 455 posted. Here’s my latest:
Duane,
Thanks for your wonderful post and more so for coming out as you did. John Roe, on his blog “Positive Liberty” made the observation that the fight for gay acceptance will not be so much won in the courts, or even the legislature. Instead, it will be due to millions of gays who are out and about engaged in the day to day conduct of their lives. The lesbian couple shopping for return to school supplies at Wal-Mart. The gay couple enjoying a day with their son at the park.
Each day in every way, your existance shines light on the dark ignorance which allows prejudices to prevail, until one day the darkness will be overwhelmed by the light.
Yes, God does love all His children, just as Jesus told us. To show our appreciation, Jesus asks us to love our neighbors in return. Too bad a few posters here don’t know what love means.
Bill
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