Well done. Although it is not the grand coalition you envisioned.

The enemies of my enemies are my friends…

“I don’t agree.”

Of course you don’t.

I denounce such comments regularly at the United Church of Christ congregation I pastor. My denunciations, no matter how frequent or how forceful, will never get the attention this man has gotten.

Rev Chico,

In referring to “The Church”, I am using the vernacular of faith. The Church is not a denominational reference but rather a reference to the Epistles in which The Church refers to all believers. In churchspeak, The Church’s voice is the collective voice that comes from the body of believers – sort of who screams the loudest.

And frankly, pastors like you have not been screaming loudly enough. I love that you refute such statements… in your church. But do you refute them to the local paper? Do you call on your members to show up at city council to demand that your local community go on record as opposing such matters?

Do you do so every time that the issue comes up? Wild crazy wacky anti-gay extremists do. Do you?

(Perhaps you do, I don’t know your personal efforts, but I’m speaking here in a larger sense. I love the UCC, I truly do.)

I believe that the biggest detriment to Christianity has been the willingness of liberal or moderate Christians to allow the far right extremists to hold the mic and speak for all of Christianity.

At the risk of being offensive (and I know this can come off that way) it’s your fault. “Your” as in all of Mainline Christianity.

Here’s what you could do: Call the local Methodist, Lutheran, American Baptist, Episcopal and other sane ministers. Stop being “ecumenical”. Stop including the homophobes. Stop pretending that they too speak for Christ. Form a coalition of faiths that advocate for what Christ advocated for and don’t be afraid to stand for justice, mercy, kindness, and loving your neighbor as yourself. (Or take the Council of Churches and make it worth something)

And if some congregation just isn’t sure about it and ya know we have different views and we must all respect everyone and we have to love the homophobes too and its a matter of personal belief and on and on and on, don’t include them.

Once you have your coalition, start speaking. Loudly. And don’t pull punches.

It is okay to tell the press that Rev. Worley speaks the words of Satan. He does, after all. His message is anti-Christ and there’s no reason not to describe it as such.

Be willing to say it and I guarantee that the press will be willing to print it. If you don’t, then there is NO REASON why the unchurched should think that you believe anything other than what Worley believes.

http://www.au.org

http://okcamericansunited.blogspot.com/2012/05/au-to-file-complaint-on-worley.html

I am not one to get all wrapped up in discussions where we pick apart word by word what is being said, but go for the greater meaning. I am going to say this and then *not* respond back because it simply takes away from the discussion, and I don’t want to do that. Your comment seems *to me* to be nit picking. Let’s just move on.

I don’t see it that way. Too often the bigots say gays aren’t mistreated or hated in anyway, that they’re complaining about nothing. Exposing these comments shows that is not the case, there is discrimination and hate that needs to be dealt with. Exposing such comments demonstrates that people are denying gays equal rights out of animus, not out of genuine concern for heterosexuals.

Straightgrandmother said “Priya Lynn with all do respect, no. Timothy is right. What is being advocated IS the Holocaust. Remember, “and then they came for me” Priya Lynn please reconsider your position on silence.”.

I think you misunderstand me. I fully support encouraging people in general and christians in particular to condemn comments such as Worley’s. What I have a problem with is using the dishonest idea that “to be silent is to condone” in order to provide that encouragement. It would be better if Timothy said “Don’t let people falsely believe you condone Worley’s position – speak up against him.”.