The American Family Outing - Democratic Underground

JackBeck

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Fri Dec-26-08 01:27 AM
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The American Family Outing

Edited on Fri Dec-26-08 01:35 AM by JackBeck

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mel_White">Mel White, the President and Co-Founder of Soulfource, was previously the ghostwriter for Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham and Pat Roberstson, while living a life of shame in the closet. After coming out, he created this grassroots organization with a goal of opening up a dialogue between evangelicals and the LGBT community.

Friday, June 13 - Sunday, June 15, 2008 (Father's Day Weekend) Dr. Rick Warren and Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California

Dr. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life and founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California, one of America's largest and best-known churches with a membership of over 16,000. Warren was named one of "America's Top 25 Leaders" by U.S. News and World Report in 2005. He was elected by TIME Magazine as one of "15 World Leaders Who Mattered Most" in 2004 and one of the "100 Most Influential People in the World" in 2005.

http://www.soulforce.org/article/1341">Read more on the visit to Rick Warren and Saddleback Church.

More Information:
http://www.soulforce.org/article/1333">Frequently Asked Questions about the American Family Outing

Frequently Asked Questions about the American Family Outing

1. What is the American Family Outing?

The AFO is a campaign between Mother's Day Weekend and Father's Day Weekend in which LGBT families and supportive straight families will seek peaceful and heart-to- heart dialogue with six of today's most influential evangelical leaders and their mega- churches about faith, family, and LGBT people. We seek first to understand, and then to be understood, as we engage families and staff within these congregations.

2. Who are the sponsors of the American Family Outing?

The AFO is a collaborative project between Soulforce, http://www.nbjcoalition.org/">The National Black Justice Coalition, http://www.colage.org/">COLAGE, and the http://www.mccchurch.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Home">Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches.

3. Why is it important for LGBT people and our families to dialogue with these mega-churches?

The six pastors we plan to visit during the AFO have been ranked by Christian organizations as among the 50 most influential Christian leaders in America. In addition to pastoring large churches whose memberships often exceed tens of thousands, each has an enormous influence on American culture through best-selling books, radio and television programs that reach millions of homes, and frequent speaking engagements in packed churches and large coliseums in cities across the country. While some are actively involved in American politics, all have significant influence on public opinion and therefore, the rights of LGBT people and their loved ones. In some of these churches, LGBT people are welcomed - but they are not affirmed - often meeting resistance from church leaders when they offer their spiritual gifts and seek to take a more active role within the life of the church. Soulforce and our partnering organizations care deeply about the emotional, mental, and spiritual welfare of those in the LGBT community who choose to attend these churches. We want them to know that God loves and affirms them exactly as they are and that each of us can live lives of service filled with dignity and grace, regardless of our sexual orientation or gender identity. Our vision is that one day; every church sanctuary in America will truly be a sanctuary for ALL people.

4. Does Soulforce consider these churches and leaders to be our enemy?

Absolutely not. These churches are filled with good and loving people who want, as we do, to make the world a better place. The leaders of these churches are victims of misinformation, as we all have been, about sexual orientation and gender identity. Our ultimate goal is reconciliation - not victory. We believe these churches have the potential to be a positive force in ending the physical and spiritual violence perpetuated by some religious voices against LGBT people and their families. Some of these churches have exercised inspirational leadership on social issues such as poverty and AIDS, and we believe they can exercise comparable, courageous leadership in ending spiritual and physical violence against LGBT people. We believe that each of these churches will grow and prosper by welcoming us; recent research shows that a majority of young Christians are alienated by some churches' hostility to gay and lesbian people. More and more people of faith now understand that there are all kinds of families in America, and what really matters is our love and commitment to one another.

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For those that are interested in getting involved in spreading a positive message about the LGBT community, I offer this up as another example of grassroots outreach that can work for those that want to make a change in their local community.