Gay Dads to Celebrate Father's Day at Saddleback Church ~ June 2008

[mzmolly]

(Lake Forest, CA) This Father's Day, June 15, a group of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) and straight-ally families will
spend their holiday in a way that is simultaneously extraordinary and profoundly commonplace: they will attend services at Saddleback Church, the mega-church founded by Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life.

The following day, the families will join leaders from Saddleback Church for a private meal and conversation. Warren and his wife Kay are expected to attend.

The visit is the conclusion of a six-week journey, a gay-friendly family road trip, to initiate dialogue with mega-church congregations across the nation. In December 2007, organizers of the project -- which is called The American Family Outing -- invited the leaders of six major mega-churches to match families from their congregations with LGBT families for a meal and conversation. Then, on Mother's Day 2008, the outing began with a visit to Joel Osteen's Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas.

...

"The meetings have been an occasion to clear up misperceptions on both sides and to begin to focus on what we have in common," says Jeff Lutes, Executive Director of Soulforce and one of the organizers of the American Family Outing.

SOULFORCE.ORG

Not excusing Warren's equation of same sex marriage to XYZ, but I felt this was interesting and wanted to share.

[samdogmom]

1. Except it was reported tonight by Rachel Maddow that Gays can't be church members!

So this is truly bizarre! Why would any self-respecting gay couple/family waste two days (let alone six weeks!) of their lives with these creeps? (It's very apparent that the church beliefs aren't going to change...these "churches"--I use this term loosely here--want the gay families to change!

These mega-churches are businesses...not religious institutions. People who support them are getting ripped off. (Plus I think they need to start paying taxes. They preach politics from the pulpit...they should not be tax-exempt!)

[mzmolly]

6. Good point

on the tax exempt status.

Might it be interesting for gays to attend and contribute an empty envelope, noting what amount they would have given if they COULD be members? ;) Perhaps a Monopoly $ campaign is in order?

[originalpckelly]

2. "The meetings have been an occasion to clear up misperceptions on both sides"

"So when you faggots have hot gay buttsecks, do you switch places ever?"

"Do you really think I'm going to burn in hell for eternity for engaging in hot gay buttsecks?"

DUHOMOS UNITES!

[mzmolly]

5. OMG.

:rofl:

Interesting to ponder what kind of conversations took place, to be sure.

[originalpckelly]

8. Yes, indeed...

and I can only imagine what I'd say if I came across that man...

[mzmolly]

9. He's not very bright

for a man of his wealth and stature, that's for sure. Then again, that goes without saying for them thar Right Wing types ...

[JI7]

3. they probably just wanted the kids of gay couples on video

and exploit those kids by using them in anti gay tv ads.

[originalpckelly]

4. "Here you will see poor Bobby, a homoraised child...

he likes to play with dolls and wants to be an interior decorator someday like both of his daddies! This is one of many tragedies of allowing gay parenting!"

[mzmolly]

7. Yikes.

I hope not!

:scared: