A Christian school in North Carolina affiliated with a Presbyterian Church made headlines this week when it released a policy that says it seeks to refuse admission to students if the student or someone in the student's family supports equality for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Americans.
Note that this not a school associated with some fringe church. It is affiliated with a Presbyterian church, Myrtle Grove Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
The school's policy reads in part: This includes, but is not necessarily limited to, participating in, supporting, or affirming sexual immorality, homosexual activity, or bisexual activity; promoting such practices; or being unable to support the moral principles of the school.
During the previous two years, Faith In America has been observing a disturbing trend in which the anti-gay religious forces are intensifying their efforts to give spiritual legitimacy to religion-based bigotry toward gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals.
We have seen in recent days the United Methodist Church stepping up its efforts to put on trial pastors in that denomination who bless same-sex weddings.
We have also seen how America's anti-gay religious industry is exporting its religion-based bigotry to other areas around the globe – particularly Russia.
When James Dobson, former president of the anti-gay Focus on the Family, said three years ago that the culture war had been lost, many may have thought that the anti-gay religious industry was conceding defeat. Today that would appear a mistaken analysis. Instead, Dobson's words most likely were meant as a wake-up call for the anti-gay religious industry to intensify efforts to place its religious and moral stamp of rejection and condemnation on gay and lesbian people. It seems to be heeding that call.
When we see churches within these "moderate" Methodist and Presbyterian denominations promoting harm toward innocent people, it should serve as a wake-up call for those advancing a much different religious perspective on sexual orientation.
Faith In America is answering that call and we hope you will join us.
You can start by sharing our message about this new religious perspective and our call to end the immense harm caused by religion-based bigotry. Visit this page and learn and how you can help by simply sharing the name and address of someone you would like us to send the materials.
We hope the pastor and congregants at Myrtle Grove Evangelical Presbyterian Church pause for a moment when they pray this morning to think about the immense emotional, psychological and spiritual harm caused to LGBT youth and their families.
Many of these families have lost a child due to this harm – a horrible situation that is being committed in the name of Christ's love and understanding. Myrtle Grove Evangelical Presbyterian Church is making a mockery of that love and understanding.
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