"Gentle Christians are COMING OUT OF THE CLOSET in Charlotte!"

[Bluebear]

To: National Desk

Contact: Rev. Flip Benham, Operation Save America, 980-722-4920

CHARLOTTE, NC, April 11 /Christian News Wire/ -- What is causing the homosexual community in the Charlotte area such consternation these days? Christians are not standing idly by while God’s Word is being trashed in the streets. They are coming out of the closet!

More than 700 gentle Christians converged on the Rowan-Salisbury School Board last night to stand for Christ and say, "No," to the radical homosexual agenda that is weaseling its way into our public schools. The preachers preached, the singers sang, the prayers prayed, and the theology of the church house became biography in the streets of Salisbury, North Carolina.

The Rowan-Salisbury Board of Education, after feeling the heat of the Christian community, began to see the light and reversed its decision to allow a homosexual club to form at the South Rowan High School. In a unanimous 8-0 decision the school board voted to dissolve the student club, "Gay-Straight Alliance."

"This is simply one more in a string of defeats for the radical homosexual agenda in the greater Charlotte area," said Rev. Flip Benham, National Director of Operation Save America. "The Church of Jesus Christ has come out of the closet and, and because it has, the homosexual community is steadily moving back into it."

Just last month, "Charlotte Pride," the annual homosexual lust fest that parades its sin in downtown Charlotte every spring, was pushed into its grave by the Gospel of Christ. How did it happen? Q-notes, the leading gay and lesbian news source in the Carolinas, said this: "The future of Charlotte’s annual Gay Pride celebration isn’t looking too bright these days . . . former Charlotte Pride co-chair Nathan Smith resigned in a virtual burnout and organizers are less than enthusiastic about Charlotte Pride 2006. Chris Conyers (one of the organizers) said, ‘It seems as though community support has gone down and the presence of Operation Save America, I think, has made it unpleasant for many people…’"

South Rowan High School is free from the bane of a homosexual club today. The City of Charlotte is free today from the public display of obscene homosexual acts in a public park. Why? Because the Church of Jesus Christ is out of the closet. Christian moms and dads, pastors, and businessmen are taking the battle to the very gates of hell and winning.

"Our city and government officials continually tell us, ‘Our hands are tied.’ We continually remind them that the hands of the Church of Jesus Christ are not!" Rev. Benham said.


http://www.earnedmedia.org/osa0411.htm

[SaveElmer]

1. These people are no better than the Ku Klu Klan...IMO

eom

[Horse with no Name]

2. And many times worse

Because more people identify with them than they do the KKK (another Christian organization.)

[Clark2008]

29. Actually, the KKK isn't Christian - that didn't happen until much

much, much later in their existance - but, whatever.

[Horse with no Name]

37. According to their history

on edit:the link is from a cached page that is no longer available. I did a google on "KKK""Christian""history".
You should be able to find the cached page.
Membership Requirements for the Men
Not allowed in the ranks if not able to declare an unqualified allegiance to the constitution.
Not allowed in this movement who cannot pledge themselves to the protection, preservation, and advancement of White race.
No one is allowed if you are not able to practice Brotherhood.
Only Pure white Christians allowed. 18 years of age, and who can dedicate their lives to the KKK.
The KKK is a strict law abiding orginization. You will be SWORN to uphold law
The KKK concedes the right of every Christian citizen the right to worship God as he sees fit.
>>>>>snip
The Klan has five beliefs that they strongly support They are: the White race should be first, that America is to come first before any foreign or alien influence, the constitution which is based on the Holy Bible and Christian common law, free enterprise, and the right of Americans to practice Christian faith.
>>>>>snip
The Klan has been involoved in many violent crimes from the first day! They committed lynchings, bombings, and murders in cold blood. They had a common ritual that was to wear their "hoods and robes." They say that this is related to a Christian act. One other ritual they do, is to burn the cross; this according to them, signifies the truth and light of the scared doctrine and is said to be a religous celebration.

[beam me up scottie]

47. You're exactly right.

Not all christians are liberal.

Belief in Jesus Christ doesn't make them morally superior to non-christians.

[PublicWrath]

27. Precisely. Did you see that crazy bastard Fred Phelps

tonight on Scarborough? For a change I was glad to see one of these nuts get a chance to rave on live tv. He's quite conspicuously demented. I'm glad people got a good look at the stuff the fundie right is trying to let loose on the rest of us. I think it probably opened some eyes.

[marmar]

3. I'm so sick of these fucking people...

These mofos are just elephantshit crazy, and like mosquitoes on a summer night, they won't go away. And what's sad is that they don't see the hypocrisy in what they're doing. We need a string of defeats for the radical Christofascist agenda!

[PublicWrath]

40. And the bastards grow bolder by the hour...........n/t

[Whoa_Nelly]

4. Just what IS the "Homosexual Agenda"?

Sounds right up there with "Homosexual Lifestyle"...a bunch of BS.

Learned long ago that those who seek to control others are those who are most out of control in their lives.

Seems that would fit this bunch of "Gentle Christians".

[valerief]

10. Someone mailed it to me once

I. Opening statements
II. Financial Update
III. Year in Review
IV. The Horizon Program
V. Recogition Awards
VI. Q & A
VII. Buffet

Seems pretty harmless to me.

[beam me up scottie]

16. Not to mention,

their quiche is to die for!

[Whoa_Nelly]

32. You guys are cracking me up

:rofl:

[cynatnite]

52. Damn, that's some radical shit n/t

[kcass1954]

24. This old thread takes a pretty good stab at defining it.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=5537256&mesg_id=5537256

[Whoa_Nelly]

33. I thought I'd read about it here on DU

:rofl: Thanks

[EFerrari]

56. Betty Bowers. Priceless.

:rofl:

[0007]

77. LOL!

[EFerrari]

79. I think that image would flip Flip out permanently.

:rofl:

[AndyA]

5. Congratulations, "Christians" - you've just taught your children how to

hate, discriminate, and judge others. None of which are "Christian values."

It's time for Christians (or those who profess to be, although they don't act like it) to ask themselves some pointed questions:

- Why is it acceptable to discriminate against a group of people for their beliefs? Especially when The Bible said "Let he who is without sin cast the first stone."

- What part of depriving this group of people its club is attractive to you as Christians? Do unto others - so why aren't you? Would you want others to treat you this way?

You Christians need to get it together. Satan is very happy with you all right now, you are doing Satan's work, not God's. Shame on you, every last one of you. A sin is a sin. And you've just committed a big one.

Explanations for your actions will be taken at the gates of Heaven.

[Horse with no Name]

7. The radical Christians around this area

have really called my faith into question.
I still believe in the Jesus I grew up believing in--the one who believed in forgiveness, loving and helping each other. My problem is that I can't find a church around here who believes in the same thing.:(

[dddem]

I'm in the same boat

I was brought up Catholic, and I can't bring myself to go back to church. I don't want to raise my kids in an environment of bigotry and discrimination. I'm going to check out the First Congregational Church in my town; they are part of the 'United Church of Christ'. You should check them out, I think you might be pleasantly surprised! If not, take solace in the fact that God knows how you feel, and God knows that there are people who use His name to spread hate - and they will get their due.
Peace, and God Bless.

[kestrel91316]

15. UCC/Congregationalists are VERY MUCH ok.

Hope the fundies don't take THEM over someday, too.

[bobbieinok]

50. there's a group trying to take over all mainline denominations ...eg UCC

There are several extensive discussions of these attempts at

http://www.talk2action.com

For example, the attack on the UCC

http://www.talk2action.org/story/2006/2/11/13559/0530

....

John Dorhauer's new weekly series on Talk To Action may be unprecedented : Dorhauer's series concerns an over two decade long campaign, by the far-right wing financed Institute For Religion and Democracy and so called "renewal" groups advocating literal interpretations of the Bible and far right social and political views, to destroy mainstream Protestant Christianity in America. Operating from within mainline Protestant denominations "renewal" groups work to sow dissension via wedge issues such as gay marriage, incite schisms, and so break apart mainstream and liberal denominations and neutralize them as an effective force in American politics.
Before now this campaign has seldom been discussed so publicly, and with John Dorhauer's series we have an ongoing chronicle from the heart of one embattled denomination, the United Churches of Christ.

....

Talk To Action Co founder Frederick Clarkson frames the backdrop of the story for us :


Once upon a time, the member denominations of the National Council of Churches maintained a vigorous social witness. That's what such mainline Protestants as the Presbyterians, United Church of Christ, the Methodists, and the Episcopals called their stands for social justice including such things as civil rights for African Americans, equality for women -- including ordination, and opposition to the excesses of American foreign policy from Vietnam to El Salvador. While there was some conservative opposition to these advances over the course of the 20th century, including some schisms, the direction of mainline protestantism was clear.
Then, the strategic funders of the Right, such as Richard Mellon Scaife and several others, helped create an agency that would help to network, organize and inform internal opposition groups. That agency is still around and is called the Institute on Religion and Democracy

....Many in the mainline churches are waking up to the simple fact that they have been under attack for more than two decades by rightist interests set on neutralizing their effectiveness -- and that the IRD and its allies have had considerable success.

....IRD remains a well-funded and influential agency to this day. It's minions in the mainline churches are treated as credible spokespersons for conservative dissent by mainstream religion reporters.

more....

[Clark2008]

31. Well, I'm Christian. I don't believe homosexuality is right

HOWEVER (and that's a biggie), I also don't believe it's my right to judge.

I honestly don't give a flying rat's ass what people do in their bedroom as long as it doesn't involve me, my husband, my son or anything that would harm us.

Go, be, do. I don't care. I don't "understand" homosexuality, but I don't condemn it, either. I also will admit that I don't understand a lot of things, but that doesn't mean that I condemn or judge them, outright, either. :shrug:

Not a judgment call on my part, you understand (I really am a female who doesn't find the female body as attractive as the male body, despite social morays. I think men are well more sexier than women) - I really just don't "get it," but, neither is it any of my fucking business.

[theHOMOagenda]

38. LOL... me too!

I totally agree with you... I think men are much sexier than women too!

Of course, I wouldn't judge you either.

The question is, despite your beliefs are you willing to stand up for my rights as I am willing to stand up for yours as a woman?

Here's to a better world...

:toast:

[beam me up scottie]

41. I have stood up for your rights

and I'll do it again!

Nothing to "understand" about homosexuality, really.
I'm attracted to men and so are you.:P

But what's with people who are attracted to republicans?

Ew, ick, bleh.

I just don't get that.

Bunch of preverts.

There oughta be a law...

[theHOMOagenda]

61. And for that you get a big 'ole

:hug:


We should outlaw open expression of fundamentalism... we can call it Terry's Law. :think:

[beam me up scottie]

64. Hey!

I had a great idea yesterday!

I think we need to put warning labels on their bibles and churches and tattoo them on the fundies' foreheads.

Fair's fair, they did it to science textbooks in Georgia, right?



:hug:
Backatcha !

[theHOMOagenda]

65. Oh gawwwddesss...

Not on the forehead... they are soooo 'mark of the beast' about that sort of thing!

:rofl:

Instead of labels.. why don't we just enforce the tax laws and shut down their theocratic machine? We start with evil Uncle Robertson!

[beam me up scottie]

67. Ooooooooooooooo,

I like it, hit them where it hurts the most!!!

Of course, we'd have to make them pay back all of that "faith-based" funding, too.:D

[Jersey Ginny]

6. My heart goes out to the kids and families affected by this hatred.

I wouldn't have the stomach to live there. I'm grateful to live in NJ. It is not perfect here, but this kind of Naziesque hatred is not out in the open.

[valerief]

8. … the annual homosexual lust fest …

Lust fest? Sounds much fancier than a kegger.

The preachers preached, the singers sang, the prayers prayed,…
Oh, such alliteration!

…radical homosexual agenda that is weaseling its way into our public schools…
How many weaseling agendas do you know of?

…the Church of Jesus Christ is out of the closet.
Darling, we know you gay-haters are self-loathing and latent homosexuals yourself. Why not either go back in the closet or join the lust fest?

Contact: Rev. Flip Benham, Operation Save America, 980-722-4920
Oh, I can count the number of straight men who'd let themselves be called Flip on one hand. Of course, on the other hand I don't have enough fingers to count the gay men who'd let themselves be called Monique.

If these gay-haters weren't so dangerous, they'd be savage amusement.

[spag68]

12. Do you think that is a real phone number?

If it is we should go to a pay phone and call to give the rev some kind words.

[EFerrari]

13. Better --I just emailed Charlotte Pride and asked if there was some

way we can support their parade. :)

[Duncan Grant]

25. That's the angle I'm considering!

Aw shucks, let's have a National Gay Pride event in their fair out-of-the-closet "Christian" city. All GLBT people, their friends, families and allies should plan on a joyous celebration of visibility - that should get their righteous bowels in an uproar.

Great idea, btw. Sending an email of encouragement and solidarity might mean a lot to those volunteer organizers about now. ;) :hi:

Charlotte Pride

[EFerrari]

26. Exactly!

:hi:

[valerief]

14. Maybe. Hey, I remember the comedian Flip Wilson, who used to

dress up like woman named Geraldine in his act. I wonder if the Reverend Flip was named after him. And I wonder if he has a Geraldine somewhere inside him just begging to come out.

[Richard Steele]

43. I had a weaseling agenda once...

But it didn't match the chaise lounge, so I got rid of it.

[spag68]

9. I have to wonder

what will happen when one of the nascar boys comes out of the closet. I bet their heads will explode.

[bullwinkle428]

20. There was a very talented driver in NASCAR that died of AIDS back in

the late 1980s - Tim Richmond. He was treated like absolute dirt by NASCAR officials once they learned of his illness - really a tragic story. Here's some more information on him:

http://www.gordonline.com/feature/timrichmond.html

[Bluebear]

30. "in a sport as backward-thinking on so many things as this sport is"

"As for NASCAR Inc, they’re a rotten crowd. Tim Richmond was, to paraphrase F. Scott Fitzgerald, worth the whole damn bunch of them put together. Tim, we the fans of NASCAR, miss you."

Nice page of remembrance, thanks for referecing it, bullwinkle.

[EFerrari]

11. "Operation Save America"

We should find a way to help the good people of Charlotte to PARADE. I wonder if the organizers have a fund or something. I'd like to send something in Flip's name.

"Flip's letter convinced me that I need to support Charlotte Pride 2006." :evilgrin:

[valerief]

17. As Flip Wilson used to say, The Devil made me do it!

[EFerrari]

23. He was something else. LOL! n/t

[Initech]

18. The fundies here are no better than the fundies we're fighting

:argh:

[PublicWrath]

44. Yes, and if we're not careful we're going to get caught in the middle of a

major military fistfight between the fundies here and the fundies over there.

[Initech]

66. Some fundies already view Iraq as a "holy war"...

So why not?

[Erika]

19. An email address for their Chamber of Commerce

is [e-mail]

For those of you outraged at Cumberland University in Kentucky, there number is 800-343-1609

Is the south in some kind of meltdown?

[EFerrari]

35. It's not the South, it's the Republicans. This IS their base. n/t

[Jigarotta]

21. They ain't no god damned Christians.

Jesus would spit on them.

btw, I don't Really believe in the Jesus (kinda sorta maybe) but I Thoroughly believe there are people as good as he was. Right here, right now. Jesus wasn't so much a person or son of goodliness, than an Idea of simple humanity and caring.

and fuck the money changers!

[Rocknrule]

22. "Anakin, the Jedi are taking over!"

That is what this essentially is

[Clark2008]

28. Fuck - they're no more "gentiles" or "christians" than I am atheist,

which ain't much.

How awful they besmirch my Christ - who loves everyone.

[beam me up scottie]

42. They say the same thing about liberal christians.

Millions of conservative christians can't be disqualified because they interpret the bible differently.

[EFerrari]

34. These Christofacists have nothing to do with Christianity.

And every day, they seem to need to extend their hatred -- which is all they have, their self-loathing turned outward.

We can't sit by. This is poisonous for our culture. We have to counter these haters.

[Bluebear]

36. Unfortunately they are becoming the FACE of Christianity.

The leaders I see on TV are Falwell. Robertson. A bunch of loons. The more moderate and loving spokespeople get NO air time.

[EFerrari]

39. I know. It's like a vector in the environment.

I think we should all go underground with the Unitarian Jihad:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2005/04/08/DDG27BCFLG1.DTL

Name generator here:

http://homepage.mac.com/whump/ujname.html

/virus -> vector

:hi:

[Bluebear]

45. Brother Pepper Spray of Warm Humanitarianism here

:hi:

[EFerrari]

51. Sister Boot Knife of Moderation.

I like it. :)

[theHOMOagenda]

57. Sister Atom Bomb of Loving Kindness

Yeah BAyyyyBeeeee!

:nuke:

:rofl:

[EFerrari]

59. LOL!

I'm glad you like that, Sistah Atom Bomb.

:rofl:

[obxhead]

46. I heard this on the local news tonight...CMS may not have....

Stopped this club.

The rule they made to break the club up goes something like - no clubs allowed that have sexual content.... etc. (No I haven't checked out the rule yet)

Anyway the club is now saying they are discussing social values and such. So it may not be over yet.
I just love how CMS is always doing so much good for it's students. I have yet to hear a positive thing about that group.

[Jeffersons Ghost]

48. GAY DEMOCRATS DON'T WANT DEVISIVE ISSUES ON DU I BET

and neither do Christian dems on the far left, like me. It's reich-wing bull and it won't work.
FREEP CHEERS FOR DEMOCRATS! FREEP CHEERS FOR DEMOCRATS! FREEP CHEERS FOR DEMOCRATS!

[beam me up scottie]

49. um...

how much have you had?

[Jeffersons Ghost]

53. in beer or weed?

that Iran thing got to me, with a maniac rattling sabers in DC... I've got 3 kids one old enough to draft and two getting very close.

[EFerrari]

It's all right. There's enough any day to "get to" us. n/t

[beam me up scottie]

62. I've got one brother in Ramadi

and another they want to send to join him, I grok.

I wasn't sure what you were getting at since this is a pretty peaceful thread.

[Bluebear]

54. OK then!

<!>

[ruggerson]

55. It's CHRISTIANS who need to fight this shit. Gay people cannot.

My suggestion:

People who belong to churches where pastors spew this hatred should simply stand up in the middle of the service. No need to yell, no need to riot. Just stand up EVERY FRIGGING TIME your pastor starts in on gay people. It will catch on with likeminded people and eventually more and more people will be standing up and silently objecting.

The Pastor then has a choice. Boot out a portion of his flock or stop preaching hatred.

(Btw, if enough people did this, the media would pick up on it)

[EFerrari]

58. That's a very powerful suggestion, ruggerson. And those of us

who don't belong to those congregations need a way to weigh in as well.

Or, a way to support those who are and do object.

[ruggerson]

63. I should amend that slightly

It's *straight* Christians who need to fight this.

There are, of course, plenty of gay Christians, but we have reached the point in this particular civil rights movement where the masses now have to start to turn against this daily barrage of hate.

And I do think if enough people start to participate it could become quite a phenomenon.

[EFerrari]

68. Well, the thing is, that pretty much excludes me and mine

from participation altogether.

And I think we ALL need to find a way to show these fuckers that we will not stand by while they abuse and disenfranchise our GBLT bros and sistahs.

I'm going to call the Charlotte group in the a.m. because I can't sit with this shit.

A little OT, it has really come home to me how much the GOP is investing in bigotry. They have since the Civil Rights Act was passed but lately, it's not even covert any more, barely coded any more. They don't even take the time to hate you personally any more.

Not good.

[ruggerson]

71. I think it's great that you're doing that

and I think that's probably a very effective way for people who aren't in those congregations to have an impact.

We should all be calling them.

But, I think the people within the congregations could really capture media attention if they started standing up against hate.

[EFerrari]

74. I'm sure you're right about that. And I hope, with enough support,

that those people DO stand up.

[theHOMOagenda]

72. Give em hell

Sister Boot Knife of Moderation!

:patriot:

[EFerrari]

76. That would be hell with sensible choices in committee!

:rofl:

[theHOMOagenda]

70. Total agreement...

We have reached a point where it is going to be up to hetero America, and especially Dems, to say, "NO FURTHER". I have said for years that GLBTS are the door through which the American Nazi Party will walk...

TA...DAH!

Just look at the rulings to open proseltyzing in the military to the success of the theocracy in this country.

At this point it is taking nearly all the resources of the glbt community to maintain what gains we have made. / end rant

:yourock:

[Jeffersons Ghost]

60. ican't help you there, I attend church at UU...

with 6 Pagans, at least one athiest and a bunch of Democrat Christians and we don't like to mix religion and politics. We claim Thomas Jefferson as one of our founders but I'm not sure if it's true.

[beam me up scottie]

78. I'm still trying to digest

the fact that atheists go to church.

[EFerrari]

80. Not much on teevee Sunday mornings.

:evilgrin:

[beam me up scottie]

81. True,

but I usually sleep in!

All that evil atheist stuff makes me tired.

[ms liberty]

69. Rowan is the home county of Liddy Dole...n/t

Hi, my name is Sibling Boot Knife of The Short Path! Cool site!

[theHOMOagenda]

73. Salute!

Sibling Boot Knife of The Short Path

:patriot:

[EFerrari]

75. Welcome to the DU Chapter of Unitarian Jihad.

:)