First, in Auburn, IN one Lutheran church has overwhelming decided they will no longer be subjected to the gay affirming aggression leaders in their denomination have embraced.

A Lutheran church in Auburn this week joined a growing number of congregations in voting to leave the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America over its recently broadened stance allowing homosexual ministers.

Members of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church, 211 E. Ninth St., voted 161-25 Sunday to withdraw from the ELCA, the Rev. Stephen Kummernuss, church pastor, said Friday.

A second vote must be taken in 90 days to confirm the action, he said.

“In August 2009, the ELCA changed its policy to allow same-gender persons in a committed relationship to be ordained, and we don’t agree with that,” Kummernuss said, adding the congregation is not against gays.

“No, absolutely not,” he said. “We believe that God made male and female for relationship with one another and not otherwise. We accept (homosexual) people but are not going to accept the act as part of God’s creation, and … not (among people) in ministry.”

The Journal-Gazette story also said the denomination previously allowed gays and lesbians in the clergy if they remained celibate. The policy change does not force any particular congregation to accept a non-celibate homosexual pastor.

But the move sparked an outcry in many ELCA churches, and many members of St. Mark’s felt it went too far, Kummernuss said. Some [members] began not attending church in protest, and giving dropped 50 percent, he said.

Nothing speaks louder to these apostate leaders than decreased money and members. If more churches would take action, they would no be so bold in installing homosexual leaders in authority. Part of the problem it seems is that many unsuspecting members are deceived with promises of more “dialogue” when in their inner circles they already have determined they will go against the Word of God.

Thankfully, for bible-adhering Lutherans there are options. Leaders have formed CORE, a “coalition of pastors, lay people, congregations and reforming groups. We seek to preserve within the Lutheran churches in North America the authority of the Word of God according to the Lutheran confessions.”

Meanwhile in the UK, a gay cleric was denied a key leadership position for the second time. The UK Guardian reported:

A gay but celibate clergyman has been blocked from becoming a bishop for the second time, following a row over his inclusion on the shortlist for the choice to run the Anglican diocese of Southwark.

Jeffrey John, the Dean of St Albans, was under consideration for the post and would have replaced the Right Rev Tom Butler, who retired earlier this year. In 2003 Dr John had been forced to stand down from his appointment as suffragan bishop of Reading.

When news of his second candidacy was leaked, the prospect of the first openly gay bishop in the Church of England immediately angered conservative evangelicals, who threatened to seek alternative leadership overseas and warned of a schism.

Of course per biblical standards, John shouldn’t be in any position of leadership in the first place, but the politics of religion have gotten him to where he is not biblical integrity.  Its interesting how  John is being marketed as a “gay but celibate clergyman”.  But further in the story says he is in a “civil partnership” but then again reasserts he is “celibate”. Sure, he is.  These agenda driven clerics will tell any lie they can to get into position.  So much for “honesty and integrity” they claim is the hallmark of being openly gay.

John reinvents the atonement  into a English tea party and in the end God and man decides to be friends. [source]. Where have we heard that type of lunatic religious heresy before?

The liberals in the church’s left wing are predictably outraged, because they want to seat these sexual apostates in power. We all know what they will do once in power. Look no further than the vindictive  Vickie Gene Robinson and its clear that keeping people like John out of power in the church is a fight worth engaging in.

The “yeah right” came after I read a column in Ministry Today by Exodus leader Jeff Buchanan. Their title asked if church was a safe place for all? By “all”, Im assuming they meant homosexuals since, that’s what Buchanan wrote about, not “all”.

That kind of perturbed me as I read the commentary. Maybe it was because the title asked a question that the article didn’t address or maybe it was because the article didn’t address critical aspects of the question. Or maybe I am just sick of making church “safe” for homosexuals (all) when we are in the midst of a significant battle with apostasy at the hands of false teachers and leaders. Not to mention biblical illiteracy is at an all time high.

So help me sort this out.

Buchanan writes:

If we’re honest, the issue of homosexuality intimidates most church leaders. It makes us feel helpless. When someone pulls us aside and confides in us that he or she struggles with same-sex attractions, we diligently put on our “leader face” while we shrivel on the inside, feeling absolutely incompetent to address the situation.

Nothing could be further from the truth. If you believe God’s Word to be true, then you automatically have the needed tools for effective ministry, since all Scripture is “useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim. 3:16, NIV). Therefore, we are equipped as the church to minister to anyone who walks through our doors—homosexual or not.

Unfortunately, intimidation and partiality often attempts to rob us of the opportunity to minister and experience the full gospel. A healthy church already has what the same-sex struggler needs; we just have to realize what those things are:

And then he lists them and talks about them. Compassionate truth, discipleship, community. And for the record Im for all that.  But there are quite a few levels of educational dissonance going on here.

First, if a pastor conducts outreach to homosexuals (and lets assume these are lost people) how can the pastor provide them with compassionate truth, discipleship and community when there is still such confusion about homosexuality in the church? I remember when I was a member of one church I was very, very hesitant to invite homosexuals to the church because I wasn’t sure what they might hear on any given Sunday. Its like, why bring someone into a place where they could be potentially insulted and called names? That would really destroy my work of getting them to church.

It seems the priority is to really get “the house” in order before we bring in souls that could be damaged even further by someone’s spiritual ignorance.

The other problem is the gay christian movement. Although it appears they are currently on the fringe, people like Tonex and other mid level apostates continue advancing the errant idea that one can reconcile homosexuality and Christian living.  And though some balk at it, if enough people keep repeating this lie (thanks for the help Lexi) soon it will become commonplace. That’s how false doctrine seats itself in our midst. We dont cast out and reject those who are spreading it. Instead we say just “love them and pray for them”. Right sentiment, wrong practice.

John MacArthur said Paul himself started the process of eliminating false teachers. In 1 Timothy 1:20 he mentions Hymenaeus and Alexander, perhaps two of the leading false teachers in Ephesus, whom he “delivered unto Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme.”

The Apostle Paul told Titus to shut down false teachers (like Tonex) who are spreading evil words.

“For there are many rebellious people, mere talkers and deceivers, especially those of the circumcision group. They must be silenced, because they are ruining whole households by teaching things they ought not to teach—and that for the sake of dishonest gain. Titus 1:10.11

Which brings me back to the first point. How can you invite homosexuals into the church to be changed when there is a visible faction of people in the church which teach that there’s no need for them to change? Frankly, Im sick of the “just love them” mantra. That doesn’t solve anything and it really looks like a easy way to detach oneself from the seriousness of what’s happening right before our eyes.

A wise preacher once said to me, “God could save and deliver every homosexual in America tomorrow, but if he does, will the church be ready to receive them?” The answer is no. And that only complicates our mandate to reach every person.

Everyone wants to include homosexuals because they have been positioned as the face of the contemporary outcast. Its almost fashionable to have a streak of tolerance towards homosexuals partly because some are afraid of the vicious invective if you don’t. And some partly because secretly believe that in time unrepentant homosexuals will be fully accepted into the church just like blacks and women.

That’s why the Buchanan article left me with a tinge of whatever. Not saying anything about all of the complications embedded into this “outreach to homosexuals” isnt helping the church to be truly prepared.

Is the church a safe place for homosexuals? If we’re honest, we cant answer that question yet.

My friend Pastor Danny Jefferson and other pastors and leaders in the greater San Francisco area are mounting a phenomenal task to lift up a “canopy of prayer” and righteousness over one of America’s most saturated principalities.

I just found out about this a couple of days ago and most likely I wont make it, but for the first time in my life my heart will be in San Francisco with those who are pressing against the gates of darkness and against the perverse principality that has ruled that city for far too long. I’ve never been there and frankly never wanted to go but this would be a reason to go.

Convening the week of July 14-18, its called The Transformation Experience and according to organizers is a “5 day hands-on, how-to transformation immersion.” Participants will “learn, be equipped and get to practice in a dynamic context in the San Francisco Bay Area.”

If you are in the area, please find out how you or your church can participate. You can watch a very inspiring video testimony from area pastors here.

Its time to transform San Francisco.

Being that I was a part of Soulforce for the American Family Outing you all don’t have any idea how much we where subjected to with lies, back stabbing hurtful words from people of God. Most people because they are not born Gay, Lesbian trans of intersex have clue what is it like to live under the misunderstandings of scripture. The rainbow community of believers can go toe to toe with scripture and life experience that God is with us.We have had to research, pray plead and study out our salvation in such intensity that you could only imagine to make sure Jesus Christ was with us. You are so misinformed and will held accountable for the deaths and for the most of the immority [sic] that goes on in the Rainbow community because you did not want to understand and open you hearts and minds like our Lord Jesus. it is sad so very sad to me. If you have to know how much God loves and likes us study about eunachs [sic], study about the fact that men lying with men where the hetro sexual men that where showing their contril[sic] and power by raping their enemy. Then contining [sic] to lie with men as if they where women because they where perverted in their born nature of being hetro. Sexual and Gender indenity[sic] are formed because of hormone washings, you can sit there and say GOSH no Mother could ever have any hormone washings but perfect ones, GET A CLUE: DRUGS, STRESS AND OTHER INFLUENCES CAN CHANGE OUR IDENTITIES. i KNOW FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE. wake up and get off the ban[sic] wagon of hateful comments” (caps his).

You are welcome to comment on Mr. Lee’s many assertions.

But back to Neil: I hope so too. I really do.

Neil’s advice is really good.

I’m really hoping that the attendees learn from the Episcopals and get more firm with this. By extending the dialogue it gives false credibility to the bankrupt pro-gay theology. We’d be doing everyone a favor by telling them to just move on and quit trying to destroy the denomination. Or at least let them know that we’re tired of the bullying. Either follow the established change process, or get arrested. Yes, it will give them their TV sound bites but we can at least let the convention proceed in an orderly manner.

So is your denomination/nondenomination/local church doing a good job in dealing with homosexuality? Are you happy at the direction they are going in?  If you were in an influential place in your affiliated organization,  what would you advise them to do to remain biblically faithful, but yet not ignore the problem? I seriously doubt that any of the major denominations can ignore their sexual civil wars. There is at least one illegitimate gay christian group in each of them. The difference I’ve noticed is that the Pentecostals/African American groups have not had anyone form a group that is actively attempting to overthrow denominational beliefs about homosexuality. For instance there is no organized “COGIC Gay and Lesbian Caucus”

I’m no defender of Mormon doctrine. Its patently false and heretical, but it seems they are about to betray some aspects of their beliefs in an effort to appease gay mormons who are seeking to change church doctrine.

One News Now is reporting that the church has agreed to meet with homosexual activists from the unofficial Mormon gay group “Affirmation”. According to the AP cited, the groups demands won’t affect church doctrine. Perhaps not the 12 wives part. But here are a list of their “concerns”.

“Affirmation has specific issues it wishes to address, none of which the group says will require any change in church doctrine. Specifically, those issues are: the historical treatment of homosexuals by the church, including recommendations for therapies designed to lead individuals out of the homosexual lifestyle; recommendations for more effective counseling methods; ways to avoid family break-ups; and a change in the honor code at church-owned Brigham Young University that can result in expulsion for sexually active homosexual students.”

They are making a mega mistake. Perhaps they are not aware of the meet, greet and conquer tactic being used against churches across America by homosexual activists like Soulforce and the so-called “family outing” day planned for June.

In case you are wondering, just what should the church do? Should they meet with these individuals who have no intention on compromising their beliefs but demand the church change its beliefs? I say no, send them a friendly letter and advise that a meeting would be in order if they are willing to repent. Otherwise, it would be unproductive.

The original pdf flyer is listed here. Evans was scheduled to perform a gospel concert during the conference.

On June 8th, GCM Watch sent an unacknowledged letter to ECWR stating an intent to contact Pastor Evans and request that she reconsider her appearance. GCM Watch spoke at length to Pastor Frank Sossaman who is Pastor Evans’ overseer in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC). Pastor Sossaman confirmed that neither he nor the IPHC supported homosexual christian activities. Read the IPHC’s Covenant of Committment dealing with gay and lesbian relationships.

GCM Watch heartily commends the IPHC, Pastor Frank Sossaman and Pastor Mary Emma Evans for upholding biblical fidelity in the face of growing partnerships with individuals and groups who seek to devalue the truth of God’s Word.  

If there were any doubts that the gay christian movement has any credible association with true Christianity, read on. In a recent email to Christine at TalkWisdom, we submitted three reasons why the gay christian movement refuses to discuss scripture or use it in defense of their claiming biblical approval of homosexuality. (1)they are afraid to discuss it, (2) they hate what it says about their sexual choices, and (3) they know their false doctrine cannot be supported using scripture. As it turns out, we were right.

We have pointed out numerous times how the cookie cutter style comments of gay christians are devoid of scripture. While we believe that extra-biblical resources are welcome compliments to scriptural enlightenment, the line of acceptance is drawn when any resource conflicts with clear foundational teachings of the Bible. With that being said, and despite our critics charge of “bible worship”, even the average Christian accepts that the Bible is our blueprint, our “magna carta”. Therefore, Christians fully assimilate its language, concepts and principles into our vocabulary and more importantly how we live. But we don’t find this bond with God’s Word when it comes to the gay christian movement. But don’t be surprised, this is no mere coincidence.

Through Karen Keen, an Exodus associate who attended a portion of the ex-ex-gay conference sponsored by Soulforce and Beyondexgay, we learned that the order to refuse scriptural engagement with “conservative Christians” came directly from one of the movement’s top leaders. On her blog Pursue God, Keen writes a bittersweet account of the experience. Among other things was the one workshop she attended.

“After debriefing the “chalk-talk” experience, we are sent off to our first workshop. I decide to attend, “What the Bible Says and Doesn’t Say About Homosexuality” presented by Rev. Nancy Wilson and Rev. Dr. Mel White. Mel White is a passionate and articulate man who makes it clear from the beginning of the workshop that he has absolutely no desire whatsoever to discuss the biblical passages on homosexuality. Over the years he has suffered a barrage of debates on the issue and he is thoroughly burnt out. He refuses to engage in the discussion any longer. Instead, he passes out a booklet he has written on the subject and tells us to read it. Then, he encourages us to refrain from discussing the Bible with conservative Christians because fundamentalists have no interest in sincere dialogue. Mel also encourages us not to engage in the debate for another reason. By having the conversation, we expose ourselves over and over again to the “lie” that homosexuality is wrong, and when heard repeatedly, “deep down inside you will wonder if they are right.”

James (Mel) White’s remarks appear to point to a rather severe case of truthphobia. Perhaps he fears that what happened to this woman and this man will happen to him, if he hears the truth. The Apostle Paul was on point when he said in 2 Timothy 4:3,4 (NIV): For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.

Ms Keen continues:

“Mel passes the biblical discussion on to Nancy Wilson [Wilson is at the head moderator of MCC, succeeding founder Troy Perry]. She focuses her presentation on the use of the word “eunuch” in Scripture. She concludes that “eunuch” refers to a gay person. Even the magi who brought gifts to Jesus were gay, she says. At this a young man in the audience raises his hand and comments, “One of the criticisms of pro-gay theology is that we see gay in every passage [of the Bible]. The magi as gay seems like a stretch.” Nancy replies that the magi were gay because, as court officials, they were eunuchs. However, she goes on to admit she sometimes overstates her case. For example, she cannot say one way or another whether Ruth and Naomi ever had a sexual relationship. However, she uses her imagination to see gay people in the Bible. Nancy tells us that since gay people have been ignored in the Bible for 2,000 years, it’s okay to use our imagination to see ourselves in it—even if it means stretching things a bit.”

For the leader of a alleged Christian denomination, Rev. Wilson makes some astonishingly unChristian statements:
(1)All eunuchs or any eunuchs are homosexuals
(2) The magi or three wise men were homosexuals
(3) Due to invisibility, its okay to use one’s “imagination” when reading and interpreting the Bible
What process of theological study or exegetical discipline did Rev. Wilson use to arrive at these uncommon conclusions? Simular to Bishop Yvette Flunder’s wild, wild wilderness allegory, the Jesus MCC’s church’s bogus claims of homosexual relationships in the Bible (which notably contradict their presiding moderator’s statements of nonexistence) and Peterson Toscano’sbizarre biblical transsexual tale, these conclusions are not the result of sound doctrine or even sound reasoning, but Rev. Wilson’s very vain imagination.

First, there was Bishop Yvette Flunder’s illegitimate allegorizing of Numbers 10:28. Was it an isolated incidence of allegorical replacement theology? No, we believe this is  commonplace in gay theology.

Now, in a more shocking example of an extreme isegetical circus occuring within the gay christian movement, the leader of the ex-ex-gay group BeyondExgay told a London audience that the man fleetingly mentioned in Luke 22:10 was actually a transsexual.

According a British blogger who attended the May performance of Peterson Toscano (pictured on the right at aTyra Banks show appearance) told the gathering of mostly homosexual christians that because the nameless man carried a pitcher of water,  he was a transsexual.

Tuscano, a homosexual Quaker who has no formal religious or biblical training, performs one man skit shows about his alleged experiences while attempting to be “straight.”  Apparently, with little training on how to properly interpret scripture, Toscano has added an incredibly irresponsible dimension of biblical interpretation to his traveling show. 

As the British blogger relates “The pivotal detail in Peterson’s account of this Gospel story is the man carrying the jar of water.  Apparently men didnt carry pitchers of water in Biblical times. Not ever. Unless they were Biblical transsexuals.”

But what’s wrong with Toscano’s creative reimagining? First, the account is an extreme fabrication for several reasons. (1) Transsexuals no more existed in Biblical times, than did subway trains.  Here’s why: The only way a man (or vice-versa) can appear to be the opposite sex is through surgery. The Albany Clinic, which specializes in such surgeries, says ”The first complete male-to-female operations were performed in Germany in the early 1930s on patients referred by pioneering [homosexual] sexologist Magnus Hirschfeld.”  (2)  Therefore, if no such surgical operation existed before 1930,  it is impossible the man in Luke 22:10 could have been a “transsexual.” (3) A transsexual man would appear physically to be a woman. If the man was indeed a transsexual as Toscano states, why does Jesus tell the disciples to look for a “man” (verse 10)? Was Jesus then mistaken about the man’s gender, therefore giving the disciples erroneous information? Of course he didn’t!  The man’s gender identity (as Jesus correctly stated) was confirmed in verse 13: “and they went and found as he said unto them.”

Although some theological exposition on Luke says that under normal circumstances a man would not have been carrying a pitcher of water, it concludes that conditions at home could have caused him to have to do work he might not have otherwise done.

But Tuscano ignores this readily available information as well as a clear contextual application of the passage.  The interpretation was so far fetched, even the mostly liberal audience balked at it. The British blogger noted that “even his most loyal fans weren’t really buying into the “buildup” to the trannies in the bible gag.”

“In order to explain why there was an empty guest room in Jerusalem during Passover (which we were told was Christmas, the 4th of July and some Jewish festival all rolled into one) Peterson told us to imagine the guy with the jug of water coming-out as a transsexual earlier in the day and all her folks leaving town (and their house with the furnished upper room) in disgust.

PT’s sketch which belittled Christ to raise gay people up was (at least to me) far more disturbing than anyone straight out insulting the Lord.”  (Our bold)

We are disturbed to say the very least that a professing Christian would intentionally demean Christ in an effort to make people feel good about themselves.

GCM Watch is currently working on a profile of Toscano where we will examine his $30,000 exgay habit claim. We hope to publish it soon.