Keeping the Faith for Equality - November 2, 2009
It was one year ago this week the Prop 8 was
overturned in the State of California which changed the California
constitution making same-sex marriages illegal.
On the eve of the election, this week, faith leaders joined together
at St. Mark's Lutheran Church in San Francisco to join with those
across the country who continue to fight for the right to marry.
We had the great honor of being invited to participate in this event
and the text from what we shared is included here.
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Good evening, my name
is Todd Ferrell. I am the President of The Evangelical Network – a
network of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and yes, straight
evangelical Christians.
We support equality for
GLBT people and stand up to proclaim that YES you can be Christian and
gay.
As I travel and meet with Evangelical leaders throughout the
United States
, many of which do not stand in agreement with me or our organization, I
have noticed something happening within the Evangelical community. A
shift is happening.
Five years ago these leaders would not have opened their doors to us,
but through a chorus of God, society and culture, we are seeing doors
open.
For years the gay
community has fought for their right to be right. For years the church
has fought for their right to be right. However, I firmly believe that
our true self-fulfilled validation does not come from any earthly being,
organization, politician or celebrity. Our validation comes only from
God.
The purpose in our
being here tonight, extends beyond any state proposition.
Though important, what is at the core of this dialogue is the
Word “LOVE”.
It is time for us to
reclaim the word LOVE. This
type of love says no matter who you are, no matter what you do or say,
“I have your back”, and “I refuse to give up on you”, because I
have a Maker that has stamped me “validated” and will never give up
on me.
The biblical basis for
love is rooted in patience, kindness, truth, righteousness, hope,
compassion and endurance.
In the old testament,
we find in Samuel 10:12 the words 12
Be strong and let us fight bravely for our people and the cities of our
God. The LORD will do what is good in his sight."
From
the new testament book of Philippians we are reminded: forgetting
those things which are behind …press on…press on…press on!
We are here tonight to
be reminded that it is time for us to leave the past results of Prop 8
behind and for us to press on. So be strong and let us fight this fight
bravely together.
Would you pray with me!
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Almighty God, we come
to You tonight to thank You that all our Hope and Validation is found in
You and You alone.
We thank you that like
Paul and Silas who were held captive in the darkest places of the
prisons, you too are setting us free from those that would try to
silence your people.
You prepare a place of
welcome for your “other sheep”.
God I ask You tonight
that this week, Your Will be done, as citizens from across the country
go to the polls.
I ask that you draw us
closer to one another and to You!
In the name of Jesus, I
pray. Amen. |
