The following is an email from Nathaniel Batchelder
(Posted 3-1-02)

The KKK Rally coming to my Church, Saturday, March 2
  Church of the Open Arms - 3131 N. Pennsylvania Avenue
    Oklahoma City, OK    73107
        We invite friends to join us for ...

OUR  "Demonstration of Love" Solidarity Rally,
Saturday. March 2 - - @ 3 p.m.
    INSIDE Church of the Open Arms.
    Enter church parking lot from the SOUTH, from Cashion Place,
        not from 31st Street to the north. 
    (The KKK will be on NW 31st Street, north of the church.) 
    DO NOT DISTURB THEM!
At 3 p.m., we invite friends and supporters of diversity - and anyone wishing
to "Just say No" to the KKK, to join us in the sanctuary of Church of the
Open Arms for A Demonstration of Unconditional Love.
    We will celebrate diversity with songs, words of affirmation,
encouragement from community leaders, and expressions of solidarity.
    **************************************
BACKGROUND:
The Church of the Open Arms (UCC) located at 3131 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, in
Oklahoma City, welcomes and affirms all persons regardless of race, color,
ancestry, age, gender, sexual or affectional orientation, ethnicity, or
national origin.   We consider diversity a good gift from God. 
    We are NOT a church "formed for homosexuals" as some believe.  Many
straight individuals and couples are members.   But we definitely believe
that same-sex attraction and love are as sacred as opposite-sex attraction
and love.
We celebrate diversity.

THE CONFERENCE THAT SPARKED THE KKK - SATURDAY, MAR. 2 - - -
Seven Oklahoma City faith communities have planned for months a conference
entitled, "Homosexuality and Scripture - a faithful understanding."  Saturday
workshops are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
    The conference is clearly the target of the KKK demonstration. (A KKK
member has received email regularly from one of the cosponsoring churches
including the announcement of the conference.)

THE KKK PARADE, SATURDAY, MAR. 2  - Ku Klux Klan   
    The KKK has a permit from the City of Oklahoma City to parade on NW 31st
Street, just north of Church of the Open Arms, on NW 31st Street, west of
Pennsylvania Ave., from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturday, March 2nd.  The permit
grants the right for "public addresses, music, outdoor displays, etc."

PLEASE DO NOT SPEAK TO THE KKK, OR ENGAGE THEM IN ANY WAY  .- - -
The planned conference will proceed as planned. 
    We will NOT engage the KKK verbally or physically, and will not approach
within 25 feet of their parade.  We ask all others to follow this rule of
nonviolence. (If there is an incident, we fear a lawsuit from the KKK -
please do not disturb them.)
    The media are NOT invited during the conference in order to protect the
confidentiality of participants.  The conference will allow participants to
leave early if they choose to, out the south end of our parking lot     (the
KKK will be on the north side.)

SEVEN CHURCHES SPONSORING THE CONFERENCE.
    The seven churchs cosponsoring the conference all welcome and affirm gay,
lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people. 
    They are the Cathedral of Hope, Rev. Kevin McLemore pastor;  Channing
Unitarian Universalist, Rev. Jonalu Johnstone pastor;  Church of the Open
Arms, Rev. Kathy McCallie pastor;  Epworth United Methodist Church, Rev.
David Rose pastor, Rev. Jeni Clewell assistant pastor;  First Unitarian
Church, Rev. Mark Christian pastor;  Mayflower Congregational Church, Rev.
Dr. Robin Meyers pastor;  St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Rev. Dr. Mark
Heaney pastor.
    The conference was organized particularly for families and friends of -
and for - gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgendered people troubled by the
religious teaching that same-sex attraction and love are sinful.

more information
CHURCH OF THE OPEN ARMS UCC - Rev. Kathy McCallie pastor - 405-525-9555