The following is a press release from Soulforce In Oklahoma
(Posted 6-5-02)

FIFTEEN SOULFORCE OKLAHOMANS PREPARE TO JOIN HUNDREDS OF OTHERS IN NATIONAL ACTION AT SBC’S ANNUAL MEETING IN ST. LOUIS JUNE 11
Merritt refuses to repudiate “execution statement”

On June 11, hundreds of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender individuals and allies, including 15 from Oklahoma, will converge on the America’s Center during the first day of the Southern Baptist Convention’s (SBC’s) annual meeting to distribute flyers, hold a press conference, and conduct civil disobedience. This is the third year in a row that Soulforce has been present to protest anti-gay Southern Baptist teachings during their annual meeting.

A Soulforce press conference will take place on June 11 at 10:45, in front of the America’s Center, just prior to the scheduled address of SBC President Dr. James Merritt to the entire Southern Baptist Convention.

According to a letter faxed to Dr. Merritt on May 23, Merritt was invited to join the Soulforce press conference on Tuesday to denounce the anti-gay rhetoric of influential Southern Baptist Justice Roy Moore. Alabama Chief Justice Moore stated in a “legal opinion” in February of this year that, “The state must use…confinement and even execution” to prevent gays and lesbians from influencing children.

“Southern Baptist anti-gay rhetoric, policies, and teachings lead to suffering and death for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender children of God,” said Dr. Rev. Mel White, Executive Director and co-founder of Soulforce. “We have asked James Merritt to join us to denounce the violence caused by this rhetoric, but he has refused.”

“The fact that James Merritt refuses to repudiate Justice Moore’s ‘execution statement’ should horrify the 15 million members of Southern Baptist Churches. It is our hope that his silence a not sign that all Southern Baptists condone violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people,” said Soulforce spokesperson, Laura Montgomery Rutt.

Additionally, Fred Phelps, minister of the Westboro Baptist Church has vowed to picket the Soulforce presence in St. Louis, with signs that proclaim “God hates fags.”

“Southern Baptists may not use the same language as Fred Phelps, but the message they send is the same,” said Karen Weldin, Soulforce Director of Operations and a former Southern Baptist. “We plan to do whatever it takes to get the message out that Southern Baptist teachings are killing people.”

Prior to the vigil, press conference, and civil disobedience, supporters of Soulforce will be trained in the principles of relentless nonviolent resistance as taught by Gandhi and King. From June 7-10, trainings and workshops will be taking place at Centenary United Methodist Church, 55 Plaza Square in St. Louis, Missouri.

Saturday, June 8: Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi will be keynote speaker at Centenary from 11am – 12:30pm. He is the founder of the M.K. Institute of Nonviolence.

Monday, June 10: Sharing Our Stories - hear “tragic true stories” of personal suffering by gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals that resulted from “anti-homosexual Southern Baptist teachings and actions.”

PRESS IS INVITED AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND ALL EVENTS.
For more information on Soulforce, or for a more detailed schedule, please see www.soulforce.org
For more information on Soulforce In Oklahoma, please see www.soulforceinoklahoma.org