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

Soulforce In Oklahoma president announces continued relentless nonviolent campaign in OKC
Soulforce In Oklahoma announces they WILL CONTINUE their efforts to stop violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender persons
Monthly Nonviolent Protests Continued June 2 Outside Village Baptist Church in OKC

(Oklahoma City) Forty-one gay lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) individuals and allies stood outside Village Baptist Church, 10600 North May Avenue, in Oklahoma City on Sunday morning, June 2. This was the sixth consecutive monthly vigil conducted by Soulforce in Oklahoma outside Village Baptist Church.

Soulforce in Oklahoma has been conducting ongoing vigils outside the church during church and Sunday school services in an effort to get the pastor Rev. Kersh and others to dialogue and negotiate a plan to help stop violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) persons. This was the sixth consecutive monthly vigil conducted by Soulforce in Oklahoma outside Village Baptist Church.

“It is time to escalate our efforts with Village Baptist Church,” said Karen Weldin, president of Soulforce in Oklahoma. “We will not stop, as long as people like Judge Roy Moore in Alabama are making statements such as ‘The state must use...confinement and even execution" to prevent gays and lesbians from influencing children. We will not stop when scripture such as Leviticus 20:13 is being quoted at us that says we should be put to death. We will be working nonviolently and relentlessly to stop this kind of spiritual violence.”

Weldin announced at the Press conference Sunday that Soulforce would continue to vigil at Village Baptist Church throughout the summer. She stated that while one group will continue the vigils relentlessly, other groups will be trained to begin an intensive leafleting campaign to begin in September.

“If Rev. Kersh will not educate his people about the violence done to GLBT people by Southern Baptist teachings and policies, we will do it for him. If he will not form a committee to work with us to stop violence we will find the committee ourselves.” Weldin says. “Soulforce in Oklahoma plans to do whatever it takes to reach the people of VBC even if that means knocking on every door in Oklahoma City.”

Public forums will also be conducted this fall to allow for the public to dialogue with members of Soulforce.

Soulforce in Oklahoma is a licensed local group affiliated with Soulforce, Inc. a national interfaith movement committed to ending spiritual violence perpetuated by religious policies and teachings against GLBT people. Mel White founded Soulforce with his partner Gary Nixon in 1998. Both organizations teach and apply the nonviolent principles of M. K. Gandhi and Martin Luther King to the liberation of sexual minorities.

Additional Contact Information: Karen Weldin – Karen@SoulforceInOklahoma.org Phone: 918-452-2761
Ken Jennison – Ken@SoulforceInOklahoma.org Phone: 405-524-2292

For more information, see www.SoulforceInOklahoma.org