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Support GayOKC.com! Donate here!		Soulforce In Oklahoma invites participants to join in OKC 'direct actions'

The following is an e-mail from Soulforce In Oklahoma
(Posted 12-02-01)

JOIN SOULFORCE IN OKLAHOMA, INC. ON A JOURNEY TO JUSTICE
In relentless vigils outside Village Baptist Church in Oklahoma City, OK
beginning Sunday, January 6, 2002

Soulforce In Oklahoma, Inc. will begin relentless monthly vigils outside Village Baptist Church in Oklahoma City beginning January 6, 2002 and we are asking you to join us on these direct actions. The church is located at 10600 N. May, Oklahoma City, OK.

Why are we going to do these direct actions? Because Dr. Rev. Ted Kersh, minister of Village Baptist Church, refuses to even sit down and dialogue with Soulforce In Oklahoma leader Karen Weldin on the subject of homosexuality. Weldin has tried to communicate with Rev. Kersh since May 2001. She has written him four letters. He has responded refusing to meet. (Please go to www.soulforceinoklahoma.org/KershOKC.htm and read the letters written by Weldin and Kersh in their entirety.) Weldin and other Soulforce In Oklahoma volunteers believe that gays and lesbians in Village Baptist Church, and thousands of other Southern Baptist Churches, are suffering as a result of the effects of Southern Baptist teachings. Family members and loved ones are suffering as well. “We want to do what we can to reach those who are suffering and share with them the message that God loves them just as they are created. We are committed to stopping spiritual violence against gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender persons,” states Weldin. “The first step is dialogue and Rev. Kersh has left us no alternative but to continue in our nonviolent process and move to direct action.”

What teachings concern us? The Southern Baptist Convention and the local churches continue to wreak havoc on gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender (GLBT) individuals and their families both inside and outside the church and few people within the church are advocating for them. Village Baptist Church is one example. Southern Baptists teach that homosexuality is a “choice…a very poor and sinful choice with particularly devastating consequences.” Southern Baptists also describe homosexual relationships as “always sinful, impure, degrading, shameful, unnatural, indecent, perverted.” These words lead to ruined lives, suffering, and even death.

Why is this issue so important to us? We believe that when God is used to condemn and reject gay people, spiritual violence is committed against them. Young people are being kicked out of their homes, children are being taken away from their parents, and some are even committing suicide. Soulforce In Oklahoma has been working to stop spiritual violence in Oklahoma for the past two years. Volunteers have worked to dialogue with church leaders of various Christian denominations. When our adversaries will not dialogue with us, we must use direct action in hopes that our adversaries’ hearts and minds will be touched, their moral conscience moved to reconsider dialogue. Therefore, we are planning direct actions at Village Baptist Church, Oklahoma City. Our goal is reconciliation with our Southern Baptist sisters and brothers.

What are we asking you to consider? Join us as we make a commitment to vigil outside Village Baptist Church, Oklahoma City the first Sunday of each month for the next 6 months, beginning January 6, 2002. Participate in one of the trainings between now and then either in Tulsa or Oklahoma City and become a trained Soulforce volunteer ready to participate in this and future direct actions. (You do not have to commit to all six months. Come and participate as you can. ) We will stand in reverence as we carry the message to Village Baptist Church that we are God’s gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender children and allies, and we invite them to come outside and stand with us. We will be asking that a committee be formed made up of members of Village Baptist Church and Soulforce volunteers to study together the resource, “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth: A Resource for congregations in dialogue on sexual orientation,” published recently by the Baptist Peace Fellowship and the Baptist Alliance. We will be asking that spiritual violence against GLBT stop.

We are asking you to join us because gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender youth who are trapped in the Southern Baptist churches have nowhere to go, no role models to guide them, and no one to turn to in this crucial time in their lives. Few people in their churches dare to say it is OK to be gay and God loves them just the way they are, most do not believe this to be true. Those who may stand up in their churches and fight for their rights get shunned. Most parents never heard that it is OK for their children to be gay.

We are asking you to show the truth to those who are shackled to the untruths taught to them in Village Baptist Church. We are asking you to come and stand with us and help GLBT’s and their family members who are trapped by fear and ignorance.

What are the requirements for participation? Any person who would like to participate with Soulforce In Oklahoma in these direct actions in Oklahoma City must complete the Soulforce Training. Training is scheduled for:

Tulsa: Monday, December 3rd & 17th, 6:30 - 8:45 p.m.
Tulsa GLBT Community Service Center
2114 S. Memorial, Tulsa

Oklahoma City: Saturday, January 5th, 2-6:15 p.m.
Gushers
2200 NW 39th Expressway
Oklahoma City

Volunteers will be trained in the principles of nonviolent resistance. See dramatic videos and Powerpoint presentations of “soul force” at work. Sing songs of freedom. Learn and practice the problem-solving techniques of Gandhi and King.

What About Soulforce Attire? Each participant will be asked to acquire and wear a Soulforce In Oklahoma T - shirt during the action. Shirts will be available at each training event. The cost of the T-shirt will be approximately $10.00. (No one will be denied a shirt because of a lack of funds.)

What is the schedule for the direct actions? All participants MUST meet Sunday morning, January 6th, prior to the vigil to participate in the action that day. The exact time and place will be announced later. The last phase of training and last minute details will take place and be communicated that morning and vigiling will begin at 8 a.m. sharp and last until 12:45 p.m. There will be no act of civil disobedience or arrest. This will be the beginning of relentless vigiling in hopes that we may persuade members of Village Baptist Church to dialogue with us and commit to a discernment process.

A Press conference will be scheduled for 10:30 a.m. each Sunday in front of the church.
What about accommodations? We are working now on host housing for those of you who would like to arrive in Oklahoma City on Saturday evening, January 5th. For more information, contact: Soul4sok@cwis.net.

What if I need more information? Visit Soulforce In Oklahoma’s website at www.soulforceinoklahoma.org and/or contact:

Karen Weldin
Karen@cwis.net
918-452-2761 or 918-605-7405
or
Ken Jennison
Krjennison@msn.com
(405) 524-2292

How Can I help? Make plans to join us in the direct action and invite others to come. Make copies of this information and give it to your friends. Register to attend one of the scheduled training events by emailing or calling Soulforce In Oklahoma at:

Soul4sok@cwis.net
918-452-2761
405-524-2292

Leave your name, address, telephone number, and email address and a simple message that says, “I plan to attend the training event in OKC or Tulsa (specify which one) in order to participate in the Soulforce In Oklahoma Journey to Justice in Oklahoma City January 6, 2002.

Donate to Soulforce In Oklahoma if you cannot attend and/or participate directly. There are expenses to organize a direct action. Soulforce In Oklahoma needs your financial help. Won’t you send a tax-deductible donation today? Checks should be made out to:

Soulforce In Oklahoma
Rt. 4, Box 3534
Stigler, OK 74462

Soulforce is an interfaith movement committed to ending spiritual violence perpetuated by religious policies and teachings against gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender people. We teach and apply the nonviolent principles of M. K. Gandhi and Martin Luther King.

Visit our website at:
www.soulforceinoklahoma.org
or email us at:
Soul4sok@cwis.net

 

 

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