ATLANTA (August 16, 2001) -- Proclaiming that "logic and well-defended arguments have never won the heart"* Focus on the Family will bring their campaign of illogical and poorly-defended anti-gay arguments to Decatur next month in the form of a one-day seminar.
The "Love Won Out" seminar, set for September 15, 2001 at the Assembly of God Tabernacle features such ex-gay poster children as John Paulk, famous for his 45-minute bathroom break at a gay bar in Washington, D.C., last year, and soundly discredited "reparative therapy" psychologist Joseph Nicolosi.
In response to the manifesto of lies and misinformation proclaimed by seminar organizers and participants, Gentle Spirit Christian Church will organize an interfaith prayer circle intended to "speak the truth in love" to seminar organizers and participants.
"The leaders of this conference know that they are lying and spreading misinformation to their attendees to maintain their power and control over the Christian church," said Gentle Spirit Sr. Pastor Rev. Paul Turner. "We will be praying for God's truth to be revealed, to expose the lie that one can be 'ex-gay.' This seminar is not about helping people. This is about making money."
The prayer circle will seek to speak to the leaders and participants in a language they can understand and demonstrate to them that they do not have a corner on God or spirituality. Gentle Spirit will begin contacting gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered friendly congregations around the area soon to gather support and prayers to be offered during the prayer circle before the conference.
"We are told by Jesus to bless our persecutors and that is what our prayer circle intends to do," Turner said. "We encourage all gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered and straight-allied people of faith to join us as we pray that God will open their eyes to the damage their misinformation does to the lives of many GLBT people who seek nothing more than to do justice, act mercifully and walk humbly with their God."
Gentle Spirit Christian Church of Atlanta is working in a cooperative effort with Enlight Atlanta and other organizations friendly to the GLBT community to not let this conference simply go unanswered. Enlight Atlanta hosted a meeting August 16th to help facilitate and promote communication, action and education in response to the Focus on the Family's upcoming seminar.
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