In an unusual meeting, several ministers apologize to gays about how they have been treated.
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There were similar stories throughout the two-hour forum, all with one common theme: The church, the one place that should represent the epitome of love, was often the most uncaring and unsafe place for these individuals when they were at their most vulnerable.
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Moore listened intently as people shared their experiences, often taking notes while they spoke. Toward the end of the event, he reinforced the sincerity of the church's apology by pledging to continue the dialogue and to make concerted efforts to make his ministry more inclusive of members of the LGBT community.
According to CNN, America is a less Christian nation than it was 20 years ago, and Christianity is not losing out to other religions, but primarily to a rejection of religion altogether, in a survey published CNN published.
Seventy-five percent of Americans call themselves Christian, according to the American Religious Identification Survey from Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. In 1990, the figure was 86 percent.
William Donohue, president of the Catholic League said he thinks a radical shift towards individualism over the last quarter-century has a lot to do it.
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Faith leaders should not shy away from confronting issues that affect both the spiritual and material condition of their communities. The church should be a place where all people, especially those who are hurting and vulnerable, can come to experience God's love and grace. This should be true regardless of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, political affiliation or sexual orientation.
The tension between black churches' theological stances on homosexuality and their central principle of "whosoever will, let him come" is something that churches must address honestly and lovingly in moving forward.
- Read more from The Root: http://www.theroot.com/views/black-church-and-lgbt-community
Hopefully, religious leaders across Kentucky will read this message and re-evaluable their position, especially people like Kentucky Representative Mike Harmon (R-Danville) who is running for Lieutenant Governor on a ticket with Phil Moffett, to be the next Governor of the Commonwealth. Moffett describes himself as America's Tea Party Governor 2011 (what does the rest of the nation have to do with Kentucky's chief executive and commander-in-chief?).
The anti-gay Harmon recently killed House 370 by attaching amendments to it that neither House Speaker Greg Stumbo nor Senior Representative Mary Lou Marzian (D-Louisville), who sponsored the bill would accept.
House Bill 370 would have made schools across Kentucky safer for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered students. School bullying can be reported to Kentucky Equality Federation at (877) KEF-5775. Kentucky Equality Federation will act as your advocate!
Needless to say, the Moffett/Harmon ticket for will not receive any LGBTI votes.
--> Posted by a volunteer Community Blogger of Kentucky Equality Federation. This is the official blog of Kentucky Equality Federation. Posts contained in this blog may not be the official position of Kentucky Equality Federation, its volunteer officers, directors, management, supported organizations, allies or coalitions, but rather the personal opinions or views of the volunteer Community Bloggers. The opinions or views expressed in the blog are protected by Section 1 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky as non-slanderous free speech; blogs are personal views or opinions and not journalistic news sites.
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