05/06/2004: "Soulforce plans UMGC disruption"

According to a letter from the Methodist evangelical caucus Good News, this morning was supposed to see some fireworks at General Conference:

As you all know, the General Conference will be disrupted this morning by Mel White's Soulforce, a "national interfaith organization committed to ending spiritual violence perpetuated by religious policies and teachings against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) people."

As you remember, they are the ones that sent a letter to General Conference delegates stating that "Soulforce will publicly hold delegates of the UMC accountable in a non-violent act of civil disobedience" if delegates fail to vote in a way that Soulforce approves of on the issue of homosexuality.

Last night, Soulforce held their training to prepare the protesters for this morning�s disruption of the General Conference. It was there that the Rev. Phil Lawson equated the struggle for African-American civil rights with gay activism. He stated that the intent of those who would deny full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered persons is to completely destroy them.

In a fit of feverswamp reasoning, he continued by saying that after the gays and lesbians were gone, then people of color and women would be chased off. He then claimed that Central Conference delegates would be eliminated next.

Lawson told the protesters that those who support the UM stance on homosexuality are motivated by the same spirit that energized the Taliban in Afghanistan.

Apparently, delegates will hear a muted drum beat and the protesters will be wearing black arm bands to signify the "death" of hope for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons. A woman will carry a three-foot high rainbow hued candle and place it on the altar. Then Soulforce and allies will leave the Convention Center as a symbol of the light and spirit leaving the UM Church.

The letter added, "Thankfully, the light and spirit that we depend upon is not subject to the whims of protesters." I'll let you know if they went through with it, and what the reaction was.

The letter also makes reference to an incident on the floor yesterday, in which a gay-rights protester smashed a Communion chalice belonging to a young female seminarian in a fit of self-righteous pique over losing so many votes. Good to know that Mel White's folks are consistently non-violent, or someone could get hurt.

(Hat tip: Carl)