Sep 5, 2012
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The Democratic National Committee banned dozens of Charlotte churches from distributing gift baskets to delegates because the congregations hold values that are contrary to the party platform, according to local religious leaders.
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“They told us our views on women’s rights are contrary to the Democratic party platform,” said David Benham, the lead organizer of the Charlotte714 religious movement.
Charlotte714 is a group of more than 100 churches across the region that mobilized to pray for the Democratic National Convention. More than 9,000 people gathered last Sunday for a time of worship and prayer in advance of the convention.
A gathering of some 200 Muslims praying in Charlotte was given extensive national coverage. The massive Christian received scant coverage.
Benham said the name references an Old Testament passage in 2 Chronicles 7:14 – calling the nation to prayer.
He said 56 churches wanted to “Adopt-a-Delegation.” They put together gift baskets featuring Carolina Pralines and a letter welcoming them to the city and offering assistance in transportation, childcare or spiritual matters.
“We were just trying to display Southern hospitality,” he said. “We wanted them to know we were happy to serve them.”
However, DNC officials conveyed to city leaders that the Christians would not be allowed to present their gift baskets.
“I got a call from the mayor’s office speaking on behalf of the convention and they asked us not to participate,” he said. “They told us our views on women’s rights are contrary to the platform.”
Benham said he was shocked because all the churches involved are mainline denominations ranging from Baptists and Methodists to Assembly of God.
“I was blown away and could not believe it,” he told Fox News.
So instead of gift baskets, Benham asked if they could send welcome letters to the delegates. Again, he said the DNC refused – because the churches hold pro-life values.
“They responded back and said no because our views on women,” he said. “They would not allow it.”
Benham said it is true that all the churches are pro-life – but the baskets did not include a single political or pro-life message. They just wanted to give them regional candies and a welcome letter.
A spokesman for the city of Charlotte referred comments to the DNC. The DNC did not return numerous calls seeking comment.
Benham said it’s no surprise that the Democrats have now removed God from their party platform
“The Democrats have spit in the face of God they spit in the face of unborn children,” Benham said. “They spit in the face of marriage. They are spitting in God’s face. Americans need to rise up and see to it they have their day and are escorted out of power in this country.”
In spite of the rebuff Benham said there are 18 different groups across the city praying at 7:14 a.m. and 7:14 p.m.
FOX News Talk
I do not have words for this. You have to read it to believe it. Scary.
no kidding its sick what is happening to our country
no kidding its sick what is happening to our country
Divisive and hypocritical! Who is the party of intolerance? People need to start paying attention!
Divisive and hypocritical! Who is the party of intolerance? People need to start paying attention!
I do not have words for this. You have to read it to believe it. Scary.
Amazing to me that the Democratic party, as a whole, can do just about anything they want, to anyone they want in way of adverse ideals, and still rank in political polls as they do? What's going on in America? Have we slid that far downhill? I can see that there really ARE 2 sides to the American coin and very little room for anyone that would really like to be in the middle of the road. What amazes me the most is that Dems keep telling us that they are the party of Diversity and love. Go figger America. Be informed, vote smart.
just a thought. With the Dems embracing abortions ask yourself which party affliate is most likely to abort their babies? Eventually they will have less people to push their party agenda.
Folks, yes, the DNC did not accept these baskets – so what? They refused our hospitality. Are we now, as Christians, supposed to get upset and offended because they did? The verse that has been rumbling in my heart as I've been thinking about this is 1 Peter 4:9 – "Show hospitality to one another without grumbling or complaining." We offered, they refused. Let's stop complaining about it and continue to share Jesus and His love with those who will listen. Another group of churches was able to give away 2,200 bottles of water and almost 2,000 copies of the Gospel of John to these same people visiting Charlotte during the DNC. Praise the Lord for those open doors to share His love and grace, and let's keep praying for more open doors as long as we have time.
Thank you Bob!
Bob Lowman – Good afternoon. I hope you are well. I believe we have two different views on this article. I don't get that anyone is grumbling or complaining. I get they are reporting what happened. I believe it is important to know, if for no other reason but to pray about it. So, while I think it might be a matter of being in the circle of receiving the same information multiple times and how that might be preceived as complaining or grumbling, I believe if you were to look at this as the only time you ever saw it, you might feel differently. A side note; I do believe the condoning of the Islam meeting prior to the DNC is a little hypocritical on the part of the DNC, especially considering Islam's views on women's rights, but hey, all of this is just my humble opinion, I could be wrong.
Godspeed my very dear friend!
Bob Lowman – Good afternoon. I hope you are well. I believe we have two different views on this article. I don't get that anyone is grumbling or complaining. I get they are reporting what happened. I believe it is important to know, if for no other reason but to pray about it. So, while I think it might be a matter of being in the circle of receiving the same information multiple times and how that might be preceived as complaining or grumbling, I believe if you were to look at this as the only time you ever saw it, you might feel differently. Of course, this is just my humble opinion, I could be wrong.
Godspeed my very dear friend!
I agree, Ralph. Well said.
Point well taken, Ralph. We are receiving multiple calls at our office asking what to do about this report. We are encouraging people not to continue to circulate the email connected to this news report, to pray for those in darkness, and to vote our convictions in November. Grateful for what God is doing in and around Charlotte to raise up His church for such a time as this – to fulfill the Great Commission.
Point well taken, Ralph. We are receiving multiple calls at our office asking what to do about this report. We are encouraging people not to continue to circulate the email connected to this news report, to pray for those in darkness, and to vote our convictions in November. Grateful for what God is doing in and around Charlotte to raise up His church for such a time as this – to fulfill the Great Commission.
Thank you Bob for not supporting more divisive tactics.
AMEN!
Instead of attacking one another, just remember this when you go to vote, and vote accordingly. It is time for Christians to unite.
I am appalled at the DNC
What we need to do is humble ourselves and pray, pray, pray! They are just blinded…why should we be surprised? If we read and study the Bible…we recognize the signs.
Fox News propaganda!!
I cannot conceive of anyone in our Christian world condoning the restrictioins of churches yet accepting the muslims input at the convention…whether it be Demo or Rep.
I cannot conceive of anyone in our Christian world condoning the restrictioins of churches yet accepting the muslims input at the convention…whether it be Demo or Rep.
That shows you what kind of President we have and the DNC. May God have mercy on their souls. We must as Christians stand up and be counted. We must put on the full armor of God and stand up stand up for Jesus yes soldiers of the cross. If we do not take a stand, our freedom is going to be gone. Vote these ministers out of the pulpit that won't take a stand.
That shows you what kind of President we have and the DNC. May God have mercy on their souls. We must as Christians stand up and be counted. We must put on the full armor of God and stand up stand up for Jesus yes soldiers of the cross. If we do not take a stand, our freedom is going to be gone. Vote these ministers out of the pulpit that won't take a stand.
In my humble opinion you cannot be both a Christian and a Democrat. If you are backing the Democratic platform, you will be judged by it. This just goes to show that the Democrats do NOT want a Christian nation nor anything to do with God. God have mercy on America as judgment is coming and has already begun.
In my humble opinion you cannot be both a Christian and a Democrat. If you are backing the Democratic platform, you will be judged by it. This just goes to show that the Democrats do NOT want a Christian nation nor anything to do with God. God have mercy on America as judgment is coming and has already begun.
Mr Starnes, did you actually witness these things? One Rev. Ed Berkey quotes you in most of the articles that have spread with this message. I believe that Barry Soetoro, also known as B.H.Obama, aka president with a small p is a scoundrel on a scale we have not seen since Jim Jones and Hitler. But we must KNOW that these reports are founded in more than rumor. I know for a fact that Archbishop Dolan DID do the final benediction on the last day. If this had been going on, he should have reported the sham. I just would like to find another source before we tar and feather Obama. Whether this report is accurate or not, I still think he needs to be defeated soundly so that Good men and women can get back to rebuilding our countryu and morals. Peace, bob
It's sad that the first black president has completely divided our country. He's played the race card so much our nation is almost at it's boiling over point. If our nation stays on the current path we'll be just as divided and back where we were 150 years ago.
More about the evil of Islam…
Saudi Woman Beheaded for 'Witchcraft' (ABC News).
A Saudi woman was beheaded after being convicted of practicing "witchcraft and sorcery," according to the Saudi Interior Ministry, at least the second such execution for sorcery this year.
The woman, Amina bint Abdulhalim Nassar, was executed in the northern Saudi province of al-Jawf on Monday.
A source close to the Saudi religious police told Arab newspaper al Hayat that authorities who searched Nassar's home found a book about witchcraft, 35 veils and glass bottles full of "an unknown liquid used for sorcery" among her possessions. According to reports, authorities said Nassar claimed to be a healer and would sell a veil and three bottles for 1500 riyals, or about $400.
According to the ministry, Nassar's death sentence was upheld by an appeals court and the Saudi Supreme Judicial Council.
Philip Luther, the interim direct of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa program, condemned Nassar's killing, calling it "deeply shocking."
"The charges of 'witchcraft and sorcery' are not defined as crimes in Saudi Arabia and to use them to subject someone to the cruel and extreme penalty of execution is truly appalling," Luther said.
Luther said that a charge of sorcery is often used by the Saudi government as a smokescreen under which they punish people for exercising freedom of speech.
Nassar was not the first person to be executed for alleged witchcraft by the Saudi government this year. In September, a Sudanese man was publicly decapitated with a sword in the city of Medina after he was found guilty of the same crime.
According to Amnesty International, at least 79 people have been executed in Saudi Arabia so far in 2011, more than three times as many as in 2010. The human rights group condemned the kingdom's reliance on capital punishment.
More about the evil of Islam…
Saudi Woman Beheaded for 'Witchcraft' (ABC News).
A Saudi woman was beheaded after being convicted of practicing "witchcraft and sorcery," according to the Saudi Interior Ministry, at least the second such execution for sorcery this year.
The woman, Amina bint Abdulhalim Nassar, was executed in the northern Saudi province of al-Jawf on Monday.
A source close to the Saudi religious police told Arab newspaper al Hayat that authorities who searched Nassar's home found a book about witchcraft, 35 veils and glass bottles full of "an unknown liquid used for sorcery" among her possessions. According to reports, authorities said Nassar claimed to be a healer and would sell a veil and three bottles for 1500 riyals, or about $400.
According to the ministry, Nassar's death sentence was upheld by an appeals court and the Saudi Supreme Judicial Council.
Philip Luther, the interim direct of Amnesty International's Middle East and North Africa program, condemned Nassar's killing, calling it "deeply shocking."
"The charges of 'witchcraft and sorcery' are not defined as crimes in Saudi Arabia and to use them to subject someone to the cruel and extreme penalty of execution is truly appalling," Luther said.
Luther said that a charge of sorcery is often used by the Saudi government as a smokescreen under which they punish people for exercising freedom of speech.
Nassar was not the first person to be executed for alleged witchcraft by the Saudi government this year. In September, a Sudanese man was publicly decapitated with a sword in the city of Medina after he was found guilty of the same crime.
According to Amnesty International, at least 79 people have been executed in Saudi Arabia so far in 2011, more than three times as many as in 2010. The human rights group condemned the kingdom's reliance on capital punishment.
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/giftbaskets.asp
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/giftbaskets.asp
what freedom do we the people have when we cann;t do freindship welcome
what freedom do we the people have when we cann;t do freindship welcome
This is what you have when GOD is pushed out of your nation and people no longer fear a LIVING GOD and follow mans ideas. What a sad day for America and its people, it will be the damnation of the US.
So exciting to see all the rhetoric on the site. This is exactly what America is all about. Individual rights! You have the right to scream at the top of your lungs, something that I find abhorrent and not suffer retaliation for it.Are the Republicans wrong? Are the Democrats wrong. Only History will ascertain that.In the meantime we have the responsibility to vote. That is the American Freedom. Everything works on a pendulum. Sometimes it swings too far right and sometimes it swings too far left, but once in a great while , it remains where it should be, directly in the middle. It seems that the current hot topic is a Woman's Right to choose. The fighting will never cease until it can be determined when life begins. In current society it is an arbitrary guess. Does life begin at conception or does it begin when the fetus draws it's first breath. Until as a society, we can determine this, the fight will continue. It seems that there was a great uproar when Christians felt they were snubbed. The Democratic party had the right to refuse the Good- Will baskets. Was it a wise choice? maybe not. but the DNC is Pro Choice, in favor of Gay rights and a half a dozen other things that Fundamentalist Christians find unforgivable. Lastly please understand that the Majority of Muslim people are not some barbaric hoard. They are hardworking people who love their families, don't condone rape , genital mutilation or misogynistic punishment toward women. They are immigrants who are just trying to assimilate into this country and maintain their identity and culture. Without cultural assimilation we would not have America. Everyone came from somewhere else. (And no I'm not Muslim) I wish you Peace.
So exciting to see all the rhetoric on the site. This is exactly what America is all about. Individual rights! You have the right to scream at the top of your lungs, something that I find abhorrent and not suffer retaliation for it.Are the Republicans wrong? Are the Democrats wrong. Only History will ascertain that.In the meantime we have the responsibility to vote. That is the American Freedom. Everything works on a pendulum. Sometimes it swings too far right and sometimes it swings too far left, but once in a great while , it remains where it should be, directly in the middle. It seems that the current hot topic is a Woman's Right to choose. The fighting will never cease until it can be determined when life begins. In current society it is an arbitrary guess. Does life begin at conception or does it begin when the fetus draws it's first breath. Until as a society, we can determine this, the fight will continue. It seems that there was a great uproar when Christians felt they were snubbed. The Democratic party had the right to refuse the Good- Will baskets. Was it a wise choice? maybe not. but the DNC is Pro Choice, in favor of Gay rights and a half a dozen other things that Fundamentalist Christians find unforgivable. Lastly please understand that the Majority of Muslim people are not some barbaric hoard. They are hardworking people who love their families, don't condone rape , genital mutilation or misogynistic punishment toward women. They are immigrants who are just trying to assimilate into this country and maintain their identity and culture. Without cultural assimilation we would not have America. Everyone came from somewhere else. (And no I'm not Muslim) I wish you Peace.
"These people"? All Muslims condone this stuff? rape, mutilation of genitals, etc etc With that line of thinking: All Christians picket cemetaries where a soldier is being buried and carry signs that say "God hates FAGS" (same logic). You guys are just silly. You are watching and reading far too much FOX News. Be very careful….you too can catch the disease of arrogance, (also referred to as the Bill O'Reil syndrome).
Actually it's too late for some of you. I will pray for you.
Please read this.
By way of introduction, I am a new author who just published a book on homosexuality. “Wondrous Love, A Gay Pastor’s Journey to Acceptance.” I premiered this book on Sept 8th as part of Celebration Of Faith’s 18th year anniversary weekend. I desire to make the world a better place. I hope my book will do the same.
I am so upset over all the unnecessary suffering caused by “Christian” people’s ignorance about sexual orientation and gender identity. Can you help? I have become very passionate about creating a greater understanding and acceptance of LGBT people through understanding, education and bridge building! With the topic of same-sex marriage on so many people’s minds, I know that “Christians” and society in general just need to get educated! I am standing up and speaking out against the lies that are being perpetrated about LGBT People.
For years, I have listened to the thoughts, fears, and conflicts expressed by influential leaders as they created their plans of hatred. Maybe you can help me change their minds!
I would love for you to read my book on this sensitive and sometimes difficult subject. In the book I share my own personal experiences and the role “faith” played in the shaping of this book.
My name is David J. Harvey. I was raised in Lewistown, Montana where I attended an Assembly of God church. I studied at Northwest Bible College in Kirkland, Washington from 1974 to 1976. I continued my education at Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri where I received my Bachelor of Arts degree in Music and Education. I have worked in various non-profit organizations and completed my Master’s program in Business Management in 2003.
I moved to San Jose, California in 1986 where I began my quest to discover if the Bible and homosexuality are compatible. They are! The Bible is actually gay friendly!
In September 1994, I founded Celebration Of Faith, Praise and Worship Center in San Jose. Celebration of Faith is a non-denominational LGBT ministry of reconciliation, proclaiming liberation to All people. Our church is a member of the Allies of Christian Churches, T.E.N. (The Evangelical Network), Coalition of Welcoming Congregations, and the Santa Clara Council of Churches.
Celebration of Faith currently meets at the Billy DeFrank LGBT Community Center, 938 The Alameda, San Jose, California. Additional information can be found on the web at http://www.CelebrationOfFaith.org.
I was honored to be chosen as the Grand Marshall of the 2007 San Jose Pride festival because of my many contributions to the LGBT community and various non-profit organizations.
I welcome opportunities to discuss and debate the truth about the Bible and homosexuality. I am looking forward to hearing from you.
With best regards,
David J Harvey.
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