GAY MARRIAGE BAN DIVIDES CLERGY: From the Wichita Eagle

The Rev. Terry Fox, pastor of Immanuel Baptist Church, issued a call to the Kansas House of Representatives from the pulpit Sunday morning:

"The body of Christ will hold you accountable for how you vote Monday," he said during the church's second service at 1415 S. Topeka.

Today, representatives will vote on a proposed constitutional amendment that defines marriage as a civil contract between one man and one woman only. Two-thirds of House members must approve the amendment for it to appear on the November ballot for voters to consider. ...

Fox is one of more than 200 Wichita pastors who oppose gay marriage. Last week, Fox traveled with several other pastors to Topeka, joining Christian lobbyists in support of the proposed amendment. ...

Three miles from Fox's church, the Rev. Graylan Keefe urged his congregation at First Metropolitan Community Church to proclaim its own truth.

"When anyone tells you you don't have a right to Christ based on who you are, then you can say that is not so," he said.

The church, located at 156 S. Kansas Ave., has a number of gay and lesbian couples as members.

"We're not a gay church," he said. "We do have an outreach for gay and lesbian people."

While he didn't mention the proposed amendment Sunday, Keefe did discuss a number of Scriptures in the Bible, which he said confirms the congregation's right to be confident in Christ.

Anyone who has proclaimed God as their savior, he said, can't be snatched from him.

"God said it," he said.

Keefe said he's caught flack because of his beliefs and the confidence he is trying to instill in congregation members.

He said he's talked with people who say he's leading his congregation astray.

"But I'm so glad God hasn't deserted heaven to let people judge," he said.

As the controversy of gay marriage heats up around the country, Keefe said he will continue preparing congregation members to respond to the attacks they may face.

"These people are sincere in their purpose," he said of church members. "They love God. But they're struggling to find that place that lets them know that God truly does love them."

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posted by Eve at 4:50 PM | link

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