It didn’t take me long to come to a conclusion that the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Task Force is a cleverly laid trap to get what the Mayor wants.  Furthermore, what’s more ingenious is that they may get the luxury of saying that the Churches of Springfield participated in the process and supported the recommendations, whether they actually do is not important.

The first problem is that the Mayor guaranteed the desired outcome by stacking the deck with favorable appointments to the Task Force.  The second problem is that we are talking compromise as if there is something to compromise. The catch is if we don’t go along with the recommendations, the LGBT group can say they turned down every offer that was on the table.  The only offer that seemed to have some potential was to table the ordinance-pending further development at the state and federal level.   However, the problem with that is, it doesn’t matter what they do at the state or federal level if it’s immoral.

The most hideous scheme of all is that the city government has successfully put the Church in a defensive posture.  We have bought into the phony notion that we are at war with the gay community, when we are in fact at war with a political regime who has figured out a way to manipulate both the LGBT and Church communities.  THAT’S THE TRAP!   We have been stigmatized as hating gays and have responded with fear of the perception.  What does that say about us?  Guess what Church; you will be stigmatized no matter what approach you take.  I say hold the righteous ground and pray that God would give us love and wisdom on how to evangelize the gay community.

There is nothing to compromise and there is nothing to apologize for.  If any part of this ordinance passes we give the unelected Mayoral Commission on Human Rights police powers.  Through their ability to collect data and anonymous complaints, they could and will make recommendations to revoke the license of those they deem unfit to do business in Springfield.  We can’t hire them and we can’t fire them.  I promise you the data will support the agenda.

Pastors if you compromise for the Church to be exempt from this ordinance, the business owners and landlords in your congregation will be thrown under the bus.  They need your protection.  No righteous man will be safe.  The unintended consequence is suppression; the very thing we are trying to avoid.

If we buy into this, it is checkmate.  Let it not be said that the gates of hell have prevailed against the Church in Springfield, MO.

If I was a platoon leader on patrol and I walked into the meeting that was held last night, I would have yelled, “TAKE COVER”.

Before the Church sit down with the opposition, we should sit down with each other, and every voice big and small should be heard.

This ordinance must be defeated!

On November 1, 2012, while you were taking your kids to after school activities and enjoying friends, a seminar was being held at Drury University called, “Straight for Equality.”  The keynote speaker was Dr. Teresa J. Hornsby, a professor of Religion at Drury University.  She also acknowledges that she is a lesbian.  The title of her message was, “Who Locked the Door?  Paul and the Keys to the Kingdom.”  Dr. Hornsby is the author of Sex Texts from the Bible and co-author of Bible Trouble.

Prior to the meeting, I couldn’t help but notice that Mayor Stevens and Councilwoman Jan Fisk were in attendance.  The thing that really caught my attention was that Mayor Stevens appeared to know most of the organizers and seemed to be on friendly terms with them.

By the end of the meeting it was clear that they were planning their preemptive attack on the churches of Springfield.  Their next strike would be in the “Name of Jesus.”  Their strategy is to take the spiritual high ground in the view of the public.  So far everything is working according to plan.

This should explain the ambush on Pastor John Lindell of James River Assembly.   After being asked to address the “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Task Force” he was promptly chastised in the Springfield News Leader by twenty three so called pastors and spiritual leaders for being hateful.  This was intended to intimidate and silence the Christian voice.  Please excuse my lack of decorum, but these were twenty three false witnesses.  There was not a trace of hate in pastor Lindell’s speech.  Jesus and His true followers would never take their position.

This meeting had three breakout sessions.  Panel 1- Faith Issues moderated by Brock Warren, who holds a Master of Divinity in Ministerial Studies at Vanderbilt University.  The panel consisted of Peter Browning, Becca Doss and Kathy Munzinger, a member of Brentwood Christian Church and president of the Springfield chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays).

Panel 2 – Healthcare issues, moderated by Dr. Jaimee Givens.  The panel consisted of Dr. Stephen Adams and Joshua Castillo.  Mr. or Miss Castillo is a transgender as of 2007.

Panel 3 – Workplace issues, moderated by Springfield Councilwoman Jan Fisk.  The panel consisted of A.J. Brockelman, Executive Director of PROMO (Missouri’s statewide LBGT advocacy organization); Cheymeika Ashmore; Audra Franklin and Felecia Morgan.

Church, is this check or checkmate?  Your move?

The next Task Force meeting is Monday, July 15^th at 4:30.  330 W. Scott St.  Be there!

 Dear Ambassadors of the Kingdom,