Pastor’s hate campaign does not conform to scriptural Christianity By Parker T. Williamson The Presbyterian Layman Friday, May 21, 1999 The Association for Church Renewal (ACR), a coalition of evangelical renewal leaders within mainline Protestant denominations, has called on the secular news media not to lavish attention on an extremist pastor who advocates hatred of homosexuals. The ACR statement follows: The Rev. Fred Phelps of Topeka, Kansas has become a notorious media celebrity because of his very public demonstrations against persons or organizations that he perceives to be pro-homosexual. Rev. Phelps and his followers loudly proclaim that God “hates” homosexuals. Most recently Rev. Phelps has appeared in the limelight because of his demonstration at Matthew Shepard’s funeral and against two United Methodist ceremonies celebrating same-sex unions, in defiance of their own denomination’s teaching. ... Rev. Phelps is not affiliated with any denomination and his small congregation appears to include mostly family members. His nationwide demonstrations, although vocal, typically comprise no more than 20 persons who are Phelps’ children, grand-children or in-laws. The Phelps organization is largely a clan, not a church, and certainly is not a national organization. As renewal leaders in mainline denominations, we strongly affirm the Scripture’s citation of marriage between man and woman as the only proper context for sexual expression. We are also mindful of the Bible’s admonition to love all persons, and to offer God’s invitation to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ to all persons. We believe the church must be in compassionate ministry to homosexuals and to all persons addicted to sexual sin, with Christ’s offer of forgiveness and healing. The campaign of hatred by Rev. Fred Phelps bears no resemblance to scriptural Christianity. It properly may be called heretical. His demonstrations provide an erroneous view of our faith in the public arena. His views are too often portrayed as the sentiments of conservative or traditional Christians. ... His message of hate inspires bigotry against Christians. We implore members of the media who cover religion and sexuality not to portray Rev. Fred Phelps as a significant voice in America’s religious community.

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