Hello there -- Theo, CR's administrative assistant, here! Mel White, Executive Director of Soulforce, has released some significant dates for 2004. Various church groups are being targeted, including the General Conference of the United Methodist Church meeting in Pittsburgh PA from April 27th through May 7th, 2004! This one will capture a lot of headlines -- one of the high profile Soulforce persons is Mr. Jimmy Creech, former United Methodist pastor who was defrocked some time back for doing a "union" ceremony for a "couple!"

DO JUSTICE WITH SOULFORCE IN 2004

Join us on the front lines:

April 27 – May 7

United Methodist General Conference, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

June 13 – 16

Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting, Indianapolis, Indiana

November 15 – 18

United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Washington, D.C

September 2004

Soulforce Training Conference, Colorado Springs, Colorado

More specific information, such as lodging, schedules, and more detailed plans to be available soon.

Why you should consider this Soulforce invitation to join us on the front lines.

Do it for yourself.
You will find your spirit renewed and your life given new meaning. And you can always look back on 2004 with pride knowing you helped fight for equal civil rights .

Do it for our closeted sisters and brothers.
Do it for those who live in fear. Seeing you taking your stand will give them hope and healing and a reason to take their stand with you.

Do it for the American public
The decisions made at these religious meetings will be broadcast to the world.
They are the primary source of our suffering.
TV and print reporters desperately need voices from the other side.
Often Soulforce volunteers are the only ones present to speak the truth.

Do it for the delegates to these national religious events.
Our friends inside these churches desperately need our support.
When we take our stand outside they are encouraged to continue the struggle inside.

Do it for the religious leaders who are victims of their untruths.
Catholic and Protestant leaders who would deny us our rights need to hear the truth.

As Bayard Rustin warned us in 1987:
“If you do not fight for yourself in a very vigorous way, you cannot expect anybody to join in a fight with you.”

• If you are a student, think weekends, winter and summer vacations.
• If you are a senior and retired, what a great way to spend your free time.
• If you are married and have children, do justice together as a family.
• If you are a lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender sister or brother, it’s now or never!

The events described above, are the basic Soulforce Actions in 2004.

Much more is being planned. Watch the website for news and Action Alerts.

Remember, you can also support Soulforce in this most crucial year by making a financial, tax-deductible donation easily and safely on line at http://www.soulforce.org/main/join.shtml#donation

Soulforce is a national interfaith movement committed to ending spiritual violence committed by religious policies and teachings against gay, lesbian, bisexual, and trangender people. We teach and employ the nonviolent principles of Gandhi and King to the liberation of sexual and gender minorities.

www.soulforce.org