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. Follwing a previous announcement a lot more detail is now given about 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!"

SOULFORCE UPDATE: This update contains information and updates about the following:

1) United Methodist General Conference Direct Action

2) Colorado Springs Training

3) Federal Marriage Amendment

4) Freedom to Marry Day

UNITED METHODIST GENERAL CONFERENCE ACTION - Registration is up!

Registration and Hotel Information for the United Methodist General Conference Direct Action is on the web! Soulforce will have a strong presence at the UMGC at the last three days of this two week conference, May 5-8.

Go to www.soulforce.org/main/directaction.shtml to sign up and get more information.

Members of the United Methodist (UM) Team of Soulforce will be present in Pittsburgh for the entire ten days of General Conference (April 27 to May 7). If you want to join Soulforce's UM Team in Pittsburgh prior to May 5 please contact Steven Webster at SoulforceWI@aol.com .

COLORADO SPRINGS TRAINING - dates set for October 1-3, 2004

Dates have been picked for the fall training in Colorado Springs – October 1- 3, 2004. We will be doing local group training workshops and nonviolent trainings the weekend of October 1-3 to get ready for next year’s direct action there involving James Dobson and Focus on the Family. Our host is Rev. Nori Rost of the Pikes Peak MCC . More information will be available soon.

STOP THE PROPOSED ANTI-FAMILY FEDERAL MARRIAGE AMMENDMENT

President Bush continues to condemn GLBT couples and families, and we have to do everything we can to let our voices be heard, starting with our parents, our neighbors, and ministers, and our representatives. If you haven’t signed on to the People of Faith petition against the anti-family Federal Marriage Amendment, please do so today. www.soulforce.org/main/marriage.shtml .

But signing the petition isn’t enough! Allies and people of faith have a special role to play too, and we ask for your support and your voice!

You will also find sample letters to the editor, and church bulletin insert, media message points, talking points, sample sermon, and other useful resources about obtaining equal civil marriage rights. www.soulforce.org/main/marriage.shtml

SUPPORT FREEDOM TO MARRY DAY - February 12

Several rallies are planned and many resources are available for Freedom to Marry Day. Go to www.dontamend.com/rallies/ for possible contacts in your area. Go to www.freedomtomarry.org for additional resources. Plan an action that day or that week, or join an existing one, but please speak up!

SUPPORT SOULFORCE

And last but not least, we continue to ask for your financial support. Our matching grant from the Gil Foundation will double any new donations and any amount over and above past donations. Please give generously – www.soulforce.org/main/join.shtml

We must all work together to secure equal rights for all people. As Martin Luther King said, “we will not have to repent in this generation for the hateful words and action of the bad people, but for the appalling silence of the good.”

Now more than ever we can not be silent.

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

www.soulforce.org