This Fall I have spent six weeks traveling almost
continuously in support of my book. It’s been a remarkable
experience.
The most intensive period was two weeks spent speaking
across the midwest including events in Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, and Illinois. I spoke 21 times to over 3,000 people. In every case, the crowds were larger than
the local hosts expected and people were eager to hear a Christian message of
love for all people. The tour was
sponsored by the Human Rights Campaign, Covenant Network of Presbyterians, and
a host of local churches and allies. It
was organized by the most extraordinary team of people an author could ever
hope for including the Rev. Jay McKell at Grace Covenant Church, super-organizer
Karen Turney, Margaret Blankers, and a dedicated planning committee. PFLAG and More Light Presbyterians also did
fantastic work getting the word out to members and friends. A huge thank you to everyone who helped make
this tour a success!
There were so many great moments during the tour but perhaps
the highlight was the event October 11 at Drury University in Springfield, Missouri. Several people had warned that Springfield was a rather
conservative town. At dinner with local
hosts before the event, I met Jolie
Cave, a remarkable student
organizer who is the Vice President of Allies, the gay/straight alliance at the
university. Jolie explained that the
group had posted 500 flyers advertising my speaking event the night before only
to discover that most of them had been torn down and thrown into trash cans the
next morning. The Allies responded by
producing another flyer which said: "We will not be silenced, closets are
for clothes, and trash cans are for ignorance."--which they re-posted along
with the crumpled flyers they rescued from the trash cans.
The event was to take place in an historic Baptist church
where Martin Luther King, Jr. reportedly had preached. Peter Browning, the university chaplain, who
was to preside, estimated that we might have 30 or so people in attendance. I arrived early to do some book signing and
discovered the room was quickly filling as organizers dashed about to put up additional folding chairs. By the time
the event started, an estimated 125 people had crowded into the room, filling
every pew, the choir loft, standing in the back and sitting in the aisles. The atmosphere was electric. When Rev. Browning introduced the Allies and
explained the courage and determination they had shown in organizing the event
-- they received a standing ovation. Then I gave my remarks and the crowd really seemed to get it. Afterwards they asked really thoughtful
questions and showed a real commitment to understanding the issues. I came away from the event feeling that the
Holy Spirit was at work. I’m indebted to
the students and faculty at Drury for their warm welcome and courageous
witness.
Since Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church was published in March, 2006, I have spoken in over
80 locations in 25 different states. What
started out as a simple book tour has turned into a ministry. It is a pastoral ministry of comfort and
encouragement to people who have been terribly hurt. It is a ministry of supporting marriage and
family life. It is a ministry of evangelism,
in which people come to Christ and the church. I feel blessed to have met thousands of people who are living Christ’s
teachings. And I’m deeply thankful to
all those who have helped share the message of Christ’s love through supporting
this book and this ministry.
Drury University Diversity Center. (from left to
right:) Dr. Rebecca Denton, director of the center; Rev. Bill Havens,
pastor of Southminster Presbyterian Church; Jack Rogers, and Dr. Peter
Browning, Chairman of the Philosophy dept and our host at Drury.
Book signing at Heartland Presbyterian Center
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church
Grace Covenant Presbyterian Church. (from left to right:) Gary Blankers, Karen Turney, Margaret Blankers, Jack Rogers, Randy Fowler, and Jay McKell.
