WOW! What a difference a day makes!
So, I was researching some local churches on line, and discovered that 35 RI Clergymen drafted and signed a resoultion, stating their opposition to gay marriage.
I printed up the list and started making calls today, thinking that if I can get 35 clergymen to tell their 35 churches about this event, the turnout could be great!
On my 3rd call, I spoke with one of the pastors, told him what I was doing, and he laughed. He said, "This is odd...I was just having a conversation with the man that publishes "The Good News", and he and I were trying to get something just like this organized! Great timing!".
So, he put me in touch with the man that publishes the monthly newsletter, and he in turn put me in touch with the woman, who as we spoke, was writing an article for the June publication, asking church members to sign a petition, stating their opposition to gay marriage. Her deadline for final submission of the newsletter to go to print was only TWENTY MINUTES after I called.
She was thrilled that I had the place, date, and time all scheduled. She literally shouted. She and the owner and the pastor I spoke with had been going back and forth for weeks, trying to get a rally place and date scheduled.
She took all of the information, a few quotes, my contact information, and said it will be in the next issue, which will hit ONE HUNDRED AND EIGHTY CHURCHES IN THIS AREA on June 6th!!!
180 churches!!! Praise God!!
I also have an interview scheduled with "Life-Changing Radio" WARV 1590 on June 7th.
The power of God bringing all of these events together. He certainly does have fantasic timing, doesn't he?!
Complete Connecticut state list. Sorry for any duplications of other people's pings. An important event!
Unless you have a podium to speak from, speakers will be in a BAD spot to seak from, and will only be heard. People will not respond to a voice in the air.
People need to actually see a speaker to pay attention to them.
There is a group in AZ www.azpolicy.org The president is a lawyer who has successfully lobbied our legislature on pro-life and other cultural issues. He has also organized many rallies. Try the website. A lot of good info
Sorry, I don't know how to post a link .....
Amateur suggestions (although I was a peripheral participant during counter-protests
during the November 2000 election imbroglio:
1. See if you can get info/help/advice from some organizations concerned with
the issue. Concerned Women For America comes to mind as they were part of a large
demonstration in Boston. Check their page (contact info at bottom of page) at:
http://www.cwfa.org/main.asp
Also, try Focus On The Family -- their founder James Dobson
mentions the issue often on their radio show.
They are at:
http://www.family.org
2. If you haven't yet, reach out to groups that are conservative on this issue,
even if politically more liberal on most other issues. Such as African-American churches or immigrant groups with a large Catholic constituencies
(as in Vietnamese).
And the other thing...get the info out AHEAD of time.
Do you have a conservative Christian radio station in your area (e.g. owned by
Salem Radio Network)? Some parts of the media may work with you -- even ones
that won't say out loud that they are on your side.
Wish I could be with you, good luck bump!
Montana Beth
Here is a copy of the itinerary, as well as our "mission statement". Nutmeg, can you please ping your RI, MA, and CT lists? LJ - want to ping the HA list? We're in the home-stretch!
Our Statement of Purpose:
The Defense of Marriage Rally is a media event designed to provide a voice in the state of Rhode Island for the defense of marriage as defined by the union between a man and a women; to encourage our legislators to be proactive in protecting and preserving marriage; to rally those in our state who hold the institution of marriage as sacred to do whatever is in their power to preserve and protect marriage; to provide a reasoned and impassioned response to the convoluted thinking behind the growing trend towards redefining marriage; to call spiritual leaders to embrace courage and unity on this issue, and to provide a platform for solidarity with those who would otherwise feel alone in this struggle.
And here is the itinerary. Sorry, I don't know how to post this properly:
http://www.boomspeed.com/twotonjoe/Itinerary2.htm
Also, here is some information on the band performing:
http://www.newenglandchristiancoffeehouses.com/sing_for_him/index.html
May God bless our efforts!
In Christ,
IOTN