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Pastor whose congregation dwindled after gay-marriage vote to close St. Paul church
pioneer press ^ | 6-30-12 | Frederick Melo

Posted on 06/30/2012 7:24:01 AM PDT by TurboZamboni

Grace Community United Church of Christ will close its doors this weekend, but the pastor who says his decision to publicly support gay-marriage rights unwittingly thrust it on a path toward financial ruin plans to find a new home for his small congregation.

He has faith that his flock will follow.

The Rev. Oliver White, 69, had hoped fundraising would keep the predominantly African-American church on St. Paul's East Side open after a Seattle investor demanded full payment on a high-interest loan.

But after a well-publicized Internet campaign raised only about $56,000 of the $200,000 the church needs to pay off its debt, White has decided to call it quits.

(Excerpt) Read more at twincities.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Minnesota
KEYWORDS: baptist; blackchurch; church; closed; gay; gaymarriage; holderspeople; homosexualagenda; marriage; religiousleft; schism; ucc; unitedchurchofchrist
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To: TurboZamboni
pretty much...
21 posted on 06/30/2012 8:26:49 AM PDT by Chode (American Hedonist - *DTOM* -ww- NO Pity for the LAZY)
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To: Lx

http://www.twincities.com/stpaul/ci_20975779/pastor-whose-congregation-dwindled-after-supporting-gay-marriage


22 posted on 06/30/2012 8:29:05 AM PDT by TurboZamboni (Looting the future to bribe the present)
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To: TurboZamboni

I noticed that one thing he said was the same statement that is often used by sexual deviants (not just homosexuals) who come out of the closet.

“I don’t feel bad. I feel free.”

This is too much a coincidence, so I suggest that the pastor himself may have strong inclinations to deviance. In any event, if there are any parents in his much reduced congregation, it would probably be wise to keep their children away from him. As well as their farm or domestic animals and fresh vegetables, and to keep a close watch over any casseroles they bring to a potluck.


23 posted on 06/30/2012 8:44:34 AM PDT by yefragetuwrabrumuy
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To: TurboZamboni

I use you link in FF and can’t see the comments, I use IE and there they are.
Thank you,


24 posted on 06/30/2012 8:49:45 AM PDT by Lx (Do you like it, do you like it. Scott? I call it Mr. and Mrs. Tennerman chili.)
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To: yefragetuwrabrumuy

Anytime a person adopts and freely speaks the buzzwords and catch phrases of the Left, they ARE the left. I have no doubt a man willing to do what he did is a closet case.

And if he/those like him personally are not, by some fluke, then a son/daughter/brother/sister/friend/relative IS and that completely remaps their moral compass.

Think of all the people you know or even read about who have ‘moderated’ their views on homosexuality once a person close to them exits the closet and gets ‘proud’. It is the rare person today that will stand firm and say “Well, see ya!” Most often they go through a series of verbal acrobatics that would shame an Olympic gymnast and end on “Well, it’s not my business what he does in his private life”.

Except his private life now has sitcoms on 400 channels and a lot of legislative support in congress.


25 posted on 06/30/2012 8:55:59 AM PDT by Norm Lenhart
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To: Norm Lenhart
“Such ‘logic’ is why I and many others have forgone organized religion and made our faith a bit more ‘personal’.”

The tax exemption opened the opportunities of pastoral charlatanism wide. Mix in the opportunities to “recruit the young and innocent and these are the kind of pastor you get.

26 posted on 06/30/2012 9:05:02 AM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah, so shall it be again.")
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To: TurboZamboni

“The church has about 125 members left, but often fewer than 30 show up on a given Sunday. Goodlow said 15 longstanding members met in recent weeks to discuss next steps”

This is what the left doesn’t understand (or perhaps they do, all too well!) that when you eviscerate the core of true believers, the institution collapses.

Why should people who don’t love Jesus and his word first go to church? They are donating their money to more worldly causes. The ones who really believe, who give their blood and sweat and toil, were sent away.


27 posted on 06/30/2012 9:29:30 AM PDT by I still care (I miss my friends, bagels, and the NYC skyline - but not the taxes. I love the South.)
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To: upchuck

Supposedly in GA 27% of blacks will vote for Romney. My guess is this is due to gay marraige O came out for.

Should be higher, but it is a sign of light that at least some black congregations hold God in more respect than the godless Dems.


28 posted on 06/30/2012 9:32:32 AM PDT by I still care (I miss my friends, bagels, and the NYC skyline - but not the taxes. I love the South.)
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To: olezip

United Church of Christ - a Unitarian Church??? If so, gay marriage was always a staple of their belief system.


29 posted on 06/30/2012 9:48:59 AM PDT by Eva
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To: fella

Though I’ll get hammered for saying it, Yes, that tax exemption needs to end. The modern churches have done nothing to justify it and the govt uses it like a weapon.

I understand that it takes money for a priest/pastor/call them whatever, to live and to maintain their flock. But I see no reason for the flock to be housed in a Yankee Stadium sized/styled building.

That said and to clarify my position, I may sound down on religion. That depends on how one looks at it. In many ways I am...their excesses and refusal to follow their respective playbook tops my list there. But on the other hand, I think it’s a great thing for people to come together under a common cause/belief and all the good things that ‘can’ accompany it.

It all really comes back to one issue for me. A person believes or they don’t. Their on the ground behavior determines the truth of which is which. And the window dressing is just that. A church needs enough money to house itself and feed it’s leader. All the rock band pagentry and lazer shows are total crap.

And if the churches had to pay their taxes like the rest, they might spend more time on what they preach, rather than worrying about having their status revoked for non-PC sermonizing.


30 posted on 06/30/2012 10:10:42 AM PDT by Norm Lenhart
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To: Eva
UCC is not Unitarian. They still officially believe the Nicene Creed. They do "partner" with the Unitarians a lot on pro-gay, pro-abortion, proleft-wing politics.

Beinst they're congregational in governance, they still have congregations that don't go along with the Leftward tilt. Beats me why they stay with the UCC.

31 posted on 06/30/2012 5:23:23 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
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To: TurboZamboni; AFA-Michigan; Abathar; Absolutely Nobama; Albion Wilde; AliVeritas; Antoninus; ...
Homosexual Agenda Ping

Freepmail wagglebee to subscribe or unsubscribe from the homosexual agenda ping list.

Be sure to click the FreeRepublic homosexual agenda keyword search link for a list of all related articles. We don't ping you to all related articles so be sure to click the previous link to see the latest articles.

Add keywords homosexual agenda to flag FR articles to this ping list.

32 posted on 06/30/2012 5:25:57 PM PDT by wagglebee ("A political party cannot be all things to all people." -- Ronald Reagan, 3/1/75)
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To: Eva
UCC is not Unitarian. They still officially believe the Nicene Creed. They do "partner" with the Unitarians a lot on pro-gay, pro-abortion, proleft-wing politics.

Beinst they're congregational in governance, they still have congregations that don't go along with the Leftward tilt. Beats me why they stay with the UCC.

33 posted on 06/30/2012 5:27:54 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
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To: Eva
UCC is not Unitarian. They still officially believe the Nicene Creed. They do "partner" with the Unitarians a lot on pro-gay, pro-abortion, proleft-wing politics.

Beinst they're congregational in governance, they still have congregations that don't go along with the Leftward tilt. Beats me why they stay with the UCC.

34 posted on 06/30/2012 5:28:11 PM PDT by Mrs. Don-o
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To: elpadre
“Liberal churches throughout the land are losing people and dollars in large amounts. Their national leadership is leading them into oblivion - and Jesus weeps. “

I'm not to sure about that last part. When the Creators house gets dirtied up then the Creator will clean it out. This whole incident kind of gives new meaning to the Bible quote of “You shall know them by their fruit”.

35 posted on 06/30/2012 10:23:24 PM PDT by fella ("As it was before Noah, so shall it be again.")
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To: Norm Lenhart
Though I’ll get hammered for saying it, Yes, that tax exemption needs to end.

The leftists and anarchists agree with you...

36 posted on 07/01/2012 5:52:00 AM PDT by DBeers (†)
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To: DBeers

Then the leftists and anarchists can apparently reason logicly when they want to. Aside from the whole “Render unto Cesar that which is Cesars” thing, If you can tell me the benefit in having a situation where churches being held hostage and prevented from speaking out against government over fear of the IRS is a good thing, I am interested in hearing it.

The church tax exemption accomplishes one thing. It stops honest churches from telling their flocks “No, you can’t go against your faith and support Democrats who want gay everything, abortion etc.” You notice that the ‘liberal’ churches have no tax problems or ‘separation’ issues when the pulpit screams “REPUBS ARE EVIL!!!”

Just churches that hold to their faith.

So please explain how it is that the exemption is a good thing in light of this very clear reality.


37 posted on 07/01/2012 7:28:35 AM PDT by Norm Lenhart
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To: I still care

There are churches and there are social clubs. Funny how the two so often become confused.


38 posted on 07/01/2012 7:51:54 AM PDT by CityCenter
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To: TurboZamboni

The goal of every pervert is to destroy the opposition and that includes normal people with a need to seek God. To the pervert, homosexuality is a religion. Perhaps they can turn now to a forum on rimming and felching technique. The fecal-eaters are putting normal people under their rules.


39 posted on 07/02/2012 6:13:15 AM PDT by Neoliberalnot (Marxism works well only with the uneducated and the unarmed.)
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To: TurboZamboni

love how he compares the civil rights movement to being the same as gay “”

It didn’t work too well, but Sandusky attempted the same defense.


40 posted on 07/02/2012 6:14:40 AM PDT by Neoliberalnot (Marxism works well only with the uneducated and the unarmed.)
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