• Day of Purity Gains International Attention with Video Clip

    For sexually active teens facts show that boys are four times more likely to suffer with severe depression and girls are more than three times more likely to be depressed most or all of the time, according to the Center for Data Analysis Report on Sex Education and Abstinence. The consequences of sex before marriage can be as far reaching as they are devastating, and making teens aware of those potential pitfalls should be of paramount importance. The cost of treating STDs in one year alone is $16.5 billion dollars. More than two thirds of teens who had sexual relations before marriage regretted doing so, according to the Family Research Council. According to Hamilton County, Tennessee Health Department, teen pregnancy in Chattanooga has decreased by 72%, which was attributed in part to an abstinence program. Ultimately, the cultivation of interests and concerns in young people’s lives outside of sex is the driving thought behind the Day of Purity.

  • Petition Delivered: Please Pray for Veronica and other Children Hurt by ICWA -

    Please pray for both these families. …Jesus called the children to him and said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Luke 18:16

  • Save Veronica Rose

    According to the 2000 census, approximately 75% of people claiming to have American Indian or Alaska Native ancestry live outside the reservation. Further, interracial marriages are a fact of life. It is must be recognized that most children of heritage live off the reservation and have extended family that are non-tribal. Though supporters of the Indian Child Welfare Act say it has safeguards to prevent misuse, Veronica and numerous other multi-racial children across the U.S have been hurt by it. Children who have never been near a reservation nor involved in tribal customs are affected. The Cherokee Nation alone is currently tied up in about 1,100 active Indian Child Welfare cases involving some 1,500 children.

  • Onward Christian Soldiers

    Along with their ideological Tea Party cousins – many of whom are one and the same – tens of millions of potential Bible-believing voters are being encouraged – to the extent they need encouragement – to vote their values in 2012. The catalyst? President Obama’s discredited secular-socialist push to “fundamentally transform America.”

  • The Dominionist Manifesto

    No, seriously; we intend to “go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” and we’re scheming to deliberately defy the ACLU, leaving our potluck dinners to grow cold while we impetuously wander off church grounds to do it.

  • Ray Comfort’s Blog: “The Soap Box”

    READ RAY COMFORT’S DAILY BLOG for solid apologetics and encouragment. The vision of Ray Comfort’s ministry is to” inspire in every Christian a God-glorifying passion to fulfill the Great Commission.” The ministry’s earnest prayer is that God would raise up laborers as never before. Their desire is for those laborers to embrace biblical evangelism, and their aim is to equip them with tools to make the task easy and effective.

  • Has God Told You NOT to do Mission Work?

    “Leave your country, your people, and your father’s people and go to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse: and all people’s on earth will be blessed through you.”

  • Consider Living Faith Bible College This Next September

    the amazing thing about that is that LFBC is one of the smallest Bible Colleges you’ll find. Small, with a family atmosphere, at the same time wonderfully international. Students the opportunity to get to know each other on more than a superficial basis. All of this occurs in a beautiful environment set apart from the hustle and bustle of the city, surrounded by wildlife, rivers, trees and mountains

Happy Birthday to an Extraordinary Man

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Jul 012011
 
p_roland5

Roland John Morris, Sr. July 1, 1945 – June 9, 2004

Roland Morris, Sr., 58, ascended to heaven on Wednesday, June 9th after a four year fight with cancer. Roland, a member of the Minnesota Chippewa Tribe, was born July 1, 1945, in Cass Lake, MN. Ojibwe was his first language, and he grew up fishing, hunting, and gathering wild rice with family and friends. He also played intramural basketball, worked hard in the woods, spent time in a foster home and various jails, drank, smoked, and played guitar with friends at various bars.

Roland went to college in Kansas and was a draftsman for a short time before becoming an upholsterer. While he struggled with many difficulties in his early years, he was a perfectionist with upholstery and throughout his life performed his craft well.

After a life changing spiritual experience with Jesus in 1988, Roland moved his second family to Ronan, Montana to be near his cousin and Christian evangelist, Frank (Scotty) Butterfly. There, in 1992, Roland and his wife, Elizabeth, created Montana’s first patient transportation service, Mission Valley Medicab. They also helped instigate the Montana Passenger Carriers Association and the charitable organization, Valley Missions, Inc., all without tribal assistance.

Roland taught his children about wild ricing, hunting, fishing, and a little of the Ojibwe language. But the biggest, strongest desire of his heart was that his children, grandchildren, and entire extended family come to the saving knowledge and acceptance of Jesus Christ. Having watched many friends and relatives die physically, spiritually, and emotionally from alcoholism, violence, and suicide, Roland could no longer stand aside and do nothing. He was concerned for the children and felt distress at the attitudes of many adults within his community. He wanted the self-destruction to stop.

Roland’s relationship with Jesus coupled with his conviction that much of the reservation system was harmful led him to some amazing life experiences. Actively opposing much of federal Indian policy, Roland served as President of the Western Montana organization All Citizens Equal, was a board member and Vice-Chairman of the national organization; Citizens Equal Rights Alliance, was the Secretary of Citizens Equal Rights Foundation.

He also ran as a Republican candidate for the Montana House of Representatives in the 1996 and testified before the US Senate Committee on Indian Affairs in April,1998, the Minnesota Attorney General in 2000, and numerous Mont. State committees. With his family, he also had a private meeting with a member of the President’s Domestic Policy Council May, 2002 in Washington DC.

As time progressed, Roland became more convinced of the importance of Jesus in his life. So in 2000 he attended a year of training at the Living Faith Bible College, Canada. Over the last three years, he and/or his family went on mission trips in Canada and Mexico. During a 2003 trip to a children’s home in Juarez, Mexico, he fixed most of their dining hall chairs, taught 6 boys how to upholster, donated materials, and preached a Sunday street service.

Through the years, he has appeared in numerous newspaper articles across the country. The last article he appeared in was on Friday, May 14th, in the Washington Times. Reporter Jennifer Lehner wrote, “the ICWA [Indian Child Welfare Act] protects the interests of others over [Mr. Morris'] grandchildren,” and “Mr. Morris said that once children are relocated to the reservations, they are subject to the corrupt law of the tribal government. Instead of preserving culture, he said, the tribal leadership uses the ICWA to acquire funds provided through the legislation.” Ms. Lehner quoted Mr. Morris as saying that the law is “supposed to help children, but instead it helps tribal governments.”

Finally, in February, 2004, he and his wife founded the Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare. The purpose of this was to encourage preaching, teaching and fostering of the growth of the Christian Faith in all places, encourage accountability of governments to families with Indian heritage, and educate the public about Indian rights, laws, and issues.

Roland praised God to the very end. When his final struggle began, several of his friends and family were praying with him. When those present sang old-time hymns, he raised his hand in the air for as long as he could. When “I Surrender” was sung, he sang the echo. While Pastor Kingery sat next to Roland, holding his hand, Roland looked him straight in the eyes and pointed his other hand up to heaven. When he passed on to greater life, his good friend Marvin Bauer was softly playing Gospel songs for him on his accordion.

Roland is survived by his wife, nine children, twelve grandchildren and a great grandson. Also important to his heart was his “special” son, Jesus Garcia, in Juarez, Mexico. Surviving brothers include Harry Morris and Steven Jones; and sisters include Clara Smith, Bernice Hurd, Sharon Goose, and Christine Jones, as well as numerous nephews and nieces and his great cousin, Scotty Butterfly.

Roland was preceded in death by his parents, Jacob and Susan Jones; siblings Thomas and Wallace Morris, Robert, Martin, Caroline, Frances, Barbara and Alvina Jones, Loretta Smith, and grandson Brandon Kier.

Roland’s loving friend, Jim Ball, crafted a beautiful casket for him as a gift. Funeral services were at the CMA Church in Ronan, MT, on Sunday, June 13, 2004 and the CMA Church in Cass Lake, MN, Tuesday, June 15. Internment was at Prince of Peace Cemetery. He is strongly remembered for his strength, character, and love for the Lord Jesus.

Roland, our husband, father, grandfather, brother, uncle, cousin, and friend; We Love you and Miss you so very much. You are with God now.

Gi gi wah ba min me na wah

Christian Alliance for Indian Child Welfare
Independent Indian Press
.

‘Passion’ star Jim Caviezel talks about Mel Gibson’s troubles, and his own, at Orlando church

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May 042011
 
Passion-Of-The-Christ-Movie-Poster

By Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

9:44 PM EDT, April 30, 2011

Actor Jim Caviezel, his voice sometimes cracking with emotion, spoke of being “rejected in my own industry,” the   problems of his friend Mel Gibson and his son’s cancer in an appearance Saturday night at First Baptist Church of Orlando.

The star of “The Passion of the Christ,” whom First Baptist pastor David Uth described as “more passionate about God” than anyone he’s ever met, was in town to give witness to his faith, to urge others to share it and to sell a new all-star audio production of the Bible that he has produced.

During a 20-minute talk, Caviezel spoke of the troubles that have dogged Gibson, his “Passion” director, who has been labeled an anti-Semite in addition to being caught on tape ranting and cursing out the mother of his youngest child.

“Mel Gibson, he’s a horrible sinner, isn’t he?” Caviezel, 42, said. “Mel Gibson doesn’t need your judgment, he needs your prayers.”

The actor recalled Gibson’s offering him the role of Jesus in the film, then calling him back to beg him not to take it:

“He said, ‘You’ll never work in this town again.’ I told him, ‘We all have to embrace our crosses.’ ”

But the actor noted that Gibson wasn’t far off the mark when he spoke of the damage playing Jesus could do to his career.

“Jesus is as controversial now as he has ever been,” Caviezel said. “Not much has changed in 2,000 years.”

Caviezel said he doesn’t worry about the career price he paid with that film — a global box-office smash that led to fewer, not more, film offers for him. “The awards, the hall of fame” that actors get into here on Earth, he said, don’t matter to him. His reward, he said, will come in heaven.

“We have to give up our names, our reputations, our lives to speak the truth,” Caviezel said.

A native of Washington state and a lifelong Roman Catholic, Caviezel has never shied from films with religious subtexts, sometimes controversial ones, from “The Passion of the Christ” (2004) and “The Stoning of Soraya M.” (2008) to “I Am David” (2003) and “Bobby Jones: Stroke of Genius” (2004).

Caviezel has said his faith is his guide, both personally and professionally. He speaks of being “called” to the acting profession and says it was no coincidence that “in my 33rd year, I was called to play Jesus.” He even joked about his initials — J.C. — with Gibson at the time of his casting, which “freaked him out a little.”

Caviezel and his wife have adopted “special-needs” children from China, and one has cancer.

“Maybe God, through my son’s death, is going to teach me something.”

Caviezel will speak at the 9 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services Sunday at First Baptist, 3000 S. John Young Parkway.

rmoore@orlandosentinel.com or 407-420-5369

Copyright © 2011, Orlando Sentinel

David Wilkerson (1931 – 2011)

 1 Response »
Apr 282011
 
David Wilkerson

Pastor David Wilkerson died Wednesday, April 27, 2011  in a tragic car crash, according to a CBN report.

“It is with deepest of sadness that we have to inform you of the sudden passing of Reverend David Wilkerson, our founding pastor,” Times Square Church Senior Pastor Carter Conlon said in a statement on the church website.

Pastor David Wilkerson was first called to New York City to minister to gang members and drug addicts in February, 1958.  Prior to that, he had been serving as pastor in small churches in Scottdale and Philipsburg, Pennsylvania.  It was there that he saw a photo in Life Magazine of seven New York City teenagers charged with murder.  Feeling moved with compassion, he went to New York and began a street ministry.

He began by taking runaway children into his apartment to sleep on his couch and floor.  One night, his was room filled with more kids than he could handle.  Feeling overwhelmed, thinking there was no way he could accept another child,  there was a knock at the door.  He  opened the door to find two forlorn children, who quietly asked if they could stay there as well.  He told them he was sorry, but no.  His apartment was full.  Looking devastated, the children turned and left.   Pastor David felt terrible.  He never forgot the look of despair in their eyes, and he determined that he would never turn a child away again.

Later that year, Pastor David Wilkerson founded ‘Teen Challenge,‘ an evangelical Christian recovery program that has since grown into a network of Christian centers in several countries. In 1967, Wilkerson began Youth Crusades, a ministry for middle-class teenagers who were restless and bored – whom he called “goodniks” – with the hope of preventing them from getting into drug abuse, alcoholism and violence. Through this ministry, the CURE Corps (Collegiate Urban Renewal Effort) was founded with a goal of being a Christian version of the Peace Corps and Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA).

David Wilkerson is the best-selling author of “The Cross and the Switchblade” and “The Vision.”   Co-authored with John and Elizabeth Sherrill, “The Cross and the Switchblade,” published in 1963, is considered one of the most influential and evangelical books in history.  It tells the story of  gang member Nicky Cruz’s conversion and sold over 50 million copies in over thirty languages.  A 1970 movie based on the book, starring Pat Boone as Wilkerson and Erik Estrada as Cruz,  was included on Christianity Today’s “Top 50 Books That Have Shaped Evangelicals.”

In 1971, Wilkerson moved his ministry headquarters to Lindale, Texas, and founded World Challenge, an organization with the mission of spreading the Gospel throughout the world.

Fifteen years later, walking down 42nd Street at midnight in 1986, he was passing by live peep shows and X-rated movie houses when his heart broke over the prostitutes, pimps, drug addicts, runaways and hustlers crowding Times Square.   Again overwhelmed, he cried out for God to do something to help all the spiritually dead and dying people.

Pastor David later said the Holy Spirit called him to return to New York City and to raise up a ministry in Times Square.

“I saw 9, 10 and 11-year-old kids bombed on crack cocaine. I walked down 42nd Street and they were selling crack. Len Bias, the famous basketball player, had just died of a crack overdose, and the pusher was yelling, ‘Hey, I’ve got the stuff that killed Len.’ I wept and prayed, ‘God, you’ve got to raise up a testimony in this hellish place…The answer was not what I wanted to hear: ‘Well, you know the city. You’ve been here. You do it.’”

He obeyed and in October of 1987, at the “crossroads of the world,” he opened the Times Square Church in rented auditoriums in Times Square (Town Hall and the Nederlander Theater).   Later, in 1989, the ministry purchased the historic Mark Hellinger Theater, where the church then moved.

Since that time, he has faithfully led the congregation, delivering powerful biblical messages that encourage righteous living and complete reliance on God.  Wilkerson’s sermons, such as “A Call to Anguish,” are direct and frank, emphasizing Jesus Christ, God’s holiness and righteousness, and God’s love for people.

He has also had a strong burden for pastors all over the globe.  In the 1990′s, Wilkerson focused his efforts to encourage pastors and their families to “renew their passion for Christ” and since 1999, has traveled around the world holding conferences to strengthen and encourage Christian ministers.

In his own words:

“I’ve been an evangelist for 50 years, but I didn’t want to preach to pastors until I had gray hair, until I’d pastored. Now after 15 years of pastoring, sharing the hurts, pains, and difficulties of the ministry as a pastor, I felt the Lord finally release me, that I might have something to say.”

In 2006 Wilkerson and his wife Gwen began splitting their time between New York and Texas. They have four children and eleven grandchildren. His son Gary Wilkerson is also a Christian minister and evangelist.

According to Texas state troopers called on the scene, Wilkerson was hit head-on by a tractor trailer that moved into his lane. Although the truck driver saw the car and attempted to avoid the collision, Wilkerson crashed and was pronounced dead on the scene. Gwen Wilkerson is in critical condition.


Memorial services for Pastor David Wilkerson have been set for May 14, 2 p.m. ET at Times Square Church.

David Wilkerson was 79 years old.

PROPHESIES

In April 1973, Pastor David Wilkerson had a vision regarding the U.S., which he then gave a sermon and wrote a book concerning. (called ‘The Vision.‘ )

Some of the details:

1. “Worldwide recession caused by economic confusion”
* “At most a few more fat flourishing years, and then an economic recession that’s going to affect the life style of every wage-earner in the world. The world economists are going to be at loss to explain what’s happening. It’s going to start in Europe, spread to Japan and finally to the United States.”
* There will be a move toward a worldwide, unified monetary system. The US dollar will be hit bad and it will take years for it to recover.
* The only real security will be in real estate (until a somewhat later stage, at which point this security will also disappear).

2. “Nature having labor pains”
* Environmentalists will come under heavy criticism.
* There will be major earthquakes.
* There will be a major famine.
* Floods, hurricanes and tornadoes will increase in frequency.
* “A new kind of cosmic storm appearing as a raging fire in the sky leaving a kind of vapor trail.”[4]

3. “A flood of filth and a baptism of dirt in America”
* Topless women will appear on television, followed by full nudity.
* Adult, X rated movies will be shown on cable television. Young people will gather at homes to watch this kind of material in groups.
* Sex and the occult will be mixed.
* There will be an acceptance of homosexuality, and the church will even say that it is a God-given gift.

4. “Rebellion in the home”
* “I see the new number one youth problem in America and the world as hatred towards parents.”

5. “A persecution madness against truly Spirit filled Christians who love Jesus Christ”
* There will arise a world church consisting of a union between liberal ecumenical Protestants and the Roman Catholic Church, using Christ in name only.
* There will be a hate Christ movement.
* There will be a spiritual awakening behind the Iron and Bamboo Curtains.

6. Others
* There will be another wave of riots.
* There will be a fall in moral conduct.
* There will be a new drug that will be popular with teenagers that will break down resistance and will encourage sexual activity.
* Homosexual and lesbian ministers will be ordained and this will be heralded as a new breed of pioneer.
* There will be nude dancing in church, but this will never be widespread.
* There will be occult practices in churches.

http://www.tscnyc.org/history.php

http://www.worldchallenge.org/about_david_wilkerson

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Wilkerson

Holding on to that Memory: Ronald’s Incredible Vision

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Mar 192011
 
p_afterStreetEvangelism_000

We were practicing music, and I asked Natasha to play the song she played for Roland at his funeral. In the midst of difficult times for the family, it helps to remember the Blessings we’ve had. To be reminded that they were real…
She hadn’t played it for a long time, so she hesitated, and then began to slowly play that familiar melody that always moves me. Ronald began to work in a delicate accompaniment with the drum. I closed my eyes and just felt the music, swayng where I stood. I almost imagined Roland listening along. When I opened my eyes, Ronald had stopped, and Natasha, following his lead, was finishing up. Then Ronald grimaced with his face, and wiped at a tear. I thought he was joking like he usually does, so I laughed. Then I realized he was really crying, and hard. I’ve never heard him sob like that, hardly able to get his breath. I went over and held him for a little while, until the heavy sobbing subsided. Then I sat down, and we all waited for him, as he continued to cry silently for about another ten or fifteen minutes.

When he could finally talk, he told us that he could feel Roland’s presence in the room while we were playing, and when he looked up, he saw Roland standing next to me with his arms around my shoulders.

—– Original Message —–
October, 2005
From: Pastor Jeff

Way Cool! Hold on to that memory.

From: Cal
> Lisa Dear, As I read your e-mail, I immediately began to cry…even from a > computer screen the spirit> overwhelmed me. What a glorious vision and comfort. What a comfort and a > hope for Ronald. As we try to sort out so many things, rights and wrongs, > misunderstandings, etc. they seem to encompass and overwhelm us at times. > The whispers from the Lord like Ronald’s vision remind us that it’s about > God’s perfect love and grace for each of us, that He cares about us and it > means everything to Him to let us know His comfort and perfect love. What a > precious gift, especially after the difficult weekend you’ve had. Thank you > Jesus. Love, Cal

—– Original Message —–
From: Jenny

Oh my God

—– Original Message —–
From: Leslie

O Lisa. How very, very special. Thank you for sharing this lovely thing the Lord did for you all.

—– Original Message —–
From: Andrea
What a blessing after that rough weekend you just had! I think you are receiving the strength that I was praying for. Roland is there with you, and Ronald saw him. Your family in Canada is bonding more tightly than they ever have before, and that’s exactly what helps everyone be strong in tough times.

—– Original Message —–

A moving story indeed. I hope you all felt comforted by your experience.Tell Ronald that it is okay to cry in a situation like that.What I am worried about is, that there may be times when you do*not* have such experiences. That’s okay, too. It does not mean that God suddenly cares for you less. He doesn’t. He cares for you and for Ronald and for all of you just as much as before. It’s just that He isn’t always so demonstrative about it.Love, Dad

—– Original Message —–
From: My Brother

He’s not done with you guys yet…?

Hijacked and Murdered Sailor was on Christian Mission

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Feb 222011
 
Scott Adams

Four Americans on Yacht Murdered by Pirates –
 
Friend: Hijacked California Sailor Sought to Mix Faith, Adventure

Published February 21, 2011 Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — A friend and former professor of a California man whose yacht was hijacked by Somali pirates said Sunday that Scott Adam wanted to combine his love of adventure with his faith by spreading bibles around the world.

Professor Robert K. Johnston of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena told The Associated Press that Adam — who last year earned a master of theology degree from the school — had sent friends emails detailing his international sailing trip. But Adam went silent Feb. 12 to avoid revealing the location of his yacht, the Quest, to pirates.

“He was sailing around the world and serving God, two of his passions,” Johnston said.

Organizers of the Blue Water Rally yacht race said passengers of the sailboat owned by Adam and his wife, Jean, carried them and two other Americans, Phyllis Macay and Bob Riggle, both of Seattle. It was hijacked Friday off the coast of Oman. It is now in the waters between Yemen and northern Somalia, two pirates and a Somali government official told The Associated Press.

Johnston said that despite an adventurous spirit, the Adams were meticulous planners who knew the dangers they faced. The couple had sailed with a large flotilla to stay safe from pirates near Thailand earlier in the trip.

“They knew and we knew they still had to go by the Somalia coast,” he said. “We’re asking people to pray for them.”

Adam, now in his mid-60s, had been an associate producer in Hollywood when he turned in a spiritual direction and enrolled in the seminary a decade ago, Johnston said.

“He decided he could take his pension, and he wanted to serve God and humankind,” he said.

Johnston and Adam worked together to start a film and theology institute. Adam also taught a class on church and media at the school.

Since 2004, the Adams lived on their yacht in Marina Del Rey for about half the year and the rest of the year they sailed around the world, often distributing Bibles in remote parts of the Fiji Islands, Alaska, New Zealand, Central America and French Polynesia, Johnston said.

Iowa High School Wrestler Defaults Match So He Wouldn’t Face Girl

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Feb 172011
 
Iowa Wrestler

Iowa High School Wrestler Defaults Match So He Wouldn’t Face Girl

Published February 17, 2011 | Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa — A standout Iowa high school wrestler refused to compete against a girl at the state tournament on Thursday, relinquishing any chance of becoming a champion because he says wrestling a girl would conflict with his religious beliefs.

Joel Northrup, a home-schooled sophomore who was 35-4 wrestling for Linn-Mar High School this season, praised his first-round opponent, Cedar Falls freshman Cassy Herkelman, and Ottumwa sophomore Megan Black, who became the first two girls to make the state wrestling tournament in its 85-year history.

But in a brief statement issued through his school, Northrup said he defaulted on his match with Herkelman because he doesn’t think boys and girls should compete in the sport.

“I have a tremendous amount of respect for Cassy and Megan and their accomplishments.

However, wrestling is a combat sport and it can get violent at times,” said Northrup. “As a matter of conscience and my faith I do not believe that it is appropriate for a boy to engage a girl in this manner. It is unfortunate that I have been placed in a situation not seen in most other high school sports in Iowa.”

There were several thousand fans at Wells Fargo Arena on Thursday, but many were watching other matches when the referee raised Herkelman’s hand to signal her win. There was a smattering of cheers and boos from the crowd before Herkelman was whisked into the bowels of the arena.

Tournament organizers declined to make Herkelman available for questions. She entered the tournament with a 20-13 record and will wrestle Friday in the quarterfinals of the 112-pound (50.8-kilogram) weight class.

Her father, Bill Herkelman, told The Associated Press via text message that he understands and respects Northrup’s decision.

“It’s nice to get the first win and have her be on the way to the medal round,” Bill Herkelman wrote. “I sincerely respect the decision of the Northrup family especially since it was made on the biggest stage in wrestling. I have heard nothing but good things about the Northrup family and hope Joel does very well the remainder of the tourney.”

According to the National Federation of State High School Associations, more than 6,000 girls competed in wrestling in 2009-10 — compared with nearly 275,000 boys. Though most states require girls to wrestle boys, California, Hawaii, Texas, Washington and Tennessee sponsor girls-only high school wrestling tournaments.

University Policy Defines Religious Discrimination as Oppression by Christians

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Feb 162011
 
.
University of California, Davis

University to Change Policy Defining Religious Discrimination as Oppression by Christians 
By Todd Starnes

Published February 16, 2011
| FoxNews.com

The University of California at Davis has backed away from a policy that defined religious discrimination as Christians oppressing non-Christians after more than two dozen Christian students filed a formal complaint.

The definition was listed in a document called, “The Principles of Community.” It defined “Religious/Spiritual Discrimination” as “The loss of power and privilege to those who do not practice the dominant culture’s religion. In the United States, this is institutionalized oppressions toward those who are not Christian.”

“This is radical political correctness run amok,” said David French, senior counsel for the Alliance Defense Fund.

The conservative advocacy group wrote a letter on behalf of more than 25 students who objected to the policy and wanted it revised.

He said it’s absurd to single out Christians as oppressors and non-Christians as the only oppressed people on campus.

Raheem Reed, an associate executive vice chancellor at UC-Davis, said he received the letter and removed the definition Wednesday afternoon.

“I certainly can see how a Christian student reading that definition might feel and that’s why it was immediately disabled and taken down,” Reed told Fox News Radio. “This is not how we define religious discrimination.”

However, one student said they complained to administrators last November about the policy and nothing was done. “Christians deserve the same protections against religious discrimination as any other students on a public university campus,” French told Fox News Radio. “The idea that a university would discriminate against Christians is a very old story, unfortunately, and one that we see played out every day.”

One student, who asked not to be identified, said university officials asked her to reaffirm “The Principles of Community” last semester. She refused to do so when she realized that Christians were not protected under the policy.

“To have a non-discrimination policy that excludes the Christian faith is a cause for action,” she said. “In higher academia, one would hope that a diversity of ideas and beliefs would be appreciated. But my experience has been that this has not always been the case. There is a real fear of academic bias against the Christian faith.”

Reed said he regrets that Christian students might feel intimidated. “We want everyone to feel safe, welcomed and supportive,” he said.

“Not only are we taking it down, but now we’re going to look at what kind of affirmative steps we can take to reassure those members of our campus community who may have felt somewhat threatened or intimidated by it.”

French said all of the students who complained are fearful of backlash if their identities became known. “This was amazing to actually enshrine in your non-discrimination statement – discrimination against Christians,” he said.

“This is a symbol of the seeming impunity in which universities violate the law to establish a radical, secular-left agenda.” Alan Brownstein, a law professor at UC-Davis, said the campus has a generally open and tolerant view of religion.

“It’s a university campus,” he said. “There is robust debate and people will disagree on just about everything.” Brownstein, who is a nationally known constitutional scholar, said any legal challenges to the policy would depend on whether or not it’s a binding document.

“Clearly, if you had an enforceable regulatory policy that said, ‘we will discipline Christians who oppress non-Christians, but we will not impose the same kind of disciplinary sanctions on non-Christians who engage in the same kind of harassing behavior against Christians,’ that would be unacceptable and subject to legal challenge.”

Reed said “The Principles of Community” is not a policy. “They are, in fact, aspirational principles we have – to try to make sure we are promoting diversity and trying to build a more inclusive campus community,” he said.

Regardless, Brownstein said it might have been more appropriate to use less-specific language in the policy. “It’s always preferable to be as general as you can when you describe these kinds of unacceptable behaviors,” he said.

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