Here it is: IRD's "exotic sexual activities" letter

Here it is: the text of Mark Tooley's "exotic sexual activities" letter. (Tooley is pictured left.) It is an outrageous distortion of the spirit and content of the Hearts on Fire conference being sponsored by the Reconciling Ministries Network at Lake Junaluska Sept. 2-5. The letter concludes, of course, with an appeal for contributions. If several thousand people believe this malarkey and send the Institute on Religion and Democracy (IRD) $50 each or more, it will keep the bills paid at 1110 Vermont Ave., NW, for quite a while.

This letter is not posted on the IRD website. I assume IRD does not want everyone to see it. Someone who is on the IRD mailing list gave a copy of this letter to a pastor in North Carolina.  The pastor faxed it to me at my request. The letter is long but, please, take a few moments to read it and to see the kind of innuendo and manipulation IRD is willing to use to keep its base agitated. (I have attempted to replicate the use of bold type in the original letter.)

______________________________

July 2005
Dear United Methodist Friend,

Have you ever been to beautiful Lake Junaluska, the United Methodist retreat center in the mountains of Western North Carolina?

It is one of the jewels of our United Methodist connection.

But this September 2-5, the jewel of our church will be tarnished.

Lake Junaluska, which is owned by the relatively conservative Southeast Jurisdiction of our church, is renting itself out to "Hearts on Fire!," a huge jamboree for homosexual activists and their supporters.

Do you share my indignation over Lake Junaluska's decision to allow this?

Are you willing to contact Lake Junaluska directly to register your protest?

If so, please read on.

The four-day pro-homosexuality rally will be organized by Reconciling Congregations, the main liberal lobby group attempting to overturn the United Methodist Church's teachings on marriage and sexual ethics.

Now, this would be ALMOST excusable, if Lake Junaluska were required to rent itself out to any requesting organization. But its own internal standards require that the retreat center be rented only to groups compatible with the Discipline and Social Principles of United Methodism.

Of course, the Discipline and Social Principles of our church call homosexual practice "incompatible" with Christian teaching and affirm sex only within marriage.

For some odd reason, Lake Junaluska is choosing to ignore these essential teachings of our church, even though they've been debated and voted upon by our church for over 30 years now.

According to the Reconciling website's description of "Hearts on Fire," this event is for "United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities that are called in faith to celebrate, ignite and empower the inclusive church of Jesus Christ."

Reconciling hopes to attract 400 United Methodists to the convocation. Participants will include seven bishops: Susan Morrison, Melvin Talbert, Joseph Sprague, Sally Dyck, John Schol, Minerva Carcano and Richard Wilke.

Other speakers will include openly lesbian United Methodist minister Beth Stroud, same-sex union convenor Karen Oliveto, and Erin Swenson, a Presbyterian minister who had a sex-change operation.

Reconciling has declared that "Hearts on Fire" will "include a "rainbow community of faithful lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and heterosexual disciples committed to justice!"

Needless to point out, the official United Methodist teaching about marriage and sex will NOT be presented at "Hearts on Fire," except as a target for ridicule and condemnation.

When I contacted her, the spokesperson for the Lake Junaluska Retreat Center said that the center sometimes rents to secular organizations but has turned away groups deemed to be at odds with  United Methodist stances.

According to Lake Junaluska's guidelines, "Groups using our facilities should have a mission compatible with Lake Junaluska Assembly and The United Methodist Church, its Discipline and Social Principles."

When I asked the spokesperson for comment about  Lake Junaluska's decision to rent to a group that decidedly disagrees with our church's standards, she replied:

"We believe we are within the Disciplinary guidelines as referenced in Para. 161g, 162h and 162s and 806.9 and 304.3. We believe our vision and mission encourages us to join the total church in  opening our hearts, our minds, and our doors."

Of course, the Book of Discipline references that she cited affirm God's love for homosexuals but call homosexual practice "incompatible with Christian teaching." Human rights for homosexuals are supported, but the church denies ordination to practicing homosexuals, refuses funding for pro-homosexuality advocacy, and will not allow same-sex unions.

Reconciling Ministries, the host of "Hearts of Fire" [sic], decidedly believes homosexual practice is compatible with Christian teaching and supports the ordination of active homosexuals and church "weddings" for same-sex couples.

According to the church's Social Principles, "sexual relations are only clearly affirmed in the marriage bond," a stance which Reconciling is decidedly in disagreement.

But listen to this. Beyond just the advocacy of homosexuality,"Hearts on Fire" will "explore the development of transgender and gender queer spirituality," according to its brochure.

We can expect "Hearts on Fire" to endorse a wide range of exotic sexual activities based on the spurious premise of "tolerance" and "inclusion."

The Lake Junaluska spokesperson pointed out to me that Lake Junaluska is renting the facility to Reconciling, not subsidizing "Hearts on Fire."

But the money is not the main principle here. The main issue is the witness of our church to the world. And, by the way, should a facility of our church be MAKING money on this kind of event?

What kind of message is the United Methodist Church transmitting if, even in conservative western North Carolina, we sanction a jamboree that celebrates the sexual revolution instead of honoring Christian virtues such as chastity and faithfulness?

Our church does not need this kind of money. The integrity of the Gospel is far more important than making money.

Tens of thousands of United Methodists over the decades have worshipped and prayed at Lake Junalusaka[sic]. Some of our church's finest preachers have proclaimed the Gospel there. Many United Methodists first came to faith in Jesus Christ there at the lakeside.

Why should this blessed and beautiful facility now be sullied with sexual ideologies of the secular world?

Our United Methodist Church does and should welcome ALL people to come hear the Gospel and worship God.

But our United Methodist Church should not welcome ALL secular ideologies and secular fads into our midst.

"Hearts of Fire!," [sic] with its celebration of exotic sexual behaviors, does not belong at a Christian retreat center.

I am sharing this information with you and with thousands of other United Methodists so that you can register your protest over "Hearts of Fire" [sic] to the executive director of Lake Junaluska, Jimmy Carr.

I am also suggesting you contact Bishop Charlene Kammerer, who chairs the Connectional Table for the Southeast Jurisdiction, which has authority over Lake Junaluska, encouraging her and the Connectional Table to intervene.

Please contact both persons right away by filling out the enclosed notes, which we will forward to them. I also encourage you to send e-mails directly to Mr. Carr: jlcarr@sejumc.org. Remember, be polite and respectful. We cannot effectively appeal to Christian teaching if we do not model Christian behavior!

Let's ask that "Hearts on Fire" not be permitted to convene at Lake Junaluska. Even if Mr. Carr declines or says it is too late, our protests can hopefully lead to Lake Junaluska having more careful and wiser policies in the future.

Remember, the radical forces that want to overthrow Christian teachings regarding marriage and sex (among other issues) in our church do not command majority support. But their supporters are an energized and well-organized minority.

Let not the majority of United Methodists remain silent! Let us speak out, now, in defense of our church's historic and Bible-based teachings.

Needless to say, our contacting hundreds of thousands of United Methodists over the next two months before September 2-5 "Hearts on Fire" pro-homosexuality jamboree will cost tens of thousands of dollars.

But I am convinced that the word about "Hearts on Fire" must get out.

Can you help us get the word out to hundreds of thousands of faithful United Methodists?

Your contribution of $5o, $75 or $100 will help us to ensure that "Hearts on Fire" will not remain a semi-secret. And it will help us move towards a day when finally, United Methodists can put these debates over homosexuality behind us and move forward together in mission.

Let us work for that day. Please act now! September 2 is close at hand!

With gratitude,

Mark Tooley
UMAction Executive Director

P.S. UMAction will be on site, covering whatever happens at "Hearts on Fire," particularly whatever the 7 bishops of our church have to say. Stay tuned for our reports by signing up for e-mail reports from our website at www.ird-renew.org.

______________________________

Mark Tooley can be e-mailed here. Contributions to the Reconciling Ministries Network can be made here.

Comments

[stlukespastor]

It looks like the administration of Lake Junaluska and some of our bishops fear being labeled being closed minded, homophobic and inhospitable. Since the conference center is now open to any United Methodist caucas, why not let the "UM Caucas for the Promotion of Adultery," or the "United Methodist Nudist Caucas" have a conference at Lake Junaluska. I am sure "UM's for the Promotion of Pornograhy" would be welcome too. Let's be consistent in our logic and include everyone in the use of our conference grounds as long as they claim to be part of our connection.

[beth]

Thanks for posting this, Dean. When I first read the 50wordsorless post on this, I hoped it was somehow an error! Ah, wishful thinking...

[the_methotaku]

Thanks for giveing us Mark Tooley's email address. I sent him a few polite words, useing an anonomus account, having resisted my first impulse, which was to spam his inbox with pictures of half-naked men.

[Douglas Asbury]

Condemned by his own words:
"We cannot effectively appeal to Christian teaching if we do not model Christian behavior!"
Has he never read the commandment that says, "You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor"? (Ex. 19.16, NIV) How sad!

[Via Media Methodists]

About a year ago, Andrew J. Weaver and Nicole Seibert wrote an important essay concerning the IRD titled "Church & Scaife: Secular Conservative Philanthropies waging unethical campaign to take over United Methodist Church." For those unfamiliar with the IRD, it makes for some interesting reading.

[Revwilly]

As a conservative I am at times distrubed by some of Marks remarks. This is one of them.

[Nancy Smith]

The "Ranting Right" - of which Tooley is a prime example - appeals to FEAR and stirs up others into a constant state of fear-based DEFENSE. His is a war-cry: "Be afraid, defend the status quo, send money!"

The appeal set forth in the life and message of Christ is to FAITH (trust) and the challenge is to spread the GOOD NEWS as set forth in Luke 4:18-19.

Tooley can't (or won't) distinguish between "sexual activities" and "spirituality." Sounds like he could take a lesson or two from "Hearts on Fire!"

[Wayne]

Dean,
Thanks for posting this. It appears that Mr Tooley is more interested in raising funds for his organization through fear, intimidation and manipulation than he is in presenting the truth.

The sad thing is that so many of his target base will believe this propoganda.

[Jay]

I got this in the mail today, and started to call Mark and threaten harrasment if he didn't immediately take our church off the mailing list.

It's interesting that if this event is such a den of iniquity, then why in the heck is Mark risking his very soul by attending?

[John Wilks]

"Thanks for giveing us Mark Tooley's email address. I sent him a few polite words, useing an anonomus account, having resisted my first impulse, which was to spam his inbox with pictures of half-naked men."

Good for you. I'm sure that is how Jesus would have responded.

Dean, I sense some anger about this, but I don't know why. You may not like IRD's stance, but they are entilted to it. And they are just as entitled to share their views as RMN is. It isn't the approach I would have taken and I'm no fan of the fund-raising, but the letter seems pretty run of the mill to me.

And don't think for a moment that RMN isn't enjoying milking all this controvesy just as surly as IRD is. This sort of controversy gives both sides something to gnaw on as we continue to circle the bowl on our way down the pipes.

Would the last one out the door please turn off the lights?

[Dean Snyder]

John W.

I would not approve of sending anyone half-naked pictures. I assume methatuka was joking. He didn't actually do it, you'll notice.

I do think it is important that those of us who feel misrepresnted and wronged by this letter keep our righteous indignation in check.

Sure IRD is allowed its opinions. I disagree with their opinion about whether it is okay for RMN to be at Junaluska. I will debate that willingly, but this is not what I am objecting to here. I am objecting to crass distortion through the use of inflammatory terms and misrepresentation of the nature of the event. I have been signed up to go to the Convo for weeks and have been at other RMN gatherings. We will not celebrate or endorse "exotic sexual activties." We are not a rally; we are a convocation. We are not pro-homosexuality; we are in favor of inclusion and justice for people of differeing sexual orietations. We do not ridicule marriage. We are not a lobby group. We do celebrate and advocate faithfulness. Do I need to keep going? These are misrepresentations and distortions.

By the way, I have known Mark for a number of years and have never found him to be less than respectful and polite in my personal relationship with him. I have actually liked talking with Mark and have gone to him to ask him how he thinks his constituency would react to this or that. But this letter is not true; it panders to people's fears. It has the potential to generate hatred. I would think an intelligent and fair conservative like youself would want to suggest to IRD that this is out of line.

You don't actually believe fundraising justifies this, do you?

Dean

[the_methotaku]

Yes, my comment about spamming Mark Tooley with dirty pictures was a joke. I did, as I said, send Mr. Tooley an email explaining why I thought he was wrong about the RMN convention, and especially why accusing the RMN of promoting 'exotic sexual activites' was unfair. I sent it anonomusly because the IRD has a track record of trying to ruin its opponents lives.

[Mike Barker]

uhhh.... the IRD practices fund-raising? what an outrage!

this would be like a UMC church passing around a collection plate every week for undesignated funding of places like Lake Junaluska!

no... wait... UMC churches DO pass around collection plates every Sunday, and send 12% of the collection off to Jim Winkler and Randy Day and Jan Love and bishop Kammerer and to operations like Junaluska.

The UMC: Your tax-exempt collection agency for the Democratic Party and moveon.org

mike barker
lay member, trinity umc
king george VA

[free mp3 music downloads]

Yhanks you
6d1b25

[Dale Collins]

Mark Tooley, Mark Tooley...wasn't he mentioned in the New York Times article concerning the evangelical Christians who denounce torture, whom Tooley essentially called misguided tools? Wow, I am collapsing in awe at his deep compassion.

[Brian]

Y'all are busted, like the Bible says, better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than expose a fool in his folly.