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Mon. September 8, 2008 6:43:30 PM
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Wasilla, AK — Republican vice-president Sarah Palin's home church, Wasilla Bible Church, is promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.
‘You'll be encouraged by the power of God's love and His desire to transform the lives of those impacted by homosexuality,' according to the insert in the bulletin of the Wasilla Bible Church, where Palin has been a member for about six years. The insert was promoting the Focus on the Family "Love Won Out" conference in Anchorage, about 30 miles from Wasilla.
The conference is dedicated to training attendees in ‘ministering' to gays and lesbians in an effort to convert them into the ‘ex-gay' movement.
According to the Associated Press, Palin has not expressed her views on her church's "pray away the gay" movement. Larry Kroon, senior pastor at Palin's church, was not available to discuss the matter.
Both Senators Barack Obama and John McCain distanced themselves from their churches earlier this year after it became known that their pastors made sermons that didn't represent their own beliefs.
The nomination of Palin, a fundamentalist Christian, has energized evangelicals within the Republican Party. She is opposed to abortion rights, including in cases of incest and rape. Palin also believes gay partners should have none of the rights of marries couples. Her history of opposing equal rights for gays and lesbians has already come under heavy fire from gay rights organizations.
The "Love One Out" conference is presented by Focus on the Family, a national Conservative Christian organization headed by James Dobson. The conservative Christian leader was instrumental in the restoration process for Ted Haggard the former pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs. Haggard, who is married, was removed from church leadership in 2006 when it was revealed that he had paid for sex with a male prostitute and used methamphetamine when they were together. After three weeks of counseling, four ministers including Dobson declared Haggard "completely heterosexual."
Palins' former church Wasilla Assembly of God is affiliated with Third Wave of the Holy Spirit or the New Apostolic Reformation. Third Wave churches received national attention through the 2006 film Jesus Camp.
Log Cabin Republicans, the leading organization of gay and lesbian Republicans, announced its endorsement of the McCain - Palin ticket last week. (Full Story)
CPSteve on Tuesday, 9/9/2008
According to a letter read by Rev. Ted Haggard to the congregation of New Life Church in Colorado Springs on November 5, 2006, Dr. James Dobson was named as one of the overseers Haggard was required to submit to:
"Our church's overseers have required me to submit to the oversight of Dr. James Dobson, Pastor Jack Hayford, and Pastor Tommy Barnett. Those men will perform a thorough analysis of my mental, spiritual, emotional, and physical life. They will guide me through a program with the goal of healing and restoration for my life, my marriage, and my family."
This letter was published in the Colorado Springs Gazette.
Also if you recall in November 2006 just days after the initial media reports of Haggard's homosexual affair, James Dobson - like you - blamed the media for improper journalism and factual inaccuracy and referred to Haggard as a friend and suggested the timing of the story was meant to influence the outcome of the Amendment 43 vote.
Wes, I doubt you are a regular member of this website and most-likely will never return to read my reply; however, as editor I stand by this article and my reporters.
Questions or comments, please feel free to email the editor.
Wes Moses on Wednesday, 9/10/2008
Steve,
It is true that Dr. Dobson was in the list that Haggard mentioned in his letter. However, Dr. Dobson dropped out citing his other commitments. The same Colorado Srpings Gazette carried that news too - http://www2.gazette.com/display.php?id=1326288&secid=14 . It ought to be clear that Dr. Dobson was not a part of the team of four overseers. I urge you to check the facts before you post them.
CPJason on Wednesday, 9/10/2008
Though I feel Wes makes a strong argument, I don't see how Kevin Wayne has failed to be a responsible reporter in this article, or how Steve failed to be a responsible editor in posting it. Though Dobson may have personally backed out of Haggard's "restoration," as the primary rep for the organization and methods used in which to declare Haggard's "heterosexuality," I feel it is safe, and accurate, to say that Dobson was "instrumental" in said process.
I don't feel this is a fact-checking issue, but rather one of semantics--the perception of which would most likely be determined by what side of the issue's subjectivity an individual personally favors.
Wes Moses on Thursday, 9/11/2008
I'm not sure what good it serves to keep going on and on on this, but here's the fact - When Dr. Dobson, pulled out, he didn't just pull out from being the "primary rep for the organization and methods used" for Haggard's restoration. He simply pulled out of the team totally and there's no evidence to indicate that he was involved or "instrumental" in the process.
Steve and Jason - Thanks for your responses to my comments.
CPSteve on Thursday, 9/11/2008
Wes - I appreciate that you took the time to continue returning for a good discussusion. Most "guest" users come to post a comment (often negative) and then never return. I appreciate your debate.
Additionally, I understand the points you've made about Dr. James Dobson. I guess bottom line, Dr. Dobson still supports the "pray away the gay" movement as evidenced by the Focus on the Family "Love Won Out" event mentioned in the article.
We could spend eternity discussing the issue of homosexual restoration.
Again, thanks for your comments.
Wes Moses on Tuesday, 9/9/2008
One of the fundamental requirements of proper journalism is factual accuracy. Dr. Dobson was not involved in the processing of restoring Ted Haggard. The approach of Churches such as the one Palin goes to is not about "praying away" homosexuality. It's about recognizing that God, our Creator, has complete authority over our being, and yielding oneself to Him for changing deviant sexual behaviors and expressions. This applies not only to homosexuality but to every other deviance from God's Word, such as, lying, stealing, bribing, cheating etc.