More Than a Dozen Pastors & Business Owners Agree

Contact: Dr. Raymond Johnson, 904-338-4751

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., May 22, 2012 /Christian Newswire/ -- Today, Dr. Raymond Johnson, Founder & President of Biblical Concepts Ministries announced He is leading an effort to organize a group of pastors in the fight against city council bill #296 "Anti Discrimination Bill" adding the words "sexual orientation, gender identity or expression" to current discrimination laws. Dr. Johnson and BCM volunteers is communicating with hundreds of pastors and has mailed a letter and a printed copy of the bill to over 300 pastors in Jacksonville this week. "I will do everything I can to educate and activate pastors and congregations to contact council members and attend meetings to help defeat this bill." Dr. Johnson Said.

We oppose this bill for multiple reasons. First, fundamental evangelical Christians with a biblical worldview agree homosexuality is an abominable sin according to Romans 1:22-32, and anyone supporting this bill may be in danger of having a "reprobate mind" According to Vs. 28. Therefore we are refuting the small group of local pastors supporting this bill as they do not represent the majority of main stream Christianity.

Second, we our calling on the city council to repent and reject this bill for these reasons. We reject the theory that this is an "anti discrimination bill" as the bill takes away the rights of the majority of our citizens and gives special rights and class to a small minority of people. We have spoken so politically correct we have desensitized a generation to homosexuality, it is not an alternative lifestyle, it is sodomy, perversion and sin. We know God will bless or curse this city according to our law and public policy as Proverbs 14:34 states "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people." The final reason we reject this bill is for its disregard to the constitution of the United States. Bill #296 on lines 3-5 on page 3, and line 8, page 8 strikes the words "within the limits of the constitution of the United States." This disregards individual and religious liberty embedded in the constitution.

We the undersigned confirm the statements above and therefore ask the Jacksonville City Council to repent, reject and vote No on bill #296.

Rev. Tom Croft, Pastor Morning Star Family Church
Rev. Jerry Fitch, Pastor Destiny Church
Rev. Clarence Jarrell, Pastor Harvest Time Church of God
Rev. Steve Dubose, Pastor Lane Ave Church of God
Rev. Andrew Shiltz, Garden City Church of God
Rev. Ken Gemeinhart, Englewood Christian Church
Rev. Eric Osborn, Lighthouse Assembly of God
Rev Marc Swarthout, Shilo Missionary Baptist Church
Rev. Jarry Moore, associate minister, Marietta Church of God
Rev. Pastor James Tomlinson, Sharon Baptist Church, small business owner
Patty Jones, Music Minister, Crown Point Baptist Church, small business owner
Gene Thigpen, small business owner
Troy & Cathy Cooner, small business owners
Todd Knowles, small business owner