By Katie Luther
Christian Action League
November 11, 2022
This year at the 2022 Baptist State Convention of North Carolina in Greensboro, the Christian Action League was honored to partner with Mary Frances Forrester in promoting her recent book For Such a Time as This: the Life of Senator James Forrester and His Fight for Marriage in North Carolina.
The work chronicles the dramatic and historically significant events surrounding the adoption of a marriage amendment to the North Carolina constitution in 2012 that defined marriage exclusively as the union of one man and one woman. The Christian Action League worked alongside Senator Forrester as a crucial participant in the marriage amendment coalition’s decades-long fight for traditional marriage. The victory was hard won, however, as their combined efforts drew hateful and sometimes violet backlash from same-sex marriage proponents.
For Such a Time as This weaves the high profile events of that struggle into the fascinating life story of the embattled man at the center of them, Jim Forrester, and the unique and sometimes tragic personal losses that made him so determined a champion in protecting the institutions of marriage and family. His story culminates in the historic passage of HB2 in the North Carolina General Assembly, by one fragile vote, and in the amendment’s formal adoption at the ballot box by North Carolinians anxious to see marriage enshrined in their state constitution as a heterosexual union.
Just as they were fellow warriors in the amendment fight then, Mrs. Forrester and the Christian Action League have joined forces once more to spread the story and lessons contained in For Such a Time as This with as many Christian pastors and church leaders as possible. Its relevance is stronger than ever as the issue of same-sex marriage may very well return to the frontline of the culture war in the near future if the U.S Supreme Court overturns Obergefell v Hodges and renders same-sex marriage a state issue once more, as it has with Roe v Wade.
Dr. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, believes the book will help Christian pastors and leaders realize the importance of the marriage issue and the need to address it openly while offering biblically correct teaching on both marriage and homosexuality.
“Jim Forrester’s story will encourage those in authority to be bold and courageous in defending God’s design,” said Creech. “And to help them see that they cannot remain passive or neutral on the same-sex marriage issue. Sooner or later they will have to take a stand in their churches and communities, and it will probably be sooner. We want them to be ready to do the right thing.”
Dr. Creech expressed gratitude for the boost in donations to the Christian Action League because of the Forrester book. At a book signing on Tuesday, Mrs. Forrester spoke of her own appreciation. “I’m so pleased with the Christian Action League’s partnership in promoting the book and its message and I’ve been especially pleased at the reception to it here at the convention. I’ve personally spoken with over twenty-six pastors who told me of their eagerness to read it and add it to their church library for members to read. One said he was sure there were a lot of sermon subjects in it!”
For Such a Time as This is part political history, part biography and it provides in the person of Jim Forrester a stellar example of how to contend for biblical truth in a fallen culture and to persevere in the face of persecution, both public and private. Moreover, it exemplifies how to do these things with kindness, humility and unfailing hope.
The book can be purchased at amazon.com.
