By Hunter Hines
Christian Action League
September 10, 2018
Friday, the Christian Action League sent an Urgent Alert to pastors and churches in the Fayetteville area about a SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity) nondiscrimination ordinance set to be considered by the Fayetteville City Council. The League is pleased to inform everyone that the City Council has withdrawn the proposal from tonight’s agenda.
Rev. Mark Creech, executive director of the Christian Action League, said that the League’s Alert was sent in conjunction with its friends from the North Carolina Values Coalition and the North Carolina Family Policy Council, which did the same.
“The response was nothing less than phenomenal,” said Creech. “The Fayetteville Observer confirms that council members were ‘bombarded’ with contacts and swiftly yanked the proposal from their agenda. It’s obvious the people in Fayetteville don’t believe the spin on this ordinance. They know SOGI measures require religious freedom to be sent to the back of the bus. I’m grateful for the way concerned Citizen Christians from Cumberland County responded, as well as others from across the state, who zealously urged council members not to take-up or pass the ordinance.”
SOGI ordinances seriously infringe on religious liberties. They are used to penalize Christian florists, bakers, photographers, printers, and other small businesses or companies that wish to operate by biblical values. They also negatively impact churches and pastors. SOGI laws impose a radical ideology on society. Although they purport to be shields against discrimination of LGBTQ persons, they are actually wielded as swords against people who believe same-sex marriage and transgenderism are immoral. Dissent is treated as unjust, irrational, bigoted, and a discriminatory action punishable by law.
Most everyone in North Carolina remembers the heated controversy that surrounded what was called, “the bathroom bill,” HB 2. HB 2 was a state law that nullified a SOGI ordinance passed by the City of Charlotte that purported to protect “gender identity” (transgender persons). However, the ordinance would have also required that men be allowed into women’s restrooms, showers, and locker rooms. Churches wouldn’t have been exempt from Charlotte’s SOGI ordinance.
Horrendous pressures, mostly from Leftist influences outside the state, (national LGBTQ advocacy groups, sports entities, entertainment personalities, and large corporate bodies) resulted in the repeal and replacement of HB 2 with compromise legislation, HB 142.
The compromise law that passed the North Carolina General Assembly with bipartisan support requires that no city or town may adopt a SOGI ordinance until after December 1, 2020. If the Fayetteville City Council were to adopt the ordinance they set out to consider, they would have unquestionably been in violation of the law and drawn a legal challenge.
For now, it appears Fayetteville has dodged a bullet. But Creech adds that the conservative evangelical community in Cumberland County should still be on the look-out.
“You don’t know whether the city has dodged a bullet or whether the City Council is just taking better aim,” said Creech. “I think it’s very important that pastors and lay leaders from the churches still attend the meeting tonight and monitor what happens. During the public comments period, they should also thank the Council for listening to their concerns and urge them not to bring the matter up again. I’ve heard Equality Fayetteville (LGBTQ advocacy organization) is planning to be present. If they are going to be at the meeting this evening, you can be certain they will make their case for taking up the measure. The churches should be there to express an opposing view.”
A rally, which was also planned for 5:30 this afternoon in opposition to the ordinance in front of City Hall on 433 Hay Street in Fayetteville, has now been cancelled.
Persons outside the Fayetteville area who have been sending emails and making phone calls to council members may now suspend.
Every concerned Christian is urged to continue praying.
The Christian Action League will keep everyone informed about any new developments on this situation.