By L.A. Williams
Christian Action League
WILSON — “I’m hoping to wake up May 9 and read in the newspaper that Wilson County voted solidly for the Marriage Amendment,” the Rev. Ray Barnhill said Thursday. “We can get this done if we all take some initiative.”
The pastor of Forest Hills Baptist Church and a member of the Christian Life and Public Affairs Committee for the Baptist State Convention, Barnhill helped organize Wednesday’s lunch-time rally that drew more than 300 to the steps of the Wilson County Courthouse to show their support for protecting marriage in the N.C. Constitution as between one man and one woman.
Forty-four pastors from a variety of denominations gathered at the event, a public signing of a resolution that pledged their support for the amendment which will go before voters May 8. Although North Carolina statutes already prohibit same-sex “marriage,” the Tar Heel state remains the only one in the South that doesn’t protect marriage in its Constitution, making it a prime target for homosexual activism.
The Rev. Donnie Price, pastor of Rosebud Baptist and the main speaker for the half-hour event, quoted Ephesians 5:31, “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh …” and made it clear that it is God who defined marriage.
Beyond the issue of Biblical obedience, he said that supporting marriage is good for children and for society at large in addition to good for the economy, which depends on strong families. He also warned that if the Marriage Amendment fails, North Carolinians will see their freedoms decline. In places where homosexual “marriage” has been approved, pastors have come under fire for refusing to marry same-sex couples and for preaching the Word of God.
To prevent these things from happening in North Carolina, Rev. Price and others urged the crowd to rally friends and family to vote FOR the amendment May 8 and, if they are not already registered to vote, to do so by April 13.
The Rev. Barnhill said Wednesday’s event, which also attracted a handful of protestors, grew out of a meeting held earlier this year with Christian Action League Executive Director Rev. Mark Creech, who encouraged Wilson area pastors to speak out on the issue and mobilize Christians to support the amendment.
Over the past six weeks the pastors have met and, after agreeing to sign a resolution, decided to hold Wednesday’s public event to do so. They also plan to publish their signed resolution in the Wilson Times.
“Somebody has got to lead, and I think it ought to be the pastors,” the Rev. Barnhill said.
“This is a great example of how to spread the word about the importance of the Marriage Amendment. Not only are these ministers standing strong on God’s word in the pulpit, but they are taking it to the public square,” said Dr. Creech. “We are thrilled to hear about this successful rally. And, what an innovative thing to build the event around lunch-time. Maybe more of our churches will follow with the same or a similar idea. There’s still time.”
The Wilson pastors are among a growing number of groups across the state that have made their support for the Marriage Protection Amendment official via a signed resolution. Over the past week, seven Boards of Commissioners passed similar resolutions endorsing the MPA, bringing the total as of Wednesday to 13.
To find out which boards have done so and see if your county is on the list, log on to Vote For Marriage NC. To download a sample resolution that you can submit to your local governing body or one for members of your civic organization to sign, click on Materials.
To view great pictures of the rally by photographer Gray Whitley, go to the photo gallery of the Wilson Times by clicking here