Just ov
er a month after GCM Watch uncovered a black pastor’s involvement in an upcoming gay christian conference, Evangelicals Concerned quietly removed Pastor Mary Emma Evans off its roster of conference guests.
The original pdf flyer is listed here. Evans was scheduled to perform a gospel concert during the conference.
On June 8th, GCM Watch sent an unacknowledged letter to ECWR stating an intent to contact Pastor Evans and request that she reconsider her appearance. GCM Watch spoke at length to Pastor Frank Sossaman who is Pastor Evans’ overseer in the International Pentecostal Holiness Church (IPHC). Pastor Sossaman confirmed that neither he nor the IPHC supported homosexual christian activities. Read the IPHC’s Covenant of Committment dealing with gay and lesbian relationships.
GCM Watch heartily commends the IPHC, Pastor Frank Sossaman and Pastor Mary Emma Evans for upholding biblical fidelity in the face of growing partnerships with individuals and groups who seek to devalue the truth of God’s Word.
Filed under: Evangelicals Concerned, homosexuality, parachurch groups, pastors and clergy
I really don’t understand this story. Who is EC? And if Gay Christian Movement Watch is opposed to the “Gay Christian” movement, why would you send a letter to her asking her to reconsider her participation in the concert involving a pastor who has supported a gay christian conference. Then you turned around a commended her and her overseer for the stance that they take. Maybe I am reading this wrong.
GCMW: Roland thanks for your question. Please check the links within the story, they should explain who the story characters are. The short of it is: (1) Pastor Mary Emma Evans was scheduled to perform at a gay christian conference sponsored by the Evangelicals Concerned (EC or ECWR).
(2) We sent an email to ECWR of our intent to request Pastor Evans withdraw from the conference. They did not respond. We engaged in conversations with her church overseers who stated they did not support homosexual christians in the context of the conference.
(3) The result was that Pastor Evans was removed by the ECWR from the conference.
(4) Our commendation was in response to her withdrawal (or removal) and her church’s biblical stance.
Hope that makes things a bit clearer.
Why do you refer to her as a “black pastor?”
GCMW: The terms “Black” or “African American” racial designators commonly used to describe people of African ancestry living in the United States.
Why wouldn’t you want Spirit-filled pastors to reach our in ministry to this who may be confused and searching? Are you so threatened by them that you don’t care for their souls?
It’s great that you all expose the sin of homosexuality. However some of these individuals have repented and are walking strong with Jesus. Everybody has some kind of sinful past including you. So show more of the Love Of Christ and don’t forget where you came from.
Like…who?
I dont get your comment at all.
For those who have repented, that’s fine. No one is arguing about that. The issue here is that EC was a “gay christian” conference, which implies that the individuals participating in the conference have so called “reconciled” their sexuality with their spirituality/relationship with God thru Christ. So with such individuals, the Bible is clear in that we should avoid such persons. That doesn’t mean we don’t love them Rev. Clifton…it means that we are following God’s orders to “hand that person over to satan…” and dust your hands off.
As long as there’s breath in their bodies there’s still hope. God hates the sin and he loves the sinner, I’m not affirming homosexuality, but Jesus can save them as well. There’s nothing wrong of speaking out against it. Because God made Adam & Eve not Adam & Steve. Your focus should be more on leading them to Christ instead of kicking individuals when they’re down. You don’t know what some of these individuals could’ve been through during their early lives. Yes, hell is real and it would be full of folks who are just playing church. This is why we must win the lost at any cost instead of beating them up.Yes, gospel music is a mess with the sin of homosexuality. My advice to you is preach Jesus to them.
Well, it’s official I’m back in the Pentecostal Movement and we need more hell fire and brimstone preaching. If an individual is an homosexual / lesbian they shouldn’t be in the pulpit or in any other ministry. They need to be ministered to.
Pastor Clifton L. Connelly
The New Deliverance World Prayer Center
Rev. Connelly, to tell you the truth, reading your comments here, Im not sure what you are trying to say.
Its back and forth so much to the point that you seem to be trying to straddle the fence. I would say make up your mind and stick with it.