Archive for category: News

PHILADELPHIA—American Pastors Network (APN, www.AmericanPastorsNetwork.net) released the following statement following Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s announcement this morning that she will withdraw subpoenas against five Houston pastors demanding their private communication regarding homosexuality. 

“From the beginning, this issue has been about thought-policing anyone who supports God’s design for sexuality,” said APN President Sam Rohrer. “What we saw with this specific targeting of Christian pastors through these subpoenas, as well as through the rejection of a petition with more than 50,000 citizen signatures, is the clear repudiation of God, Christianity, Jesus Christ, religious freedom, morality, decency, the Rule of Law and the Constitution. The subpoenas were a direct attack on the Constitutionally guaranteed right of religious freedom and on the God-given duty for pastors to speak Biblical truth to their congregations. The subpoenas may be gone, but the problem still remains as Mayor Parker prepares to defend the ordinance that gives preferential treatment to the LBGT community.”

Earlier this month, five pastors in Houston were sent subpoenas, as attorneys for the city demanded their sermon notes and congregational communications about homosexuality, transgenderism, or Mayor Annise Parker, who is an open lesbian. The subpoenas are part of an ongoing lawsuit about a bathroom ordinance in Houston that gives special rights to homosexual and transgendered individuals—an ordinance in place even though more than 50,000 objected and signed a petition to oppose it, more than double the number of signatures required to place the issue on the ballot before voters. The petition was rejected by the council on a technicality.

On Nov. 2, Christians across America can join together for “I Stand Sunday” (www.IStandSunday.com), hosted by Family Research Council at Grace Community Church, 14505 Gulf Freeway in Houston.

Speakers from across the nation will gather to focus on the freedom to live out our faith, free of government intrusion or monitoring. APN is a partnering organization for “I Stand Sunday.”

The American Pastors Network is a Ministry Program Affiliate of Capstone Legacy Foundation (a 501(c)(3) non-profit Christian Public Community Foundation registered nationwide).

Pennsylvania Pastors Network is a state chapter affiliate of the American Pastors Network.

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To interview Sam Rohrer, President of American Pastors Network and Pennsylvania Pastors Network, contact Deborah Hamilton at dhamilton@hamiltonstrategies.com, 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096.

 Source:

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Mayor-set-to-make-announcement-on-sermon-subpoenas-5855458.php

From America’s Pastors to President Obama and Congressional Leaders: Defend America not Islam 

American Pastors Network: Administration Must Respond Now about Islamic Persecution of Christians, Get Serious about Stopping Islamic Terrorism 

The American Pastors Network (APN, www.AmericanPastorsetwork.net), a national network that provides Bible-based and constitutionally consistent analysis and recommendations on matters of public policy, says the Congressional and Obama Administration stand against ISIS and other terrorist groups is neither serious nor compelling.

APN President Sam Rohrer, a longtime legislator, says how seriously we in America deal with Islam is in direct relationship to our level of commitment to defending our Constitutional Republic and protecting the God-given rights guaranteed in our Constitution.

“It is the firm conviction of the American Pastors Network that Islamic Sharia Law is incompatible with and mutually exclusive to our Constitutional form of government,” Rohrer said.

APN, therefore, is working to educate America, through pastors speaking to their congregations, about the evils of Islam and its stated mission to exterminate all Christians and Jews. APN also says that the Obama Administration must quit coddling the advance of Islam and get serious in defending Christians and Jews against persecution and using all necessary force to end the increasing acts of terrorism.

Rohrer, in recent conversations and joint interviews, has asked one of the nation’s leading converted Muslims, the Rev. Majed El Shafie, how American Christians can help the persecuted around the world, but especially believers suffering at the hand of the Islamic militants.

El Shafie, a human rights advocate and founder of One Free World International (www.onefreeworldinternational.org), told Rohrer that Christians must be involved, “both in the inside and the outside, to influence their government to take effective and credible action against this threat.”

Rohrer points to Hebrews 13:3, which gives a very clear command to believers regarding others who are being persecuted for their faith: “Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves in the body.”

El Shafie also noted that in countries that employ Sharia Law, statements and actions are mutually exclusive, for example, Shiite Muslims in Iran and Sunnis in Saudi Arabia. Many, he added, would call out Turkey as an exception. “However,” El Shafie said, “while they can be pointed to as a positive example for the supporters of Sharia when their government was separate from their religion, they are now an example of all Islam, as they are ruled by the Islam party and becoming very fast supporters of full Sharia Law.”

Many of American Pastors Network recent radio broadcasts have focused on the dangers of Islam infiltrating America. Gary Dull, Executive Director and Vice President of the Pennsylvania Pastors Network and an APN board member, recently spoke with Rohrer on the air about how pastors can make their congregations understand the serious battle against Islam—especially in the wake of publicized beheadings and vocal threats against America.

“First of all,” Rohrer said, “we have to realize that words mean something, and these terrorists mean what they say. How much more killing and destruction are needed before we are convinced? Second, we must understand that all religions are not equal, and that in our nation, the presupposition of freedom of religion is from the standpoint of worshiping the God of the Bible. These principles alone have given us our Constitution.

“The Constitution did not entertain the concept that its provisions would protect the actions of people who hate our God, hate God-given rights, hate Jesus Christ and the concept of redemption and salvation and judgment and seek to destroy our system of law and replace it with Sharia law or any diametrically opposed system of law.” he continued. “Our country’s founders never envisioned a time when they would grant those kinds of equal rights and recognition to those who were literally cutting the heart out of our founding, Bible-based principles. If we make the claim that all religions are equal—even those that purport evil—our Constitution and Republic cannot and will not survive.”

Evangelist Dave Kistler, President of the North Carolina Pastors Network, a chapter of APN, added that the current heightened persecution of Christians illustrates the need for a strong stand against those who make it their mission to attack Christianity.

“Not since the days of the apostles has the church of Jesus Christ experienced such intense persecution,” Kistler said. “Tragically, much of the frontal attack against Christian belief is coming from the Islamic world. From believers being incarcerated for their faith to
Christians being brutally tortured and killed for their refusal to convert to Islam, the world is witnessing an unprecedented attack on Judeo-Christian thought.

“It is imperative,” he continued, “that the leaders of the free world, especially the President of the United States, understand the plight of Christians globally and respond to their desperate cries appropriately, by standing unequivocally for their right to freely practice their firmly held religious beliefs.”

 APN is the largest national network of pastors who believe in the authority of Scripture, boldly preach the whole counsel of God with a disciplined application of a biblical worldview to matters of public policy, are building a permanent infrastructure of biblically faithful pastors and lay leaders, and are mobilizing congregations to participate in the political process on a non-partisan basis.

By growing state chapters who will support the mission, APN is building a nationwide, permanent infrastructure of like-minded pastors who:

1. Affirm the authority of scripture
2. Take seriously Jesus’ command to be “salt and light” to the culture
3. Want to encourage informed Christian thinking about contemporary social issues
4. Want to examine public policy issues without politicizing their pulpits, using well-prepared teaching and preaching resources
5. Want to engage their congregations in taking part in our political process on a non-partisan basis.

The American Pastors Network has a mission to identify, encourage, equip, educate and network pastors and church members to “Stand in the Gap for Truth” across the nation while providing Bible-based and constitutionally consistent analysis and recommendations on matters of public policy. APN is the largest, national network of pastors who believe in the authority of scripture, who boldly preach the whole counsel of God with a disciplined application of a biblical worldview to public policy, and who are building a permanent infrastructure of biblically faithful pastors and lay leaders and mobilizing congregations to participate in the political process.

For more information on APN, visit www.AmericanPastorsNetwork.net or call 610.584.1225.

The Pennsylvania Pastors Network is a group of biblically faithful clergy and church liaisons whose objective is to build a permanent infrastructure of like-minded clergy who affirm the authority of Scripture, take seriously Jesus’ command to be the “salt and light” to the culture, encourage informed Christian thinking about contemporary social issues, examine public policy issues without politicizing their pulpits and engage their congregations in taking part in our political process on a non-partisan basis.

For more information on PPN, visit www.papastors.net or call 610.584.1225. 

The American Pastors Network is a Ministry Program Affiliate of Capstone Legacy Foundation (a 501(c)(3) non-profit Christian Public Community Foundation registered nationwide).

Pennsylvania Pastors Network is a state chapter affiliate of the American Pastors Network.

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To interview Sam Rohrer, President of American Pastors Network and Pennsylvania Pastors Network, contact Deborah Hamilton at dhamilton@hamiltonstrategies.com, 215-815-7716 or 610-584-1096.

Sources: http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/s/shiite_muslims/index.html

http://www.foxnews.com/story/2003/04/17/fact-sheet-shiites-iraq/

Here we go again.

You’ve heard about the Christian florists forced to close up their business after being forced by the state to pay egregious fines for politely declining to participate in same-sex marriages as a matter of religious conviction.

You’ve heard about the wedding cake bakers who were forced to close up their business after being forced by the state to pay egregious fines for politely declining to participate in same-sex marriages as a matter of religious conviction.

You’ve heard about the photographers who were forced to close up their business after being forced by the state to pay egregious fines for politely declining to participate in same-sex marriages as a matter of religious conviction.

Now meet Robert and Cynthia Gifford, family farmers who have been hit with a $13,000 fine by New York state’s division of human rights for politely declining to host a same-sex marriage as a matter of religious conviction.

These are real-life examples of citizens being deprived of the free exercise of their religious beliefs, as guaranteed by the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution by officials in four different states. It’s becoming a trend. It’s what I call “same-sex marriage tyranny.”

In states that have rewritten their laws to change the definition of marriage from an institution between one man and one woman, or, which have been coerced to do so by federal judicial rulings, the rationale for such decisions has been “tolerance,” “diversity,” “non-discrimination” and other nice-sounding platitudes. But the consequences for these decisions mean just the opposite of “tolerance,” “diversity” and “non-discrimination” for some innocent bystanders – mostly Christians – who seek only to remain true to their religious convictions.

They are being coerced to become active participants in ceremonies and celebrations that violate their consciences – in America, a nation formed and codified in the law as a refuge for the free exercise of religion.

That this is happening all over the country already, and that it is necessary to write a column denouncing this kind of intolerance, lack of diversity and active discrimination against people based on their religious convictions is shocking and disturbing.

This is not the way a free society operates.

There is no inalienable right to force individuals or businesses through government coercion to become active participants in activity that violates their most fundamental religious or moral beliefs.

Let me pose a hypothetical intellectual challenge: The law that forms the basis for the action against the Giffords in New York is a provision that bans discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation. Yet, isn’t that precisely what is happening to the Giffords? Are they not being coerced to accept and approve someone else’s sexual orientation? Are they not permitted to hold their own sexual orientation, one that acknowledges their God’s definition that marriage is a union of one man and one woman?

The Giffords are not campaigning to prevent other people from following their own conscience as to their sexual choices and activities. It’s just the opposite. They are being coerced by the state to take part in the sexual choices and activities of others.

Isn’t that obvious?

I imagine there are people in America who believe heterosexual marriage is wrong. There were many feminist leaders years ago who claimed heterosexual marriage was the equivalent of “rape,” the moral equivalent of “slavery.” Should people with those kinds of convictions be forced by the state to participate in ceremonies and celebrations of heterosexual marriage? Or should they be free to follow the dictates of their consciences – as florists, bakers, photographers and caterers – to turn down such business?

I don’t think anyone in their right mind would want to coerce people with those ideas to serve them at their weddings. After all, who would want to do that – unless you were simply trying to limit individual liberty and choice?

And that’s exactly what the same-sex marriage tyrants are trying to do – to use state coercion to limit the liberty and choices of people who simply have different ideas about the institution of marriage.

Here’s a hypothetical analogy for you to consider: Suppose a Christian couple planning a marriage went to a Jewish baker and requested a wedding cake decorated with a cross. And suppose the Jewish baker felt uncomfortable with that idea. Should he forced to do so? I don’t think so. Nor can I imagine any Christian couple wanting to use the coercive power of the state to do that. They would simply go to another baker. That would be the logical, non-tyrannical thing to do.

Here’s another hypothetical scenario: Suppose a Jewish couple chooses a homosexual photographer to take pictures at their wedding. Among the things they require the photographer to do is to take a photo of them before a banner emblazoned with the following scripture verse: Genesis 2:24 – “Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife: and they shall be one flesh.” Maybe the photographer feels uncomfortable and even spiritually condemned with this requirement. Should he be forced by the state to do it because failing to accept the assignment would be tantamount to violating the Jewish couple’s “sexual orientation” or even their religious convictions? I don’t think so. Nor can I imagine any Jewish couple wanting to use the coercive power of the state to do that. They would simply go to another photographer. That would be the logical, non-tyrannical thing to do.

When “tolerance” becomes intolerance, we have bigotry.

When “diversity” becomes state-enforced conformity, we have religious persecution.

When “non-discrimination” becomes victimization of those with different religious and moral convictions, we literally have the establishment of a state religion and, effectively, the repeal of the First Amendment

ATLANTA (AP) — At least one of the two American aid workers who were infected with the Ebola virus was to be discharged Thursday from an Atlanta hospital, a spokeswoman for the aid group he was working for said.

Meanwhile, Emory University Hospital planned to hold a news conference Thursday morning to discuss both patients’ discharge.

Alison Geist, a spokeswoman for Samaritan’s Purse, told The Associated Press she did not know the exact time Dr. Kent Brantly would be released but confirmed it would happen Thursday.

Meanwhile, Franklin Graham, president of Samaritan’s Purse, said in a statement that Brantly has recovered.

“Today I join all of our Samaritan’s Purse team around the world in giving thanks to God as we celebrate Dr. Kent Brantly’s recovery from Ebola and release from the hospital,” Graham’s statement said.

Brantly and Nancy Writebol were flown out of the west African nation of Liberia earlier this month and have been getting treatment for the deadly disease in an isolation unit at the hospital. The two were infected while working at a missionary clinic outside Liberia’s capital.

The Ebola outbreak has killed 1,350 people and counting across West Africa.

American Pastors Network Says Settlement Is Wake-Up Call for Pastors and Churches

PHILADELPHIA—The Internal Revenue Service has settled a lawsuit with the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), and as a result, the IRS will adopt standards to determine whether churches and religious organizations have violated restrictions on political activity.

The details of the settlement have not been released but the IRS has said it will amend its policies to enforce tax laws on what FFRF calls “rogue political churches.”

American Pastors Network (APN, www.AmericanPastorsNetwork.net) says the new development should serve as a wake-up call for pastors in every pulpit who cherish First Amendment rights.

“As a result of this settlement,” said APN President Sam Rohrer, “the Justice Department, according to its own statement, will begin to crack down on political speech from the pulpit. This is literally a call to arms and should not be taken as idle commentary but as a warning shot across the bow. With this decision, pastors’ freedom of speech from the pulpit is in danger. This is perhaps one of the greatest urgencies and motivations for the establishment of state chapters within the American Pastors Network, so pastors can come together and unite on important issues such as these. There is nothing stronger than speaking with unity and strength as pastors address the real issues of the day.”

In the case, FFRF demanded that the Johnson Amendment, a controversial IRS code added in 1954 that precludes nonprofit organizations from engaging in campaign activity, be enforced against churches.

Rohrer said implications of the settlement could mean that churches cannot distribute voter guides to congregations, and pastors may not be able to talk from the pulpit about political issues in relation to the Bible.

Erik Stanley, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom, said the IRS settlement with the atheist group should create concern, telling The Blaze, “Every American should fear an IRS that uses its vast power to target, threaten and punish political opponents. Churches have succumbed to this regime of fear for the last 60 years under the Johnson Amendment, which was added to the tax code specifically to silence speech a politician didn’t like.”

ADF has been a longtime opponent of FFRF and has organized the annual “Pulpit Freedom Sunday” event, set this year for October 5.

The settlement comes directly in the middle of the IRS scandal that found that the tax agency was unfairly targeting conservative organizations.