Pro-Gay Newspaper Column Costs W.Va. Minister His Pulpit
Pro-Gay Newspaper Column Costs W.Va. Minister His Pulpit
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/13/03
Pro-Gay Newspaper Column Costs W.Va. Minister His Pulpit#0
Posted: 5/26/05 at 5:21pm
Pro-Gay Newspaper Column Costs W.Va. Minister His Pulpit
By E&P Staff
Published: May 26, 2005 2:10 PM ET
NEW YORK The congregation of Davis Memorial Presbyterian Church in Elkins, W.Va., has voted to fire its minister after he wrote a column for the local daily, the Inter-Mountain, supporting gay rights.
"Gay and lesbian Christians are no different than the rest of us," the Rev. Jeff Falter wrote in a Feb. 26 article. "They deserve full equality in the church and in society, for they are my brothers and sisters, people for whom Christ died."
The newspaper has a daily circulation of almost 12,000.
That message led members to vote 100-72 on Sunday to request that the Presbytery of West Virginia dismiss Falter effective next Wednesday.
Falter said he could not make any public comment yet. Several other parishioners also declined to comment.
The termination agreement allows Falter and his family to live in the manse next to the church until Dec. 31. Falter will continue to receive his full salary until the end of the year.
re: Pro-Gay Newspaper Column Costs W.Va. Minister His Pulpit#1
Posted: 5/26/05 at 5:23pm
Reading that makes me want to cry.
And make lasagna and bring it to his family and give him a hug.
re: Pro-Gay Newspaper Column Costs W.Va. Minister His Pulpit#2
Posted: 5/26/05 at 5:31pmThe congregation is just demonstrating some of their good Christian Taliban way of thinking. It makes me ashamed to be a Christian.
re: Pro-Gay Newspaper Column Costs W.Va. Minister His Pulpit#3
Posted: 5/26/05 at 5:38pmSouthFLMark, maybe we can deliver that lasagna together. You bring the salad.
Joined: 12/31/69
re: Pro-Gay Newspaper Column Costs W.Va. Minister His Pulpit#4
Posted: 5/26/05 at 5:40pmPraise the lord, and pass the ammunition.
re: Pro-Gay Newspaper Column Costs W.Va. Minister His Pulpit#5
Posted: 5/26/05 at 8:35pm
yes, a crying shame 
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/10/03
re: Pro-Gay Newspaper Column Costs W.Va. Minister His Pulpit#6
Posted: 5/26/05 at 8:57pmI'll take "Ignorant Bigots" for 1000, Alex.
re: Pro-Gay Newspaper Column Costs W.Va. Minister His Pulpit#7
Posted: 5/26/05 at 9:08pm
And yet, I'm not surprised. I would NEVER expect my pastor to write something like that (since I come from one of those atypical, Pro-Bush fundamental churches that Pat Robertson so adores), but I have no doubt that my church body would do the same to any minister in the same situation.
Doesn't make the act deplorable, though...
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