** CINCINNATI HERE WE COME, AGAIN! **
Soulforce is going to be in the Cincinnati area again to support Rev. Stephen Van Kuiken, and we are asking you to help the Soulforce Rapid Response Team spring into action by taking part in a supportive and prayerful vigil on Monday evening, June 16, 2003.
Update: Rev. Van Kuiken is the minister of Mt. Auburn Presbyterian Church (USA) who was put on trial in April 2003 for performing a marriage ceremony for a same sex couple. Soulforce was present at the trial.
Rev. Van Kuiken was rebuked and told not to do it again. He recently performed another marriage ceremony, with the approval of his church’s governing body (session). A special meeting of the Cincinnati Presbytery has been called, which could result in the loss of his ordination and his church.
Soulforce is asking those who have participated in a Soulforce vigil before, and specifically those who stood with us at Rev. Van Kuiken’s trial, to join us outside a specially called Presbytery meeting on Monday evening, June 16 at the Lakeside Presbyterian Church, 2690 Dixie Highway in Ft. Mitchell, Kentucky, approximately 10 miles south of Cincinnati.
Soulforce supporters who are not from the area will be staying at the Holiday Inn, 2100 Dixie Highway in Fort Mitchell. This is within walking distance of the church. There is no training, just a loving presence, prayerful vigil, and supportive press conference.
Soulforce volunteers will be meeting outside the church at 5:30pm. In case of rain, we will be meeting in the lobby of the hotel at 5:30pm.
We only found out about this a few days ago, and there is a Soulforce action taking place at the Southern Baptist Convention at the same time. However, we want to continue to support Stephen in any way we can, and are asking anyone who can help provide a Soulforce prayerful presence outside the meeting that evening, to please join us.
If you need lodging, call the hotel at 859-331-1500 – mention Soulforce for the price of $50/night. Bring your Soulforce T-shirt (none will be available at this action).
Thank you so much for your support and your witness to equality and justice for God’s gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender children and our wonderful allies like Rev. Van Kuiken.
If you plan on joining us to provide a loving and supportive Soulforce presence, please let me know at bill@soulforce.org .
Thank you,
Bill Carpenter, Rapid Response Team Coordinator
For more information about the special Presbytery meeting, see www.tamfs.org
For more information about the recent marriage ceremony, see http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2003/05/21/loc_pastor21.html