The City of Houston has summoned a group of pastors to turn over their constitutionally protected sermons and communications to see if the pastors have ever opposed the mayor, homosexuality, or an unpopular non-discrimination ordinance known as the “bathroom bill” voted by the city council last June. The hotly contested ordinance allows, among other things, men to use the ladies room (toilet) and vice versa, which the openly lesbian mayor has admitted “is about me.”
The sermons were subpoenaed in response to a lawsuit filed by voters (not the pastors) whose legal petition to either repeal or put the new ordinance to a city-wide vote was rejected on dubious grounds. After collecting three times the legal number of signatures needed and having them certified by the town secretary, the voters were told by the city attorney that he had found “technical irregularities” on enough signatures to drop their number below the legal requirement.
The city attorney is not allowed to certify signatures. When voters responded to his breach with a lawsuit, the mayor and her council demanded to inspect sermons from pastors vocally opposed to the “bathroom bill,” alleging they had incited the voters.
Mega-church pastor Steven Riggle of Grace Community Church was ordered to hand over sermons and “all communications with members of your congregation” regarding the non-discrimination law. “This is an attempt to chill pastors from speaking to the cultural issues of the day,” said Riggle. “The mayor would like to silence our voice. She’s a bully.”
Pastor Dave Welch, executive director of the Texas Pastor’s Council and one of the targets of the subpoena, said, “We’re not intimidated at all. We are not going to yield our First Amendment rights. This is absolutely a complete abuse of authority.”
Alliance Defending Freedom, a nationally-known law firm specializing in religious liberty cases, is representing five Houston pastors. ADF attorney Christina Holcomb said in a statement, “The city council and its attorneys are engaging in an inquisition designed to stifle any critique of its actions. Political and social commentary is not a crime. It is protected by the First Amendment.”
The “men of the city” are gathering around the house. Through intimidation they are pressing sore upon the voice of reproof.
“But before they lay down, the men of the city, even the men of Sodom, compassed the house round, both old and young, all the people from every quarter. And they called unto Lot, and said unto him, Where are the men which came in to thee this night? Bring them out unto us, that we may know them… And Lot went out at the door unto them… and said, I pray you, brethren, do not so wickedly… And they said, Stand back. And they said again, This one fellow came to sojourn, and he will needs be a judge: now will we deal worse with thee, than with them. And they pressed sore upon the man, even Lot, and came near to break the door.” Genesis 19:4-9
“As it was in the days of Lot.” Luke 17:30
Comments
John Hubbard
Sunday October 19th, 2014 at 04:12 AMremember the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded him at Mt Horeb and my statutes and judgements. Malachi 4:4.
When God gave these to Moses, he said if you will do them, thou shall live
Statutes, are a law or decree. Testimonies, every word of God.
Ex 15:26. If thou will hear my voice, and do what is right, I will put none of these diseases upon you.
To combat Ebola and other diseases.
Sharon
Sunday October 19th, 2014 at 07:28 PMWhy was my comment deleted about 501 3c and the Law of Moses? Wow! Censored?
Mary
Thursday October 23rd, 2014 at 07:37 PMI don’t know is this will do any good but the truth is that when you say that “pastors to turn over their constitutionally protected sermons”, that is not a true statement. Once you take the 501 3c tax break you have given up your constitutional rights. It is a maritime law and that is why in the church there is a USA Flag with gold fringe on it. That flag is a maritime flag and shows that that is the law that owns and runs that church. Like Esau sold his birth right for a bowl of pottage so the church sold their constitutional rights for money. I don’t know what the other lady said or why you deleted her comment. This is the facts and there is no reason why it should be withheld from anyone that might not know about this law that gives the tax break that the church uses.
Mary
Thursday October 30th, 2014 at 09:53 AMPastor Hal Mayer
Speaker / Director
“The City of Houston has summoned a group of pastors to turn over their constitutionally protected sermons and communications to see if the pastors have ever opposed the mayor, homosexuality, or an unpopular non-discrimination ordinance known as the “bathroom bill” voted by the city council last June.”
“Mega-church pastor Steven Riggle of Grace Community Church was ordered to hand over sermons and “all communications with members of your congregation” regarding the non-discrimination law. “This is an attempt to chill pastors from speaking to the cultural issues of the day,” said Riggle. “The mayor would like to silence our voice. She’s a bully.”
“We are not going to yield our First Amendment rights. This is absolutely a complete abuse of authority.”
I can well understand that what is going on in Houston is very unpleasant and definitely not the way that people feel that our country works or believes. It is sad that as a country, we have come to the point where things that have always been thought of as a sin is now made legal and so some how people think that the will of God can be set aside by mans laws. What I copied from above are some of the key things that I feel is part of the problem. The pastor of that large church that is quoted above of no doubt one of the many if not all the churches of today that demand their constitutional rights when in truth they gave them away so that they would not have to pay taxes. That is called 501 3c and is a maritime law and over rides the laws of the land. It is also why the flag that flies in the churches of our land that is supposed to have with it the right of freedom of speech are not the flag of the land but are maritime flags. You can tell that by the fact there is a gold fringe on those flags.
As a people here in this country we have stood by and let the government make laws and brake laws with little or no regard of or by the people. Walk though a mall and look at the people of today. In the bible we see over and over that when the leaders of the people of God turned from the path of God and went to follow after the heathen ways so did the people. We have done the same thing here in this country as has all the world. If as a people we were walking with God and following His commands things would be a lot different both in the churches and the country. So to stand up now and claim your constitutional rights when long ago you gave them away for the privilege to save money doesn’t work. We can’t have it both ways. If we give the government power in our churches that belong to God then we can’t cry foul when the government comes and inserts its will. This is no doubt just the first of many things that we will see come to the churches that will be a surprised and not pleasing.
Mary
Thursday October 23rd, 2014 at 07:56 PMI replied to the post about the wedding cake for a gay wedding and it went right up. What is this that approval for this one has to be decided. Are we not supposed to know the law and the danger that this tax break has put us in? If you were an off shot I would expect this kind of thing but not from you. I’m surprised and dismayed.
admin
Friday October 31st, 2014 at 05:12 PMSorry, I was away travelling and hadn’t had time to check on the website comments. -Website Administrator
Mary
Friday October 24th, 2014 at 12:02 PMWell I see that after over 12 hours my comments are no where to be seen. When did we go as a people that were commissioned to take the gospel to the world to hiding the truth from the people? I am sure that this won’t be put up either but I am letting you know that I am now aware that truth is not found here. It is a sad day when we go to serving God to serving an organization. It is just what the Jews did in Christ’s day. How sad
Mary
Wednesday October 29th, 2014 at 08:57 PMI see that after five days you still have not put up my comments or that of Sharon’s. So much for needing time. I didn’t use any bad language or say any thing unkind or untrue. Why is it that no one is supposed to know the truth about the dangers of 501 3c.
admin
Friday October 31st, 2014 at 05:10 PMSharon has not reposted so far…
And your comment was directed to the moderator rather than the issue in the briefing. Why don’t you repost a comment directed at the prophetic issue? Include your remarks about the dangers of the 501c3. Leave out unrelated issues or remarks, and we’ll be glad to post it. By the way, it was not a issue of time. Still waiting for appropriate posts from either of you.
Blessings, Pr Mayer