c. 1998 Religion News Service

Focus on the Family increases role in homosexuality debate

(RNS) In an apparent effort to raise its visibility and increase its involvement in the volatile political debate over gay rights, Focus on the Family has hired two people who are former practicing homosexuals to work in its public policy department.

Amy Tracy, a former press secretary for the National Organization for Women, and John Paulk, a former male prostitute, are key players in Focus on the Family’s efforts to counter homosexual activism, The Washington Times reported.

Paulk, 35, is the”homosexuality and gender analyst”for the Colorado-based Christian ministry founded by James Dobson, also a popular radio talk show host.

Dobson used his ministry’s June newsletter to highlight his concerns about the gains he believes homosexuals are making in popular culture.

Tom Minnery, Focus’ vice president for public policy, acknowledged the ministry’s new hires were intentional.”Nobody speaks more knowledgeably about homosexuality than does John Paulk,”said Minnery, who called Paulk”an excellent spokesman on that particular issue, since he knows it so well.” Tracy was hired for her media know-how, he said.”We do a lot of media on the gay issue and someone that has the sensitivity on the issue that she does from her background in the lifestyle gives her a wonderful forum from which to speak,”Minnery said.

Tracy was hired last year after she wrote to Dobson in response to one of his radio broadcasts.

Paulk, who was hired this spring, has just published a book about leaving homosexuality called”Not Afraid to Change.”A former drag queen, he now is married to a former lesbian, Anne Paulk, who was featured in a recent series of controversial newspaper ads supporting the concept that homosexuals can change their sexual orientation. The ads highlighted”ex-gay”Christian ministries such as Exodus International, of which John Paulk is the board chairman.

Salvation Army to launch new publication

(RNS) The Salvation Army has announced plans to begin publishing a semi-annual scholarly journal this fall to emphasize the religious dimensions of the organization.

The premier issue of Word and Deed: A Journal of Salvation Army Theology and Ministry, will include articles by prominent Salvationist theologians on such topics as”Biblical Foundations for the Doctrine of Holiness,””Wesleyanism and Holiness Teaching,”and”The Development of the Doctrine of Holiness in the Salvation Army.” It will also include reviews of newly published books”germane to the Wesleyan tradition and those that build on traditional Christianity,”said Jeff McDonald, managing editor of The War Cry, the Army’s official national publication.

In announcing the new venture, National Commander Robert A. Watson said,”This long-awaited journal of theology and ministry will have a solid biblical foundation and a clear and compelling message on holiness, which will appeal to both heart and head.” Word and Deed will be administered by the Army’s National Publications division at its U.S. headquarters in Alexandria, Va.

Although academic in nature, church officials hope Word and Deed will”appeal to a broad range of readers with serious interest in the Army’s theological heritage and mission.” The publication is designed to”tie the Army’s ministries to its theological foundations,”McDonald said.”… To let readers understand how the Salvation Army is tied to the Wesleyan tradition … and put the Army within the traditional orthodox Christian church.” The Wesleyan tradition emerged from the teachings of John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, and emphasizes”prevenient grace, freedom of the will, and the possibilities of total sanctification,”according to the”Westminster Dictionary of Theological Terms.” The first issue of Word and Deed will be available Nov. 1.

Presbyterians try to halt land sale at N.M. conference center

(RNS) The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) filed a lawsuit Friday (July 31) in New Mexico to prevent the sale of a 12-acre piece of land completely surrounded by its Ghost Ranch Conference Center.

The property, once owned by renowned artist Georgia O’Keeffe and includes her small adobe house, has been appraised at $750,000. However, The Burnett Foundation, which has funded the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and Study Center in nearby Santa Fe, has offered $3 million for the land.

At issue is the church’s right of first refusal to purchase the property.

The 21,000-acre Ghost Ranch was bequeathed to the denomination except for 7.6 acres sold to O’Keeffe in 1940. When O’Keeffe died in 1986, she left the land to her companion Juan Hamilton. A year later, the church deeded an additional 4.5 acres to Hamilton in exchange for the right of first refusal to the entire 12 acres should it ever be sold, the Presbyterian News Service reported.

The Burnett Foundation wants to restore O’Keeffe’s house on the property for”limited”use by scholars studying her life and work, according to John Marion, head of the foundation.

The church fears such a venture could disturb”the relatively unspoiled gateway (Ghost Ranch) has become for Presbyterians,”the denomination’s official news service said.

Methodists choose Pittsburgh as site for 2004 meeting

(RNS) Pittsburgh has been selected as the site for the 2004 United Methodist General Conference, the church’s top legislative body.

Some 1,000 delegates and 2,000 observers usually attend the General Conference, the only body that officially speaks for the 10 million-member denomination.

The General Conference meets every four years. The next conference is set for Cleveland May 2-12, 2000. Conference sites usually rotate among the church’s five regional U.S. jurisdictions.

Quote of the day: Adam Makda, head of the Zimbabwe Islamic Mission

(RNS)”These two universal faiths based on the word of God Almighty have great potential in leading our respective followers in becoming disciplined, faithful and patriotic citizens to build a dynamic new nation of dedicated believers in God Almighty.” _ Adam Makda, chairman of the Zimbabwe Islamic Mission, speaking July 25 at an interfaith seminar in Harare designed to forge cooperation between Zimbabwean religious groups in an effort to become”the voice of the voiceless.”

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