Power in the Pulpit     7/1/2008
By Leslie Smith

Over 400 ministers from across the state of New York gathered on June 19, 2008, for a Power in the Pulpit rally in Albany. They descended en masse on the Capitol to thank the Senate Republicans and Democrats who have stood firm on the issue of traditional marriage. New Yorkers for Constitutional Freedoms (NYCF) organized the event to counter Empire State Pride Agenda (ESPA)'s Pride in the Pulpit, which promotes same-sex "marriages."

In a statement on their website, NYCF states, "It was thrilling to see Black, White and Hispanic pastors from Buffalo to Brooklyn all standing side by side in support of marriage between a man and a woman. We should mention that the 400 ministers attending Power in the Pulpit were all evangelicals; we didn't even count the hundreds of Catholic priests, Jewish Rabbis and other religious leaders that also support the traditional definition of marriage."

The rally is one of many pro-family responses to the directive recently issued by New York Governor David Paterson. The Governor instructed state agencies to honor same-sex civil unions and "marriages" issued by other states and countries in which they are legal.

Reverend Dayle Keefer, who leads Fluvanna Community Church in Jamestown, New York, attended the event. He reports, "Six pastors from the Jamestown area attended the Power in the Pulpit rally in Albany. Our senator, Cathy Young (R), is fully in favor of traditional marriage, and we were able to meet with her personally and congratulate her for her strong stand for traditional marriage."

NYCF reports that the halls of the Capitol were lined with clergy leaders who held up signs thanking Senators for supporting traditional marriage.

Keefer adds, "Our assemblyman, Bill Parment (D), has voted in favor of 'gay marriage.' We were able to get a private meeting with him in the back of the assembly chambers for a half-hour of intense, but loving, dialogue. He received us well, even though we were unable to make much headway with him. We are confident of the working of the Holy Spirit in his mind and heart."

Anne Downey, State Director for CWA of New York, says, "We give glory to the God who is able to take a misguided directive by our Governor and turn it into an opportunity for ministers of the Gospel from across the state to come to Albany, stand in the heart of the Legislative Office Building, and lift up prayers, crying out for preservation of traditional marriage in the Empire State. What a God we serve!"

Reflecting on the event, Keefer states, "[I]t is time for a surge of the Christian army of prayer warrior marines to enter the conflict. It is not too late. … It is time for the clergy to weep between the porch and the altar."

To get involved in CWA of New York, go to ny.cwfa.org or e-mail director@ny.cwfa.org. If you would like to get involved with one of our other fine state organizations, please visit the CWA in the States site.

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