Charlotte Christians' Gospel Rally to Replace Annual 'Gay Pride' Event
by Allie Martin
May 5, 2006
(AgapePress) - - An annual "gay pride" rally that ordinarily takes place this weekend in a North Carolina city park has been replaced by a Christian event. The first "Not Ashamed Charlotte" rally is being held Saturday in Charlotte's Marshall Park and will feature Christians from various churches around the city.
For the past four years, a homosexual event known as "Charlotte Pride" has been held at the park during the first weekend in May. This year, however, the organizers of Charlotte Pride had to delay the event.
What that means, Coalition of Conscience director Dr. Michael Brown says, is that there will not be any of the public lewdness and vulgarity that usually happens in the park this time of year. Instead, he says, "We're going to have a city-wide rally. We'll have different pastors and leaders from the city giving a positive vision of what God can do and what He wants to do in the city."
Brown says Not Ashamed Charlotte is inviting the press to be part of its celebration of faith and positive, pro-family values. "And for everyone coming through the park in need," he notes, "we're going to have ministry available the entire day -- for hurting people, searching people, lost people, people that need freedom."
The Coalition of Conscience spokesman points out that his group was formed to work for social and moral change in the community through the gospel, which is why the coalition is planning Not Ashamed Charlotte and incorporating outreach into the event at Marshall Park. "We're going to be there to minister," he says. "So it's going to be a day to proclaim, a day to reach out."
And what is being offered and proclaimed is not a message of "gay pride" but of Christian truth, Brown points out. "We feel that if homosexual men and women can come out of the closet with pride, it's time for followers of Jesus to stand up and say, 'We're not ashamed of our faith, not ashamed of purity and morals. We're not ashamed of wholesome family living.'"
But at the same time, Brown adds, Not Ashamed Charlotte is about loving others, not condemning them. "We want this to be a day when we don't bash others," he says. "We want to bless. We're not there to criticize; we're there to walk in compassion."
Not Ashamed Charlotte is an event for the whole family, and the Coalition is encouraging families to come to the park early, bringing their blankets, picnic chairs, and games. The special day of worship, prayer, and proclamation officially begins at 12:00 noon on May 6, with the citywide rally taking place from 3:00-4:00 pm.
Allie Martin, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
