Black gay group denounces Bishop Owens' anti-gay sermon

WASHINGTON, DC, May 9, 2006 – Today the National Black Justice Coalition denounced the April 9th sermon of Bishop Alfred A. Owens, Jr., pastor of Greater Mount Calvary Church in Washington, DC and called for the bishop’s removal from Mayor Anthony Williams’ Interfaith Council.   

Bishop Owens chose Palm Sunday to give his sermon titled "Fan or Follower!" The message urged congregants to be moved beyond being fans of the church to becoming followers of the righteous path.  He specifically addressed and vilified gay men, calling them less than a real man. During a dramatic presentation on how strong men follow the teachings of the church, he pointed out that "real men" for the Lord are straight. "It takes a real man to confess Jesus as Lord and Savior. I'm not talking about no faggot or no sissy," said Owens on a recording of the service. "Wait a minute! Let all the real men come on down here and take a bow, "he said, inviting them to the front of the church.”All the real men, I'm talking about the straight men," he preached. "You ain't funny and you ain't cranky, but you're straight. Come on down here and walk around and praise God that you are straight. Thank him that you're straight. All the straight men that's proud to be a Christian, that's proud to be a man of God." 

“Champions of inclusion, fairness and neighborly love must respond to purveyors of bigotry and intolerance like Bishop Owens,” said Dr. Sylvia Rhue, NBJC Director of Religious Affairs.  “For too many years, same gender loving people have been forced to endure persecution and condemnation in places of worship. The time has come for this to stop.”

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NBJC recently announced the launch of “Faithful Call to Justice” a nationwide initiative designed to encourage religious and spiritual ministries of inclusion for same gender loving people. The inaugural national event on June 24-25 will be a weekend dedicated to special services and ministerial outreach in churches throughout the nation.   

As part of this initiative and the greater ongoing outreach to faith leaders, renowned public intellectual and professor of Afro American and Religious Studies at the University of Pennsylvania, Rev. Michael Eric Dyson has become the Chair of NBJC’s Religious Advisory Committee. This committee will discuss, strategize and address the challenges of homophobic rhetoric in religious based efforts.  

“The pulpit should be a place of love and not hate,” said H. Alexander Robinson, NBJC Executive Director and CEO. “Black communities face significant challenges from outside and within our communities. To face these challenges it is essential that Black churches be sanctuaries for the downtrodden and oppressed and vehicles for our emancipation.”

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