Dr. Bill Owens, Sr., founder and president of the national "Coalition of African American Pastors,"

There is a group of people right now who are probably facing as much heat
and peer pressure than anyone else in our culture. They identify themselves
by race and a moral issue, one that is certainly the current focal point of
the popular media. They are conservative, black ministers who insist that
they stand with the Bible on what defines marriage and, thus, are in
absolute disagreement with the president on the matter of same sex
marriages. Dr. Bill Owens, Sr., founder and president of the national
"Coalition of African American Pastors," noted that the Civil Rights
Movement was significant in making it possible for our president to be
elected but that this movement did not involve suffering and death in order
to enable men to marry men and women to marry women. Emmett C. Burns, Jr.,
a very prominent black, Baltimore preacher, publicly withdrew his support of
the president over his same sex marriage support. Tony Evans, bestselling
author and megachurch pastor, told NPR in forthright terms that "The Bible
is clear...sexual relationships are to be between men and women within the
context of marriage" (npr.org). Lorenzo Albacete points out that black
religious leaders in North Carolina helped to defeat a constitutional
amendment prohibiting gay marriage and domestic partnership
(www.ilsussidiario.net). On the other coast, Dr. Ken Hutcherson, a Baptist
pastor, said "that he would never vote for someone who believes in same sex
marriage and abortion, 'regardless of who it is, regardless how white they
are, regardless how black they are'" (www.christianpost.com).

In a social climate polarized, sometimes blindly, along racial, economic,
and other special interests lines, how refreshing to see a group of people
uniting and looking past color and trying to arrive at a decision based on
right or wrong rather than a lesser agenda. While these men are tragically
wrong on some fundamental doctrinal points that are of eternal importance,
they are praiseworthy for exemplifying honesty on this issue. Their spirit
of courage challenges us to be loving and kind, but firm and forthright in
defense of God's will.

This is not a political commentary. There are troubling stands taken by
both our major parties. This is about homosexuality and society. God has
made His "position," as creator and founder of marriage and the home,
crystal clear. His "creation" are beholden to follow it or disregard it to
their own everlasting harm. I am thankful for those who do not put politics
before biblical precepts. May we imbibe of their spirit when it comes to
all biblical matters.

Neal Pollard