January 24, 2008
Greetings, Fellow Pastors and Christian Leaders,
Your time is valuable, so allow us to cut to the chase.
One prominent evangelical has called the marriage battle in California the “Gettysburg of the Culture War.”
The biblical definition of marriage is under siege in California. We have until April 1 to collect 1 million signatures statewide to protect marriage for ourselves and our children. Failure to do this could result in an eventual loss of our religious liberties. Under the guise of "civil rights" we could be forced to perform unbiblical marriages, and could be silenced from speaking biblical truth regarding marriage. We must work together to keep this from happening.
Please join us for a critical meeting of pastors in your area on either February 6 or 7, a meeting geared to inform, organize, energize, and mobilize the collective Body of Christ in Southern California and protect God’s Design for Marriage.
Here are the locations:
Wednesday, February 6, 10 am, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills
4201 Eucalyptus Ave, Chino 91710
RSVP: (909) 393-7100 or arman@calvarycch.org
Wednesday, February 6, 1:30 pm, Yorba Linda Friends Church
5141 Lakeview Ave, Yorba Linda 92886
RSVP: Janet Allen at 714.777.7340 or janeta@ylfc.org
Thursday, February 7, 10 am, First Presbyterian Church of Burbank
521 E Olive Ave, Burbank 91501
RSVP: Maria Berkey at 818-842-5103 or mberkey@firstpresburbank.org
Thursday, February 7, 1:30 pm, Calvary Chapel South Bay
19300 S Vermont Ave, Gardena 90248
RSVP: Rob Stoffel at 310.352.3786 or RobStoffel@ccsouthbay.org
Why are these meetings so important?
Back in 2000, California voters approved Proposition 22, which amended the state’s Family Code to include a definition of marriage to be between one man and one woman.
In 2004, San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom ordered the county clerk to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. Weeks later, after six lawsuits were filed, the California Supreme Court halted the issuing of marriage licenses to same-sex pending final resolution of the lawsuits.
In 2005, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Richard Kramer ruled Proposition 22 unconstitutional.
In July 2006, the First District Court of Appeal overturned Judge Kramer’s ruling.
In December 2006, the California Supreme Court agreed to hear the case. Briefs have been filed, and the Court will hear oral arguments some time in 2008, rendering a decision some 90 days later. Given the present makeup of the California Supreme Court, it is extremely likely that the court will find that Proposition 22 is not protected by the California Constitution.
What might happen if that likely scenario should unfold?
With no definition of marriage in the state’s books, the California Legislature will act quickly to pass legislation defining marriage as being between “two persons.” Given the track record of Governor Schwarzenegger, he would likely sign such legislation given such a decision by the California Supreme Court.
Should that happen, same-sex marriage will be the law of the land in California.
Do you realize the ramifications of such a condition?
Churches and pastors who refuse to conduct same-sex “marriages” would be in danger of losing their tax-exempt status (on October 7, 2007, the Ocean Grove Camp Ground in New Jersey, owned by an independent group of Methodists, lost the tax-exempt status on a portion of its property for refusing to host a same-sex “wedding” in its marriage pavilion—proof that such a scenario is equally likely in California should same-sex marriage become the law);
Churches and pastors would be compelled to hire homosexual pastors and staff or face penalties for violations of anti-discriminatory laws.
And that would be only the beginning.
So what can we do about it?
Simple answer: start by amending the California Constitution to define marriage as being between one man and one woman.
How do we do that?
To amend the constitution, a voter initiative must be placed on the ballot—and we have an election coming in November 2008;
To get an initiative on the ballot, 700,000 valid signatures from registered California voters must be collected. That means that over 1 million signatures must be collected to insure there are 700,000 valid ones.
Those 1 million signatures must be collected by April 1.
Is this a formidable task? No question. But is it possible? Without a doubt!
But this is where we must work together.
1. We, as pastors, must see the gravity of our situation, and the critical role we play in protecting the biblical definition of marriage in our state.
2. We need you, pastor, to find the meeting closest to your location, send in your RSVP, and join us.
Several pastors - including some from San Diego - will be sharing with you what their churches are doing. In addition, a Christian attorney and a strategist will add their insights. Tony Perkins, President of the Family Research Council in Washington, DC, will be with us to address how California’s decisions will influence the national landscape.
And that’s not all.
We will also share with you a strategy that will make obtaining petitions and dropping off completed petitions easy, convenient, and very inexpensive!
We have read in history about when ordinary people, ordinary citizens rose up and shaped their world. Now is our time to go beyond reading history and make history.
May we count you in?
Again, please select a meeting to attend and RSVP to that location! Bring your associate pastors and others with you and invite other community leaders to join you. Please make sure everyone knows to send in their RSVP so we have enough materials prepared for everyone.
Wednesday, February 6, 10 am, Calvary Chapel Chino Hills
4201 Eucalyptus Ave, Chino 91710
RSVP: (909) 393-7100 or arman@calvarycch.org
Wednesday, February 6, 1:30 pm, Yorba Linda Friends Church
5141 Lakeview Ave, Yorba Linda 92886
RSVP: Janet Allen at 714.777.7340 or janeta@ylfc.org
Thursday, February 7, 10 am, First Presbyterian Church of Burbank
521 E Olive Ave, Burbank 91501
RSVP: Maria Berkey at 818-842-5103 or mberkey@firstpresburbank.org
Thursday, February 7, 1:30 pm, Calvary Chapel South Bay
19300 S Vermont Ave, Gardena 90248
RSVP: Rob Stoffel at 310.352.3786 or RobStoffel@ccsouthbay.org
Thank you, and may God bless your day today!
Jack Hibbs
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel Chino Hills
Matthew Cork
Lead Pastor
Friends Church, Yorba Linda
Ross Purdy
Pastor/Head of Staff
First Presbyterian Church of Burbank
Steve Mays
Senior Pastor
Calvary Chapel South Bay (Gardena
Miles McPherson
Senior Pastor, The Rock Church, San Diego
Co-Chairman, Protect Marriage San Diego
Jim Garlow
Lead Pastor, Skyline Church, La Mesa
Co-Chairman, Protect Marriage San Diego
Chris Clark
Senior Pastor, East Clairemont So Baptist Church, San Diego
Director, Protect Marriage San Diego