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Subj: The Pastor's Weekly Briefing (Feb. 27, 2004)
Date: 2/26/2004 3:40:13 PM Pacific Standard Time
From: pwb@FAMILY.ORG (Pastors Weekly Briefing)

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THE PASTOR'S WEEKLY BRIEFING
Vol. 12, No. 9 -- February 27, 2004
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Encourage a friend to sign up for this weekly e-mail newsletter at
www.parsonage.org.

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GOOD MORNING, COLLEAGUE
by H.B. London, Jr.

CONSTITUTIONAL CHANGE: YES OR NO?
A few weeks ago, I wrote in this column that the debate over
same-sex marriage could define our culture for a long time to come. It
now appears that will be the case.
The events of the last few weeks in places like Massachusetts,
California and New Mexico have made it very clear that the proponents
of same-sex marriage are intent on changing the traditional definition
and purpose of marriage. Elected officials have literally thumbed
their noses at established law and have dared society to try and stop
them.
At Focus on the Family, I know for a fact that this issue -- and
thus support for a Constitutional amendment that clarifies marriage as
only between one man and one woman -- have become a priority. My
questions to you are: (1) "Where will the church stand on this issue?"
(2) "Where will you -- the clergy -- stand?" Will we let our voices be
heard before we too are forced to comply with rulings that go against
our faith?
You will note that, in this issue of PWB, we are urging you to let
us know your opinion on an amendment that would prevent the
possibility of same-sex marriage. Please help us! We value your
honest, heart-felt thoughts. Please visit our pastoral Web site at
www.parsonage.org and respond to the special pastoral survey question
there. We really need your input. Our thanks in advance!

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PASTORAL SURVEY

How do you feel about the proposed Constitutional amendment that
would define marriage as between one man and one woman? Please visit
our pastoral Web site at www.parsonage.org to vote in our special
survey. Your response will help us as we develop our strategy on this
important issue.

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BUSH EXPRESSES SUPPORT FOR FMA

President Bush Tuesday called on Congress to pass -- and states to
ratify -- an amendment to the U.S. Constitution defining marriage as
the union of one man and one woman.
"After more than two centuries of American jurisprudence, and
millennia of human experience, a few judges and local authorities are
presuming to change the most fundamental institution of civilization,"
Bush said in a nationally televised address from the White House.
"Their actions have created confusion on an issue that requires
clarity.
"On a matter of such importance, the voice of the people must be
heard," Bush added. "Activist courts have left the people with one
recourse. If we are to prevent the meaning of marriage from being
changed forever, our nation must enact a constitutional amendment to
protect marriage in America."
The president specifically cited the recent ruling by the
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ordering lawmakers to include
homosexuals under that state's marriage laws, as well as unilateral
actions by officials in San Francisco and New Mexico to issue gay
"marriage" licenses. In San Francisco alone, employees have performed
civil nuptials for more than 3,200 homosexual couples -- despite a
state law defining marriage in traditional terms.
So what will it take for such a constitutional amendment to become
law? Hearings must be held on the federal marriage amendment (H.J.R.
56 and S.J.R. 26) in both the House of Representatives and the Senate.
Then the bills must be called to the floor in both chambers for
discussion and a vote. Once Congress passes the amendment, three
fourths (or 38) states must ratify the amendment, the same number of
states that have already passed Defense of Marriage Acts.
We must remember that "gay marriage has never been a
constitutional right in America or any other civilized nation. No one
wants to 'take away' some supposed right. It is the rogue judges who
are trying to create a new right. When even one state creates 'gay
marriage,' all states could be forced to recognize such unions; a
constitutional amendment is the only sure way to prevent that from
happening," noted an open letter to the New York Times, Sen. Edward
Kennedy and other opponents of the Federal Marriage Amendment from Dr.
James Dobson and other conservative leaders.
Religious marriages pose a different set of circumstances than do
civil marriages since churches and similar institutions are currently
protected by the Constitution. But conservatives of various religious
denominations have told CNSNews.com that threats would remain should
gay marriages become legal, including the possibility that churches
could be stripped of their tax-exempt status should they not comply
with such laws, even if they went against their deeply-held religious
beliefs.


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ABORTION AMONG AFRICAN-AMERICANS

In an attempt to highlight the serious problem of abortion among
African-Americans, a group of African-American women gathered recently
in Washington, D.C., to tell the public that 1,200 black babies die
every day as the result of legal abortion. Day Gardner, director of
Black Americans for Life, pointed out that African-American women
represent only 13 percent of the population, yet account for more than
35 percent of all abortions in the U.S.
Rev. Janine Simpson of Care Net said providing abortion
alternatives, such as crisis pregnancy centers in urban communities,
is one way to turn the tide. "An African proverb states, 'No one knows
whose womb holds the king,'" said Simpson.

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THE NEWS AT A GLANCE

* President Bush has utilized his constitutional power to appoint
judges for a limited term in office by appointing Alabama Attorney
General Bill Pryor to a seat on the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals, ending months of frustration stemming from the Democratic
blockade to Pryor's nomination. Under the president's power of "recess
appointment," however, Pryor can only serve until 2005 -- rather than
the lifetime appointment that a confirmed judgeship bestows.

* The Supreme Court voted 7-2 Wednesday to allow states to withhold
scholarships from students studying theology. "Training someone to
lead a congregation is an essentially religious endeavor," Chief
Justice William H. Rehnquist wrote for the Court majority.

* Suicide is now the third leading cause of death among America's
young people, according to a disturbing new report from the National
Institutes of Health. The results found that, not only are girls and
young women more likely to think about killing themselves, they're far
more likely to follow through. Professional counselor Dr. Larry Banta
says that broken relationships and promiscuity are to blame for those
numbers.

* Church attendance at least every month is higher in the Midwest
(45%) and the South (40%) than in the East (30%) or the West (27%),
according to a recent Harris Interactive Poll.

* Clear Channel Communications has announced a "zero-tolerance"
policy designed to keep indecent material off the airwaves of its
approximately 1,200 radio stations. The policy came the day after the
company announced the firing of morning talk show host, Bubba the Love
Sponge, whose sexually explicit antics prompted a proposed $755,000
fine from the Federal Communications Commission last month. The new
policy includes company-wide training and automatic suspensions for
anyone who the FCC alleges has violated indecency rules on the air.
Meanwhile, the company suspended the Howard Stern show after
"assessing the content" of Stern's Feb. 24 broadcast. "Clear Channel
drew a line in the sand today with regard to protecting our listeners
from indecent content and Howard Stern's show blew right through it,"
said John Hogan, president and CEO of Clear Channel Radio.

* Michael Newdow, the atheist who persuaded a federal appeals court
to strike down the Pledge of Allegiance because of the words "under
God," lost a bid this week to abolish prayer at presidential
inaugurations. The three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of
Appeals said Newdow did not suffer "a sufficiently concrete and
specific injury" to pursue his latest claim.
<http://www.christianemergencynetwork.com/> 
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C H R I S T I A N E M E R G E N C Y N E T W O R K
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<> ADVISORY <>

RED CROSS ENCOURAGES AMERICANS TO SPRING BREAK FOR FAMILY PREPAREDNESS
(CEN) <http://www.redcross.org/> March is Red Cross Month. Thousands of families will embark on Spring Break vacations this year to destinations across the country. The American Red Cross reminds all individuals and families that a little preparation can go a long way in ensuring the safety of your loved ones and offers the following steps: 

1: Build a kit, 45 minutes. Assemble enough supplies in your home (in one place) to meet your needs for at least three days. Be sure to have plenty of flashlights, as candles are not recommended for emergency lighting due to fire risk. Build a disaster supplies kit to take with you if you need to leave your home. The basics you should stock in your portable kit include: water (one gallon per person per day); food; first aid supplies; a change of clothing; a blanket or sleeping bag; emergency tools (like flashlights, radio, batteries); and special items for infants, older adult family members or people with disabilities. Keep these items in an easy-to-carry container such as a covered trash container, a large backpack or a duffle bag. 

2: Make a plan, 40 minutes. Plan where to meet following a disaster. Choose two places to meet outside your immediate home and neighborhood. After determining meeting places, you should also determine the best escape routes from your home and out of your community (two ways out of each location). Ask an out-of-town friend to become your "family contact." After a disaster, it's often easier to call long distance over landlines. Other family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your contact's number. 

3: Get trained in lifesaving skills, 90 minutes. Take a course in CPR and first aid at your local Red Cross chapter. Knowledge of lifesaving skills is imperative for parents and children alike. Many Red Cross chapters offer a 90-minute presentation that includes basic instruction in first aid and disaster preparedness. Call your local Red Cross chapter for more information. To find the Red Cross chapter nearest you, go to the redcross.org <http://www.redcross.org/where/where.html> Chapter Locator. 

4: Sign up to be a volunteer, 30 minutes. Sign up to be a volunteer in your community, at the Red Cross or another organization. There are many volunteer opportunities at Red Cross chapters for people of all ages. As a disaster action team member you can offer assistance to the victims of fires and other emergencies; as an Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES) caseworker you can help send emergency messages to U.S. troops overseas; or as a Blood Services volunteer you can help register people at Red Cross blood collection sites. 

5: Give blood, 60 minutes. Every two seconds someone in the United States needs blood but only five percent of the eligible population gives blood every year. Healthy donors are the only source of blood. Is that you? Blood is needed for emergencies and for people who have cancer, blood disorders, sickle cell, anemia, and other illnesses. For nearly 5 million people who receive blood transfusions every year, your donation can make the difference between life and death. Call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to schedule an appointment. 
<http://www.redcross.org/> http://www.redcross.org/