Pastors speak on gay issue
By Stephanie Sisson
Oepoe 0*<*r Cmeraia
Churches need lo accept homosexuals into their
congregations, but thev must also encourage them
to change their behavior, said the pastors of a San
Francisco church to an audience of over 100 in
Junction City Saturday night.
Dr Charles Mcllhenny and Donna Mcllhenny,
whose church in 1979 was the first in America to
(h* taken to court for discrimination bv the homo
sexual community, related their experient es in
San Francisco as pastors who believe that homo
sexuality is a sin.
"We minister to them, and we oppose them for
Christ's sake." Dr Mi Ilhenny said
Dr Mi Ilhemiv and Mrs Mcllhennv took turns at
the Christ 's Center church telling their spellbound
audience about the death threats endless phone
calls and vandalism they have grown to expect
from the homosexual community since the law
suit, which thev won in 198 i
The lawsuit was fiied by a former employee and
member of the First Orthodox Presbyterian
Church I'hree months after Dr Mi Ilhenny hired
him to lie the church organist, Dr Mcllhenny dis
covered the organist was .1 known, practicing
homosexual.
"He was not tending toward homosexuality."
Dr Mcllhenny said. "This was a fellow who was
living the lifestyle.”
When he realized the organist did not want to
change his behavior, Dr Mcllhenny told him that
he could still attend the church, but th.it lie could
no longer play the organ.
Nine months later. Dr. Mcllhenny was served
with a lawsuit from gay rights advocates
"The Supreme Court said that we had the right
to believe the Bible ns our standard of belief and
practice,” Mrs Mcllhenny said
Dr. Mcllhenny said that previous discrimination
lawsuits had been filed with other churches, but
all had settled out of court
The Mcllhennvs were introduced in Junction
City by Lon Mahon, chairman of the Oregon Citi
zens Alliance, an anti gay-rights group that lias
gained attention all over America for its efforts to
limit special rights for homosexuals The Mi II
hennv's Oregon visit was sponsored by the OCA
"The church and Christians are awakening to
‘Homosexuality is a secondary
Issue. The ultimate issue is
secular humanism.'
Dr Charles Mcllhenny,
Pastor San Fransisco
their responsibility to. no matter what the price, no
matter who the audioiu e to stand up for what's
right.” said OCA Chairman Lon Mahon in his
introduction "Then we will see a ini Iter society
and a hotter culture for it
In 1 •><»:». the Mi llhennvs published, "When thr
Wicked Sente a City." a hook about their experi
ences m their confrontation with the homosexual
community in San Francisco File book is avail
able in Christian bookstores
Hr Mcfthennv said that his confrontations with
the homosexual community have strengthened his
faith and his convit turns
"I wish this happened to more pastors in more
i hurches Dr Mcllhennv said 'The i hurch ol
lesus Christ needs a good swift ko k
Mrs Mcllhennv said that she and her husband
have often wondered win , as pastors of a i hurt h
of 40 members, thev were the ones w ho had to go
through this ordeal
' Never think the smallest < ongregation i an t do
something for the kingdom of Jesus Christ,” she
said.
Dr Mi llheunv agreed, and added that the Chris
tian church needs to take a stand on morality, hut
more than that, that she needs to take a stand on
Christ
"Homosexualitv is not really the issue.” Dr
Mi Ilhenny said "Homosexuality is a secondary
issue The ultimate issue is secular humanism "
The stop in Junction City was the last of a three
day Oregon tour to promote sales of their Ixxik and
to help churches deal with the homosexuality
issue
An anti guv rights orthnem e that passed ill Jinn
lion City last summer by 76 peri cut was rei enlly
overturned by the loo t state Legislature, along
with 14 other, similar ordinaiu os around the state
The Mi Ilhenny s tour also included an engage
ment in Salem on Thursday and another stop in
Albany on Friday
Informational Meeting
Tuesday, February 1
5:00 p.m. Carson Cold Room
Applications available at the
Walton Housing Office.
Applications due February 8.
1
Ail t-.iVAA imuiiuJHHi iutmirtia! uuuitural divcf\it> jukl in compliantc with Al >A
y,
Speaker addresses
Muslim culture, issues
By Rtndy Lemmwman
fxv tn* i.Vegoa Om/y CmetM
Or. Hassnn A. Hasson, a
guast speaker sponsored by
the Muslim Student Associa
tion. ended his presentation
on Muslim culture last Friday
afternoon by engaging in u
lively discussion with mem
bers of the audience.
After outlining the princi
ples of Islam and showing a
documentary video about the
history and contributions of
Muslims. Hasson, a private
business consultant from Den
ver, invitisi questions from the
r>0 or so audieitce members
One listener, describing
himself as an Aral) citizen,
said tie was embarrassed by
certain Arab leaders' "con
sumerism" and by "the way
Islam imposes certain con
din ts on women as in dress
and behavior and polygamy
practices " Another listener
asked what "rationalization"
exists for the different treat
mont of men ami women to
Miislun culture
"Muslims can he an\ kind
especially Muslims of this
time," Hasson said on the first
point He said their behavior
is a result of "their full sub
mission to the liberalism that
was imposed by the West and
not their submission to the
word of God."
But Hassell's explanation for
the different treatment of
women was simply that Islam
prescribes rules for all Mus
lims to follow, including a
recognition that men havo
greater responsibility and
accountability than women.
Hassen. a native of Libya, is
a private business consultant
from Denver who received his
Ph.D. in geotechnical engi
neering from Colorado State
University He is also one of
the founders of Dar Miikknh, a
national organization he
described ns "especially inter
ested in reaching American
students and presenting
Islam in the t>esl way."
MSA President Nawab
Cliukaar introduced Hassen,
who described the event as "a
chance to learn something
about Islam."
Hassen said past colonial
ism mul liberalism have bad a
negative impac t on Islam He
also rated media distortion as
one of the reasons Islam is
misunderstood by the West.
"Islam did not get a fair
chance in this country." he
said
But Hassen. in a brief inter
view before his speec h, said
some of the responsibility for
tins negative image lies with
Muslims themselves He said
Muslims have a lot o( short
comings and have been occu
pied with problems at home
Credit Classes are Still
Available for Winter Term
Environmental
Awareness
Workshops
Risk and Liability— February 11,12
I credit (LSS 40S/50S) Fee $75
This workshop is designed for guides, leaders aixl recreation person
nel wlxi deal directly with risk and liability issues I lie workshop will
cover areas such as standards, negligence, adventure recreation,
protection issues, insurance choices and purposes, litigation, risk
reduction, permission and release forms, accident reduction insurance,
contracts and contracted services.
Outdoor Recreation Admin.— February 18,19
1 credit (LSS 40S/50SJ Fee: $100, Meets in Medford
Tins worksliop is ilesigtx'd to assist in the understanding of die duties
of outdoor administrators Students will examine program administra
Uon arxl problem solving, as well as management hints and many
tested rtx'tlxxls in planning, publicity, staffing, registration, and safety
Ninety-mix' potential program offerings will he discussed
Coastal Lakes— February 25, 26, 27
2 credits (LSS 40S750N) Fee $150pin v $M) travel
large and small Likes along Oregon's coast provide an interesting aixl
informative field-lab for tlx study of plants, animals, history aixl
geology This workslxip will explore preservation and use issues,
recreational opportunities aixl resource values, as well as tlx- historical
aixl geological significance of tlx'se exceptional resources
Rivers— March 4, 5 and 6
2 credits (LSS 40S750S) Fee $150phii $.«) travel
llus workslxip will investigate tlx- exciting riparian envininnxnts of
Oregon’s nvers l ield-labs on local rivers offer firsthand exposure to
help students gam an unuer
stamlmg of the problems,
relahonships, concepts and
opportunities for river activities
Studies of plants, animals,
history atxl river geology will
broaden students* awareness of
Oregon's waterways
To register for any of these
workshops , slop l>y (In
University of Oregon
Continuation Center
at 333 Oregon Hall,
or simply call:
346-4231