Updated with response: Stand against the hate of Minister Ben Bailey of the Central Church of Christ in McMinnville

UPDATE:  Minister Ben Bailey of the Central Church of Christ called us this morning and talked about his views.  He is not pro-equality, but he wants to make absolutely clear that he does NOT support the stoning of LGBT people.  You can read his response at the link

The New Civil Rights Movement has reported on the teachings of Minister Ben Bailey of the Central Church of Christ in McMinnville in which the pastor tries to justify the stoning of LGBT people as biblical. 

People of faith and people of no particular faith alike reject the dangerous extremism of Pastor Bailey.  At a time when hate crimes are up against LGBT people in Tennessee and at a time when the nationwide murders of transgender people in particular have reached crisis levels, such hate has no rightful place in religion or in civil society. 

Despite the pastor's notoriety, hate will NOT define McMinnville or the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee.  We were in McMinnville recently for the Summer of Love tour with a strong showing of equality advocates.  Read the report if you doubt there are many great people in the area living their hopes for full equality.  Upper Cumberland Pride, which serves the region, is an organization that is growing again and now reunited to TEP.  We know they will continue to raise awareness for the safety and equality of LGBT people in the area.

We urge people of good will across the state and nation to stand with those in McMinnville and the Upper Cumberland region of Tennessee and against the hateful rhetoric of Pastor Bailey.  Add your name as a show of solidarity!

Who's endorsing

132 endorsements

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  • Charles Lindsey
    endorsed 2015-08-18 01:38:48 -0500
  • Marcus Ellsworth
    endorsed 2015-08-18 00:11:52 -0500
  • Dwayne Fields
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-08-18 00:10:03 -0500
    I'm endorsing Tennessee Equality Project. Please join me!
  • Dwayne Fields
    endorsed 2015-08-18 00:09:44 -0500
  • Brandon Paxton
    @ tweeted link to this page. 2015-08-17 23:55:25 -0500
    I'm endorsing Tennessee Equality Project. Please join me! http://tnep.nationbuilder.com/stand_against_the_hate_of_pastor?recruiter_id=17180
  • Brandon Paxton
    endorsed 2015-08-17 23:55:03 -0500
  • Simon Russell
    endorsed 2015-08-17 23:38:43 -0500
  • Crystal Evans
    endorsed 2015-08-17 23:32:44 -0500
  • Grant Barnes
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-08-17 23:26:02 -0500
    I'm endorsing Tennessee Equality Project. Please join me!
  • Grant Barnes
    endorsed via 2015-08-17 23:25:28 -0500
  • Dennis Ford
    endorsed 2015-08-17 23:19:02 -0500
  • John Moss
    endorsed 2015-08-17 23:08:02 -0500
  • Robert Ewen
    endorsed 2015-08-17 23:05:59 -0500
  • Debbie Frost
    endorsed 2015-08-17 23:05:17 -0500
  • Andrew Frost
    endorsed 2015-08-17 23:00:24 -0500
    There is no room for hate anywhere.
  • Dr. Bob Pondillo
    endorsed 2015-08-17 22:55:23 -0500
  • Jonathan Long
    endorsed 2015-08-17 22:53:02 -0500
    Love is the absence of judgment.
  • Nichol Albertson
    endorsed 2015-08-17 22:51:23 -0500
  • Jeremy Davis
    endorsed 2015-08-17 22:49:48 -0500
  • James Proffitt
    endorsed 2015-08-17 22:47:25 -0500
  • Terri Weaver
    endorsed 2015-08-17 22:47:07 -0500
    I was raised in Sparta and this kind of hatefulness is not ok. McMinnville Church of Christ, you are following a wolf in sheep’s clothing who is preaching an Old Testament gospel that is far out of step with the gospel of Christ. Christ fulfilled the OT and never once in the NT did he condone the murder of those who transgressed the law…see the woman caught in adultery, see the woman at the well…even IF you believe that being Gay is a sin, this man is preaching a false gospel of violence and hate and I hope that the elder board will do the right thing and find a pastor that will speak instead with grace and love.
  • Robbie Jones
    @robbienashville tweeted link to this page. 2015-08-17 22:45:27 -0500
    I'm endorsing Tennessee Equality Project. Please join me! http://tnep.nationbuilder.com/stand_against_the_hate_of_pastor?recruiter_id=42729
  • Robbie Jones
    endorsed 2015-08-17 22:44:57 -0500
  • Matt Dillman
    endorsed 2015-08-17 22:44:09 -0500
  • Lloyd Dunn
    endorsed 2015-08-17 22:41:31 -0500
    As a former member of the CoC (Church of Christ) this does not surprise me at all. It took me all my life to come to the conclusion of how the church was and what being hidden .
  • Matthew Hartshorn
    endorsed 2015-08-17 22:37:46 -0500
    This pastor and his disgusting hate speech should not be tolerated. If your religion says you should kill others, your religion is GARBAGE.
  • Kayla Neal
    endorsed 2015-08-17 22:35:13 -0500
  • Travis Whitehead
    posted about this on Facebook 2015-08-17 22:35:04 -0500
    I'm endorsing Tennessee Equality Project. Please join me!
  • Travis Whitehead
    endorsed 2015-08-17 22:34:48 -0500
    As a business owner here in Warren county I find this very upsetting. I am an out gay male with a partner of 20 years we have a 3 year old child together. The bible tells us that we shall love one another in Christ. This man seams to.me not to.be a man of God but one of the world
  • Brian Hazelwood
    endorsed 2015-08-17 22:34:22 -0500

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