Rev. Sean Harris, Pastor Who Preached Violence Towards LGBT Youth, To Receive "Cards Of Hope"

Children At Judson Memorial Church Stand Up For ALL Kids

On Sunday, April 29, the Rev. Sean Harris, pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Fayetteville, North Carolina, preached a sermon that sanctioned physical violence toward children who show “effeminate” or “butch” behavior.

One week later, families at Judson Baptist Church in New York City will be using the Sunday School hour to create "Cards Of Hope" which they intend to send to the children who attend Sunday School at Berean Baptist Church.

"The idea for this Sunday will be to talk about discrimination, acceptance, and how we believe God loves all of us, no matter our differences," explains Judson's church school director Andy Frantz. "I hope to be able to explain to our kids, as age-appropriately as I can, what happened at Berean Baptist Church this week and then ask them to make cards for the North Carolina Church's Sunday School children."

In his sermon, Pastor Harris offered his congregation “special dispensation” to “crack that wrist” and “give him a good punch” to their “sons who act girlish” and to “reign in” daughters who are “acting too butch.”

Harris has since half-heartedly retracted the violence he proposed in his sermon and in an interview Michelangelo Signorile, said that he meant them "figuratively," claiming that Jesus, too, in the Bible, "conjures up violent images." In related news, North Carolina will vote on a anti-gay marriage amendment on May 8th and churches are playing a major role in the campaign.

Judson Church is encouraging other congregations to join them in making cards this Sunday, May 6, and sending them to the Sunday School at Berean Baptist Church. The goal, according to Judson Church, is to let the children of Berean Baptist know that "there are those of us in this world who believe God loves everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, and that there is no such thing as “dispensation” when it comes to physical violence against any child."

Churches wishing to participate in 'Cards Of Hope' can send them to:

The Children of Berean Baptist Church Sunday School
Berean Baptist Church
517 Glensford Drive
Fayetteville, North Carolina 28314

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Comments

[ThomasMc]

01:24 PM on 05/16/2012

Remember: Nothing says "Jesus" like bigotry and hate!

[ScienceDoesntWorkThatWay]

07:32 PM on 05/13/2012

Once upon a time, Islam believed in the theory of the Satanic Verses. Really, it's a wonderful idea. Whatever acts contrary to the basic nature of God, must be not of God. If the Basic Nature of God is Compassion, anything which is not Compassionate must not come from God. Whatever or whoever claims to be God or God's representative, but which acts against this basic concept of Compassion, that is a thing which is contrary to God, and is therefore equal to the Adversary. It's a shame that never entered the organizational theology of major religions, Islam included.

This Pastor in North Carolina would be out of a job if the theory had been wide spread in more religion.

[ScienceDoesntWorkThatWay]

07:25 PM on 05/13/2012

Isn't it a crime to openly encourage violent behavior towards other people? As far as I'm aware, the Supreme Court has consistently ruled that Freedom of Speech does not include exhorting people to violence or criminal behavior. That's what the hoopla was all about how people weren't allowed to be members of, say, communist organizations, right? Man, remember that, when the Supreme Court used to say that people weren't allowed to have free speech to say we should share? When're they gonna ask people to stop urging their followers towards violence against the Left?

[Js420]

08:12 PM on 05/10/2012

This is child abuse. Indoctrinating children to be intolerant of others, what a sad life.

[BravoFour]

02:42 PM on 05/10/2012

I could stand to learn a thing or two from these kids. In the meantime, Sean Harris better stay an inch or two out of kicking distance.

[sallyslide]

10:31 PM on 05/08/2012

This is the kind of nut case that gives the South a bad name. I wonder if he keeps a white hoody in his closet.

[demotom]

06:52 PM on 05/07/2012

The people that are sending the cards to the children of Pastor Harris's church are wasting their time. Pastor Harris can't read because he is blinded by his own hate.

[TanzaniaTeacher]

02:57 PM on 05/07/2012

Would someone please change the very misleading title of this article.

Thank you.

[Bajco]

04:07 PM on 05/07/2012

Yay someone else who doesn't believe in this nonsense.

[TanzaniaTeacher]

04:29 PM on 05/07/2012

What nonsense? The title of the article is literally wrong. The cards are not going to the Pastor but to children in his congregation.

[JakeT]

03:33 PM on 05/08/2012

Is this the nonsense you don't believe in "there are those of us in this world who believe God loves everyone, regardless of their sexual orientation, and that there is no such thing as “dispensation” when it comes to physical violence against any child." How very sad for you.

[ema629]

02:42 PM on 05/07/2012

It's a very lovely gesture, having the children make and send cards to the kids in NC, but I bet that those kids will never see those cards. They'll most likely be thrown straight into the trash.

[ScienceDoesntWorkThatWay]

07:27 PM on 05/13/2012

Nonsense. It's North Carolina. They'll use them as wadding in fireworks that're made in the state.

[Bajco]

10:23 PM on 05/15/2012

they did not get them because they did not need them. For example, lets say you see a kid who is stuffed full of food. You then buy something from Burger king(or any other of those "heart attack death" places) and give it to him. Then you tell your friends about the kind gesture you did. See if you put it in another setting it looks bad to do this. P.S my last sentence is going to get a lot of hate

[Opus Fideo]

01:38 PM on 05/07/2012

breeding a new generation of inbred racists.

[Bajco]

10:29 PM on 05/15/2012

racism is disliking a certain race. The hate of homosexuality is in the Bible. So either 1.) you have no idea what your talking about
2.) you are not a true follower of Christ
3.) you just want to be hating on some Christians
or 4.) you don't want to hear that there is sin in the world. You want to live in Bob's world (yes your bob) where there is no sin and every thing is sunshine and rainbows

[Opus Fideo]

01:57 AM on 05/16/2012

Hatred of homosexuality is not in the bible. But you know what is?

1. God saying that owning slaves is OK.
2. Not only can you own slaves but you can beat them, and beat your wife too
3. It says the world is flat.
4. and that the sun revolves around the earth
5. that incest is OK
6. that stoning to death is the appropriate punishment for adultery

etc.. etc...

Why don't you support those points too? Hmmm?

You either take the whole thing as "God's word" and including the incest, slavery, domestic abuse, and pseudoscience... or you reject it all.

You can't pick and choose what pleases you.

[campcranston]

09:49 AM on 05/07/2012

This is the exact right reaction to the situation and i think Jesus would be proud. Show love in the face of hate. These people have the right idea, glad to see love back in SOMEBODY'S church at least.

[Brianna Cole]

05:08 AM on 05/07/2012

At least this church has it right and is teaching the kids some serious love.

[elderwalker]

11:16 PM on 05/06/2012

Boy so many in the faith got this all wrong! Many need to understand that what others do against God is not their concern what the focus should be is how they are walking with God. The Bible said vengence and judgment belong to God, So with that understanding they will be judge on what is done in their life and if you are in-agreement with what the bible said about homosexaulity then don't do it or live that way and leave others alone, For it would be a shame to lose out on heaven because of doing wrong in the name of God, So many will be in hell because of that false understanding.

[TanzaniaTeacher]

02:58 PM on 05/07/2012

What others do against their fellow human beings however, is absolutely their concern. You know the Good Samaritan and all.

[elderwalker]

08:58 AM on 05/08/2012

Yeah but what did the good Samaritan do the man left for dead after being robbed? did he add to the problem or was he a blessing? And saying to be mean and hateful and to do someone harm is not of God but of man.

[Kathy Levittown]

10:03 PM on 05/06/2012

Its 2012....

I cant believe we have people who still hate like this....RELIGIOUS PEOPLE..

When I was 10, I watched African americans hosed and murdered in the south for their rights..Who knew 50 years later, discrimination is alive and well, fed by FOX news and the republican party...It is revolting..

[Clovis4]

01:14 AM on 05/09/2012

"I can’t believe we have people who still hate like this....RELIGIOUS PEOPLE"

Are you kidding? Based on what is actually in the bible we should be glad most don't follow what is written in it. The book is one act of human depravity after another.

[Kathy Levittown]

10:17 PM on 05/09/2012

Youre so right on! ;-)

[JeanRR]

08:57 AM on 05/11/2012

I agree. Most religion is all about hatred and fear.

[methodman]

08:51 PM on 05/06/2012

The Kids need to send it individually and register each piece of mail with a rsvp card. Really see if they can even get an answer. These religious groups don't chat. You agree with them or you keep your feet out side their door as I do. But you need to verify what people will do. So have the kids send a self-addressed envelope and see how many they get back. That is the only way they can do a checks and balance. Otherwise you get polite and meaningless sayings.

[Gregor53]

09:25 PM on 05/06/2012

Why waste the money. They are not going to get an answer from a so called Chrisitan pastor like Harris. The National Baptist organization (for which ever branch of Baptist they are) should correct Harris, but I would imagine, they agree with Harris. Just another one of threatening "metaphors" the extreme Right seems to be now known for. It is unfortunate that a Christian would endorse Hate.