Universal Life Church

July 30, 2009 – Newly released film footage, obtained by The Salt Lake Tribune through an open-records request to the city, revealed a recent confrontation between LDS Temple Guards and a gay couple accused of trespassing and “passionate kissing and groping” on the Church’s Main Street Plaza. The film had been provided to Salt Lake City Officials by the LDS Church as part of a mandatory review process by prosecutors.

Although the film does not actually show the “public display of affection”1 which led to the detention of Matthew Aune and Derek Jones; it does show somewhat of a scuffle breaking between the two lovers and LDS Temple Guards. Reportedly, Matt Aune stated that he gave Jones nothing more than a “side hug and a kiss”1, contrary to what had been reported by the LDS Temple Guards.

Film retrieved from Joe.My.God2

Salt Lake City Prosecutor Sim Gill announced that the city would not be pursuing a trespassing case, citing nothing more than a misunderstanding on the part of the gay couple who did not realize that the Main Street Plaza was privately owned.

“At the heart of the message of the Savior of the world is a single, glorious, wonderful, still largely untried concept. In its simplest terms the message is that we should seek to overcome the selfishness we all seem to be born with, that we should overcome human nature and think of others before self.”3
–James E. Faust, “A Pattern of Love,” Ensign, Dec. 1999, 2

Sources:

1. The Salt Lake Tribune

2. Joe.My.God Blog

3. ReadtheScriptures.com

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July 28, 2009 – It may come as no surprise to hear that another Pastor has found himself in the middle of what many would consider scandalous behavior, un-befitting of a man of the Gospel. Early morning on the 26th , perhaps before worship, South Charleston Pastor Michael Agnello was pulled over by Dunbar Police Cpl. M.W. Lester; who noticed the Pastor driving erratically and drifting between lanes at approximately 1:30 am Sunday morning. Officer Lester recalled that the Pastor’s Jeep, “smelled strongly of alcohol and his eyes were glassy.”1 Pastor Agnello failed all three field sobriety tests administered by the officer, admitting that he had a few drinks before getting behind the wheel. Subsequently, Pastor Agnello was arrested by the Dunlap police officer and charged with aggravated DUI. The Pastor had blown a .173 on the intoximeter, the legal limit is .08.

“If found guilty of the offense, Agnello could spend two days to six months in jail and be fined up to $1,000. No hearing date has been set yet.”1

Even more troubling to find is a history of corrupt behavior, the Pastor was previously involved in a scandal that ruined his TV Ministry in 1988 after committing adultery, that story can be read here.

Source:

1. West Virginia Gazette

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In August of 2004, USA Today featured “Religion takes a back seat in Western Europe”1, an article examining the alarming decrease in church attendees over the past few decades. Some of the lowest church attendance appears in the countries of France, Sweden and the Netherlands where belief in God is as low as 23%2. This decline can most appropriately be attributed to an increasing consensus among people who accept the Theory of Evolution and understanding of science.

Research done in 2007 by the Pew Forum showed a much different picture in America, where church attendance and belief in (a) God is above 80%3. With certain exceptions, such as Raëlism, Scientology, and the Bahá’í Faith, most religions were formulated at a time when the origin of life, the workings of the body, and the nature of the stars and planets were poorly understood4

Below is a video for your viewing and open discussion. Tell us what you think, and if you feel passionately one way or the next – Please submit a blog op-article.

1. USA Today

2. Wikipedia

3. PEW Forum

4. Dennett, Daniel Clement (2006). Breaking the Spell : Religion as a Natural Phenomenon. Viking Adult. ISBN 0-670-03472-X.

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Zach Bonner, recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award. ‘My House to the White House’; a 600 mile march from Atlanta to DC promoting awareness of homeless children in America.

From the Desk of Br. Daniel Chapin
ULC Monastery Vice President
July 2009

How Comfortable Are You?
___________________________

I recently spent some time in a Hostel in Santa Monica, California. You see my work takes me all over the country, but if you are anything like me, you can relate when I tell you that Hotel rooms are for tourists… Hostels, however, are for travelers…. and, yes, there is a difference. This being noted, another reason I enjoy staying at hostels is that there is such an eclectic spirit within. Many cultures, languages, personalities, backgrounds all coming together under one roof.. We eat together, sleep together & we learn from one another outside the comfort zones of fancy hotels & dining halls… The fact is that I’m that type of traveler; and in fact, that type of individual who does not want to go where many have gone before. I don’t want to see what the eyes have already seen and the ears have already heard… I don’t wish to sleep in a queen size bed with a mint on the pillow.
Life is rarely so comfortable – So why should my travels be?

OK so now that I have gotten your attention, all of this is said to introduce this month’s message which I can also preface with a question -
How Comfortable Are You?

We live in a society of comfort. While our nation indeed faces a financial recession, walk into any Starbucks Coffee on a Monday morning and you might have second thoughts on this as you watch dozens line up to order their $4.00 Venti Soy Caramel Macchiato… Or perhaps consider that here in California we are facing a drought – We have been for years and yet – We Play in Water…. Water Amusement Parks rake in thousands of tourists a year and tens of thousands of dollars….

How Comfortable Are You?

Beyond our Means of Living as a Nation of Comfort we are also a nation of the uncomfortable. Last year a group of youth from a youth group I was involved in visited one area of Kentucky largely considered to be within one of the poorest counties of the United States. It was Christmas time during that visit and one of our youth presented a playstation to one of the resident youth who I was told kept saying over and over – “Now all I need is a T.V. to play it on….”

How Comfortable Are You?

Comfort, friends, is more than a state of economics, it is also a state of mind. Perhaps it originates there and expresses itself in our ways of living & thinking, viewing & treating one another..

One of the beauties of our Church is that we in many ways stand collectively outside the comfort zone which exists in many a “Brick & Mortar” Church across this nation & world for that matter. Others used to tell our Founder Kirby Hensley that what he taught was uncomfortable at times to hear. Good. We needed to step out of our comfortable spiritual boxes then & we still could benefit by doing so today… Here we stand as ministers collectively but not necessarily comfortably at all times. We represent many cultures, languages, personalities, backgrounds all coming together under one roof.. And yet, we do not always see eye to eye. We have Christians & Pagans, Buddhists & Atheists. We have Progressives & Traditionalists. We have heterosexuals & homosexuals, Republicans, Democrats & Independents. And yet, we stand – Somehow we stand… Visit our Ministers Network one day and you’ll see how everyday we make what may seem uncomfortable well, comfortable.

How Comfortable Are You? Continue Reading in our Forum…

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July 8, 2009 – With the celebration of our country’s Independence Day just a few days ago, we thought we would bring light once more to a growing problem in America; hate and the effect that it has upon an individual’s peace, freedom, liberty and independence from public persecution.

The Congress of the United States is proposing a Hate Crimes Bill which we support 100%. It is time to atone for the sins of the past and the sons of Hate must realize that just as the Nazi’s used flags and hate speech to persecute Jews, Homosexuals and people with mental illness; it would be wrong for any state with a large German population to incorporate the Nazi flag into a state flag in this country. There are those who suggest that the stars and bars of the rebel confederate states are a symbol of American heritage; but there is no heritage seen by the sons and daughters of slaves who were rounded up, hung, worked and sexually used. We have come a long way to allow a black man to occupy the White House which blacks built. We believe that speech transcends refusing to allow a child of God, who by nature is gay, to not speak his truth as to his creation. We believe that right-wing radio is at times not much different than the propaganda radio of Nazi Germany or the lies spread about Southern Heritage.

This continuum of hate transcends to the pulpits who host the most segregated hour of air time on Sunday mornings pitting one religion against another, single parents against two-parented families and non-believers against believers. Such is the elitism of a church that frightens children into believing that they will be sent to Hell and burned forever if they refuse to accept the dogma found on our public airwaves. Hate speech as well as pornography belongs on cable, not on the people’s FCC controlled airwaves. One cannot be sent to Hell without certification that Hell exists. A lie is a lie, and as the 19th Century writer Thomas Carlyle said, “Nature admits no lie.”

Some time ago we proposed a similar course of action to stop all hate speech originating from such organizations as the Aryan Nation, KKK, and White Citizens Council etc…

In September 2000, the Neo-Nazi Hate Group, Aryan Nation of Hayden Lake, ID was forced to pay damages of $6.3 million to a mother and young son who were attacked by members of the hate group. Lacking the liquidity, the Aryan Nation was forced to hand over all of its property, both physical and intellectual. This included many writings and publications. The plaintiffs gained exclusive rights to the group’s hate literature and memorabilia, ending their publishing and sale.

The sons and daughters of slaves should collectively sue for ownership of the Confederate flag, thereby preventing the use or sale of its image without their explicit permission. Ownership of the flag is clear and it should be argued that, being the property of the Confederate States of America who sanctioned the systematic rape and lynching of thousands of black folk in the South and cost the United States more blood than any war in its history; ultimately assassinating the President of the United States, Abraham Lincoln. Blacks should be able to take control of all the properties and "war relics" of the Confederacy and legislation such as the proposed hate crimes bill should be accepted with open arms to prevent such actions from ever happening again.

G. Martin Freeman, Presiding Chaplain

Universal Life Church Monastery

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