My name is Pastor Phillip Lee, Executive Director of His Way Out Ministries in Bakersfield, California, USA. Recently, an article titled "It's Not Ok to Be Gay" written by Denzel Mohammed, appeared in The Guardian. The section "Lawyer's for hate?" caught my particular attention due to the expression and wording... "yet another US pastor started a campaign in T&T to "declare war on same-sex attraction" and converting gays to straights. Clearly it's a lucrative war, since he launched that campaign in the ballroom of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. And speaking of those prosperous pastors, boy, don't expect to be welcomed by either church or temple."
Unfortunately, Mr Mohammed's expressions and ultimate reporting on the event held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel is seriously flawed and inaccurate. I offer witness to the inaccuracies as I am the pastor, invited by Hospital Christian Fellowship of Trinidad and Tobago, to be the guest speaker at the event.
At no time was the wording "declare war on same-sex attraction" ever used by myself or anyone connected with or affiliated with Hospital Christian Fellowship. The "expression" was unfortunately coined by a reporter at the event and tragically continues to receive major air and news time.
Also, Mr Mohammed's communication about "prosperous pastors and...don't" expect to be welcomed by a church or temple is inaccurate. I continue to find it intriguing how those in the gay community often become alarmed, if not angry, when lumped into one barrel as a community. Indeed, within gay communities around the world there remains great diversity when it comes to "gay civil rights." Gay communities are far, very far, from being in one-accord on gay rights and even the word "gay" itself. My point? Mutual respect can and should be offered to the gay community and the Church by not making blanket, all encompassing statements that are not founded in fact or truth.
Pastor Phillip Lee
His Way Out Ministries,
Bakersfield, CA, USA
