John Adams and Dale Rogers, said they have been together 30 years. They learned of a free event called “Manpower 2013” via a flier on the porch of their Hillcrest Avenue home. The flier came from the United Community Brethren Church, 15 W. Hillcrest Ave.
Monday evening, Pastor Reginald Harvey said the fliers were handed out to many houses in the neighborhood and other areas about the event he is calling a men’s retreat.
“We apologize if that offended them,” he said in an interview with News Center 7 on Wednesday. “The bible says that (homosexuality) is a sin… but we still love them,” he said.
The cover of the flier sports a camouflage design and color scheme. There are two men pictured on the front, one of whom is wearing a military style cap. One of two men is identified as Pastor Harvey, a “commanding officer.” The flier is entitled, “Manpower Conference 2013 Let the Secret Out”.
On the flip side of the flier, entitled “Top Secret,” are words presented in bold, black all-caps lettering. Near the start, it reads in part:
“Mission Intel: Pornography, Adultery, Drugs, Alcohol, Homosexuality, Gambling have classified by the enemy”
The end of the flier reads:
“Special Note: More orders will follow
Weapons will be issued and chow hall will be stocked.”
Adams and Rogers said they don’t care if the church or the congregation don’t like homosexuality, “but don’t stir up crazies to come after us.”
According to Harvey, “A lot of men are dealing with homosexuality in my church. Many men I have ministered have been molested and need help. Some struggle with those issues of masculinity gay or straight and are looking for this.”
“We welcome all gays and lesbians. We love people in spite of their sexuality,” the pastor said.
Harvey talked about his gay brother, whom he said died of AIDS in 1996. “We loved him to his dying day,” Harvey said, noting that his brother talked with many counselors and minsters in his life.
“He knew it wasn’t right but God loved him,” Harvey said of his brother.
Harvey, when asked about his beliefs opposing homosexuality, said, “I sympathize with them. Some struggle until their dying day. We don’t bash them. Christ is the answer. Some might struggle until their dying day. Christ loves them.”
Harvey said adultery is like homosexuality, it is a sin. God still loves you, he said.
Because the flier mentions “weapons,” Adams and Rogers said the flier goes too far.“It’s the weapons…it’s what they might do if they thought that a person was gay,” Adams and Rogers said.
Harvey said, “Weapons means spiritual warfare, Bible principals. The weapon is the Bible, the word of God.”
Adams and Rogers said, “There’s a thin line between promoting a hate crime and free speech.”
Harvey said he anticipates that there may be protests by “gay individuals,” but “we will ignore that. We do not fight people on these issues; We are not that type of church.”
Officials with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, contacted for comment about this story, said the fliers are considered protected free speech.
Harvey said he has not been contacted by FBI or the sheriff’s office.
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