Mayor Parker Withdraws Pastor Subpoenas, “I Stand Sunday” Set
October 29, 2014 – Today at a press conference, Houston Mayor Annise Parker’s announced her plan to withdraw the subpoena of sermons and other communications belonging to several area pastors in a lawsuit in which the pastors are not even involved.
Jonathan Saenz, attorney and president of Texas Values, released the following statement today in response:
“We are pleased that after creating a national firestorm and epic levels of public outcry, Mayor Annise Parker’s pastor subpoenas have been withdrawn. Mayor Parker’s war on religious freedom and free speech has brought shame and embarrassment to Houston. Unfortunately, Mayor Parker continues her abuse of power by spending thousands of taxpayer dollars to deny the people of Houston the right to vote on her controversial transsexual bathroom ordinance, after over 50,000 signatures were submitted to repeal the unconstitutional measure. The question now is – how much more negative attention will the Houston people and business community have to endure before the Mayor recognizes it’s time to let the people vote?”
Earlier this year, Houston voters presented over 55,000 petition signatures to repeal the Mayor’s LGBT bathroom ordinance and a state court judge stopped enforcement of the ordinance. Under immense public pressure, Mayor Parker and the City have continued to lose ground on this issue and have now agreed to not enforce the LGBT ordinance until the court battle concludes, sometime in 2015.
On Sunday, November 2, Family Research Council (FRC), with support by Texas Values, will host a nationwide, live simulcast event from Grace Community Church in Houston, Texas. Called “I Stand Sunday,” the simulcast will reach into over 2,500 churches and home groups nationwide. “I Stand Sunday” will provide churches across the nation the opportunity to stand with the pastors and churches in Houston, Texas who have been targeted and harassed by the city’s Mayor because they publicly challenged her efforts to advance policies that are in direct conflict with biblical morality.
Prior to the simulcast, FRC President Tony Perkins, Gov. Mike Huckabee, Pastor Steve Riggle, Dr. Ronnie Floyd, and local church leaders will hold a 4:00 p.m. CT news conference at Grace Community Church where they will offer a preview of the event.
WHO:
Former Governor Mike Huckabee
Phil Robertson, Duck Dynasty
Alan Robertson, Duck Dynasty
Tony Perkins, President, Family Research Council
Steve Riggle, Founding Senior Pastor, Grace Community Church, Houston, TX
Khanh Huynh, Senior Pastor, Vietnamese Baptist Church, Houston, TX
Dave Welch, Executive Director, Houston Pastors Council
Hernan Castano, Pastor, Iglesia Rios de Aceite, Houston, TX
Magda Hermida, Founder, Magda Hermida Ministries, Houston, TX
Willie Davis, Senior Pastor, MacGregor Palm Community Baptist Church in Houston, TX
Dr. Ed Young, Pastor, Second Baptist Church Houston, TX
Dr. Ronnie Floyd, President, Southern Baptist Convention
Todd Starnes, Host, Fox News and Commentary; Contributor, FOX & Friends; Author
Dr. Rick Scarborough, Founder and President, Vision America
David and Jason Benham, Benham Brothers Companies
Erik Stanley, Director of the Church Project and Pulpit Initiative, Alliance Defending Freedom
WHAT: News conference and simulcast event: “I Stand Sunday”
WHERE: Grace Community Church
14505 Gulf Freeway Houston, TX 77034
WHEN: Sunday, November 2, 2014
News Conference: 4:00 p.m. CT
Simulcast: 6:00 p.m. CT
To register for media credentials or for more information, please call the FRC press office at (866) FRC-NEWS or for more info please visit istandsunday.com.
About Texas Values
Texas Values is a non-profit organization dedicated to standing for faith, family, and freedom in Texas. More information is available at txvalues.org.