“For much of 2005, Ford was dogged by the 3-million-member American Family Association, a conservative group that threatened to boycott Ford if it didn’t stop advertising in gay-oriented publications. …One of its supporters is Gary Glenn, president of the Michigan AFA, who told the Free Press that Ford shouldn’t alienate ‘a major portion of the consumer market.’”

(more…)

“The controversial show (‘The Book of Daniel’)…was canceled Tuesday. …Gary Glenn, president of the Michigan chapter of the American Family Association, said pressure from his and other Christian- or family-based groups is the real reason why the show was cast out. ‘I think this proves to Christians and other people of faith that they don’t just have to sit back and take it,’ Glenn said. ‘If they take the time to get involved and effectively send a message, that determines what we watch on television.’”
(more…)

Note: AFA-Michigan will be endorsing a state constitutional amendment — set to appear on our November 2006 ballot — to prohibit local governments from condemning private homes and churches for private development projects that promise higher property tax revenue. Watch for more news on this issue.
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NEW YORK TIMES
New York, New York
January 25, 2006

Humble church is at center of debate on eminent domain
by Ralph Blumenthal

SAND SPRINGS, Okla., Jan. 23 – With bulldozers churning up the earth at the front door, the small Centennial Baptist Church in this struggling industrial hub west of Tulsa seems about to fall to the wrecker.

The Rev. Roosevelt Gildon in his Centennial Baptist Church, in Sand Springs, Okla. The church is resisting the city’s plan to clear the church and other occupants to make way for superstores like the Home Depot. (more…)

For Immediate Release:  1/11/2006

44 pro-family groups ask Ford to honor commitment, stop funding either side in cultural war

(Tupelo, MS) - American Family Association (AFA), along with 43 other pro-family groups, has asked Ford Motor Company Chairman Bill Ford to honor Ford’s commitment to stop supporting homosexual groups. The organizations also requested that Ford stop supporting any group involved in the current cultural war.

Read letter to Chairman Bill Ford: http://www.afa.net/fordletter.asp

AFA began a boycott of Ford last spring. At the request of several Ford dealers, the boycott was suspended for six months while the two sides tried to work out a compromise.

In a letter to Ford, AFA Chairman Donald E. Wildmon said Ford, after a meeting with homosexual groups, reneged on a representation of action they told AFA Ford would take.

�After meeting with seven homosexual leaders and without any input from thousands of their dealers who stand to be adversely affected by Ford’s decision, Ford made their decision to renege on actions they told AFA they would take,� Wildmon said. “Ford’s support for these groups pushing homosexual marriage can only hurt dealers across the country. Why would Ford put the interests of seven homosexual groups ahead of the interests of all their dealers? Simply because Ford considers seven homosexual leaders more important than thousands of their dealers.�
(more…)

Ford Motor Co. again is facing the threat of a U.S. boycott of its vehicles.

The American Family Association, along with 41 other organizations nationwide, sent a letter to Chairman Bill Ford on Wednesday giving the automaker an ultimatum to stop supporting homosexual groups and pull its ads from gay publications or risk a massive boycott of Ford products by the conservative Christian group.

(More…)

The president of an Ohio-based pro-family group says the Bush administration needs to do more to crack down on pornography. Phil Burress is president of Citizens for Community Values, a Cincinnati-based group that has been instrumental in educating people in Ohio and across the U.S. about the harmful effects of porn.

Five years ago, when President George W. Bush was elected to his first term, Burress was hopeful the new administration would take a harder stand against obscene material. He even met with then-Attorney General John Ashcroft to discuss the problem. But the CCV leader says progress has been slow.

“I’m very disappointed,� Burress says bluntly. “On July 13 I met with [Ashcroft’s successor] Attorney General [Alberto] Gonzales (pictured speaking with President Bush looking on). He promised to really crack down. It’s been five years. They’ve been doing virtually nothing.�

And while Burress says the recent creation of a task force dedicated to prosecuting illegal pornography is a hopeful sign, he believes grassroots citizens are the most effective weapon against obscene material.

“People need to remember that you cannot depend on law enforcement to clean up the pornography problem,� Burress counsels. “In Cincinnati back in the early 80s, there were 2,800 stores that sold magazines — and 95 percent of them sold Playboy. Today 90 percent of them do not sell any form of pornographic material.�

By Allie Martin, AgapePress – Copyright, 2005. All rights reserved.

Traditional marriage supporters welcome
Rev. Bernice King visit to Central Michigan

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — A statewide group that promotes traditional family values including one-man, one-woman marriage Tuesday commended Central Michigan University for inviting the Rev. Bernice King, daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to deliver the keynote address Jan. 19th during campus events next week commemorating the slain civil rights leader’s birthday.

Tracey Lee, West Bloomfield, an African-American attorney and spokesperson for the American Family Association of Michigan, based in Midland, welcomed King’s appearance.

“We applaud CMU for inviting a true civil rights advocate who boldly testifies that the movement her father led was a faith-based initiative run by African-American pastors from the pulpits of Christian churches,” Lee said. “Rev. Bernice King fearlessly defends her father’s legacy from those who try to use the Civil Rights Movement to legitimize a political agenda that undermines and attacks traditional Christian doctrine on marriage and morality.”
(more…)

The reporter was advised, but did not report, that the writer of the TV show “The Book of Daniel” is openly involved in the homosexual lifestyle.

“Gary Glenn, president of the Michigan chapter of the AFA, said the organization has put forth several efforts to bring the issues of the show to people’s attention. ‘We do encourage TV station managers in Michigan to seriously consider the (offense) the broadcasting of this show will cause to the millions of people of faith in our state,’ Glenn said. Regardless of religious affiliation, some of the issues the show presents — most notably, the gay son — can portray religion in a bad light, Glenn said. ‘It’s clear that individuals promoting a homosexual agenda are going to use this show to paint the Christian faith as dysfunctional as possible,’ he said.”

(more…)

Amendment co-author files amicus brief Wednesday

Marriage amendment bans recognition of homosexual relationships “for any purpose,”
including benefits, group tells appeals court

Benefit plans offered broadly to all employees still allowed

+ PDF file of full amicus brief is downloadable here +

LANSING — A Marriage Protection Amendment approved by nearly 60 percent of Michigan voters in 2004 prohibits government from recognizing homosexual relationships as equal or similar to marriage for any purpose, including as a basis for providing taxpayer-financed benefits to government employees, the family values group that first proposed and co-authored the amendment told a state Court of Appeals Wednesday.

The American Family Association of Michigan, in an “amicus” brief filed with the court, joined Attorney General Mike Cox in asking the Court of Appeals to overturn a decision by Circuit Court Judge Joyce Draganchuk, who ruled in 2005 that the amendment does not affect “domestic partner” benefit plans based on government recognition of homosexual relationships. Draganchuk’s ruling was expected following endorsement of her 2004 election campaign by two homosexual activist political action committees.
(more…)

“Three days later, Our Lady of Lansing is singing a different hymn. Seems her earlier comments drew an enthusiastic response from the American Family Association of Michigan, which says it wants the guv’s help in displaying the Ten Commandment Monument…”

(more…)