This Month’s Updates:
networking
Spreading the Word: Reaching the State
(September 1, 2009) – FACT is rapidly gaining more and more subscribers throughout the state. In the month of August, over 200 new subscribers signed up to receive FAN newsletters and FAT Alerts. These numbers have been growing and growing over the last few months, and this simply means that more and more Tennesseans are getting the message and spreading it to their friends, family and church members. The more people who receive information from FACT, the more people who will know the truth about public policy issues related to the family, and the better our state will be as a result. Would you pause right now and forward this newsletter to your friends, family and fellow church members asking them to sign up?
Speaking of churches, did you know that there are over 1,000 clergy and other church leaders who receive e-mails and newsletters from the Family Action Council of Tennessee? Hundreds of them download the FACT church bulletin inserts each month and make them available to their congregations. Dr. David Shelley, Director of Church & Community Relations, meets new pastors nearly every day (in person, on the phone or via e-mail) who are just learning about FACT and the various issues addressed. There are tens of thousands of ministers in this state who still do not know about FACT, so please pray.
The push for legal recognition of sexual orientation/gender identity in the Metro Nashville government, and the Memphis City and Shelby County governments, has actually opened many doors to churches in both cities that were unaware of FACT before. Churches from black, white, Hispanic, Asian and other cultures and from across all denominational lines are discovering the important work of FACT to protect the biblical institution of marriage and the family, religious liberty, the sanctity of human life, and many other policy values.
Praise God that the body of Christ in Tennessee is rapidly waking up and becoming engaged as “the salt of the earth” and “the light of the world” in the public square (Matthew 5:13-16).
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networking
Denominations Spread the Word about FACT
(September 1, 2009) – Did you know that FACT’s Dr. David Shelley is also a Southern Baptist pastor? The Tennessee Baptist Convention has a state newspaper, The Baptist & Reflector, that is read by approximately 100,000 people on a weekly basis. Anyone can subscribe to this paper for $12 a year, and the paper is very inspirational and informative of the work that God is doing through His people all across the state of Tennessee.
Three times in the last few months, Dr. Shelley has published articles in The Baptist & Reflector to inform Tennessee Baptists about important legislative victories and challenges like the passage of the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, passage of Senate Joint Resolution 127 on reversing the state Supreme Court’s decision on abortion, the efforts to establish legal civil rights for sexual orientation in Nashville and Memphis, etc. FACT is very appreciative to The Baptist & Reflector editor Lonnie Wilkey for helping keep the churches informed and equipped.
Dr. Shelley is planning to speak to the Presbyterian Church in America’s Middle Tennessee Presbytery this fall to discuss ways that FACT can inform and equip PCA churches in being salt and light in the public square.
The Church of God’s denominational office in Tennessee has posted a Web link to FACT on the state Web site; Bishop Choby of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Middle Tennessee has been very helpful with communication on Nashville issues, and Dr. Shelley is meeting with other denominational leaders around the state as we head into the fall. If you are part of a church or denomination of churches that would like to use the nonpartisan, nondenominational information resources of FACT to inform and equip your congregation(s), please contact Dr. Shelley at David.Shelley@FACTn.org or (615) 469-4139.
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broadcast
Huge Growth in FACT Report Online Listeners
(September 1, 2009) – The FACT Report with David Fowler is a 60-second radio spot that FACT President David Fowler records almost every week. It provides a succinct commentary on issues of the week, mostly geared toward matters of public policy in the state of Tennessee. Since the spring of this year, we have seen a growth of more than 500% in the number of online listeners (thousands more listen on the radio).
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marriage
Standing Strong for God-Given Marriage
(September 1, 2009) – Even though the 1996 federal Defense of Marriage Act and the 2006 Marriage Amendment to the Tennessee State Constitution demonstrated overwhelmingly that Americans believe marriage is between one man and one woman, the determined minority who oppose this view are making inroads throughout the nation at the city and county levels. Recently, there were efforts in Shelby County and currently there are efforts in Nashville to create—and legally protect under local laws—new civil rights based on “sexual orientation” and “gender identity.”
Creating new civil rights based on perverse sexual attractions not only affirms by law behavior contrary to God’s design (Genesis 1, 19; Leviticus 18, 20; Romans 1; I Corinthians 6; I Timothy 1, etc.), but it also creates legal problems for the state.
The American Psychological Association’s position is that same-gender orientation is not scientifically proven to be biologically or genetically caused. This makes it clear that orientation and gender identity are not immutable, physical characteristics like race, gender, etc. Thus the inevitable lawsuits alleging discrimination will be a challenge to defend. And these new civil rights are on a collision course with First Amendment rights to religious liberty and freedom of association. In an October 2008, Los Angeles Times article:
Chai Feldblum, a Georgetown University law professor who helps draft federal legislation on this issue, said when asked about the possible conflict between religion and sexual liberty, “I’m having a hard time coming up with any case in which religious liberty should win.”
Nashville’s Metro Council members need our prayers as they decide how to vote this month. We need to appreciate that God will not be mocked; protecting and even fostering behaviors that violate God’s creational design for marriage and intimacy cannot, in the long run, serve the common good as they undermine the God-endowed foundational importance of the family.
FACT has created a downloadable church bulletin insert to educate believers on this issue. It is very important that Christians in Tennessee know about this situation, as the foundation of society is built upon the God-given design for the family. To learn more and find ways that you can pray for these city and county officials, visit www.FACTn.org.
“Hate evil, love good; maintain justice in the courts ... let justice roll on like a river, righteousness like a never-failing stream!” (Amos 5:15, 24).
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legislation
Regional Debriefings around the State
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FACT President David Fowler conducts a legislative briefing for residents of Mt. Juliet.
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(September 1, 2009) – In August, FACT hosted a legislative debriefing/community meeting for interested constituents in Mt. Juliet/East Nashville. More meetings are scheduled around Nashville and Middle Tennessee in September.
These meetings provided a great opportunity for supporters of the family to get an “inside baseball” view of what took place during Tennessee’s 2009 legislative session. Each meeting also provides an opportunity for friendships to be renewed and new friendships started. Keep an eye on our calendar to find if a community meeting is coming to an area near you.
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biblical worldview
Launch The Truth Project in Your Church Now
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FACT’s David Shelley leads a Truth Project training session at East Maryville Baptist Church.
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(September 1, 2009) – As part of FACT’s efforts to help the people of Tennessee build a strong biblical worldview, FACT is working with Focus on the Family to present The Truth Project™ training. The Truth Project™ is a powerful, DVD-based, small-group educational experience on developing a biblical worldview. Focus on the Family has created this informative, entertaining, and biblically sound curriculum to equip Christians on living out their faith in a post-Christian culture.
The Truth Project ™ is being used of God all over the world. The latest numbers indicate that since 2005, Focus on the Family has held over 35 regional training conferences, equipping over 65,000 leaders, and has seen over 1.3 million participants enroll in the course worldwide!
You Can Start The Truth Project in Your Church NOW
Because of FACT’s association with Focus on the Family, FACT can now offer local training to potential group leaders at any church in the state of Tennessee. No longer do you have to wait for Focus on the Family to hold a large, regional conference. Dr. Shelley can literally come to your church, or to a group of churches in your area, and train your small group leaders on using the Truth Project™ ... AND ... the training takes less than 4 hours. This can be completed on a Saturday morning, Sunday afternoon or a weeknight. Trainees will leave with a box of The Truth Project™ DVDs, access to the leader web site and all the information needed to begin offering The Truth Project™ right away.
Please call Dr. Shelley, (615) 469-4139, about scheduling a Truth Project™ Training soon. E-mail him at David.Shelley@FACTn.org or learn more at www.FACTn.org/truthproject.htm.
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News and Notes (September 2009) 
