Pastors Who Met With Houston Mayor Before Subpoena Was Lifted Share Details About Their Uncompromising Meeting With Her

Rev. Patrick J. Mahoney : Oct 30, 2014
Christian Newswire

"Our meeting with the mayor was cordial and very productive. While showing her all due respect, we never relaxed or compromised our demand for her to unequivocally withdraw the subpoenas. We're thankful to her and we are supremely thankful to God for this positive outcome." -Rev. Rob Schenck, President of the National Clergy Council

(Houston, TX)—Yesterday, Houston Mayor Annise Parker announced she had directed her legal team to drop the subpoenas of city pastors who opposed a pro-gay city ordinance. The decision came one day after an emergency delegation of seven pastors from across the country met privately with the mayor for an hour. The meeting followed a prayer vigil held by the group in front of Houston City Hall.

"Mayor Parker made the right decision and deserves to be commended for it," said Rev. Rob Schenck, president of the National Clergy Council and one of the organizers of the delegation. "Our meeting with the mayor was cordial and very productive. While showing her all due respect, we never relaxed or compromised our demand for her to unequivocally withdraw the subpoenas. We're thankful to her and we are supremely thankful to God for this positive outcome."

"I applaud Mayor Parker for embracing religious freedom and the First Amendment in her withdrawal of these subpoenas against five local pastors. We have always maintained this was not just an affront against the Houston pastors but against every church and pulpit in America," said Rev. Pat Mahoney, Director of the Christian Defense Coalition and the principle organizer of the delegation.

"We are thankful for the meaningful dialogue we had with Mayor Parker. [Yesterday's] development demonstrates that the Biblical way of going to our opponents in person and sharing concerns in Christian love, civility, and transparency is the effective path to resolving conflict."