Bethel Church Issues Rare Call to Action Over 3 "Troubling" Bills in California Legislature

Jessilyn Justice : Mar 26, 2018
Bethel.com via Charisma News

"Please forward this to friends and relatives who may want to be aware and lend their voice. We are grateful to live in this beautiful state where our opinion matters. We have a hope-filled anticipation for California and our prayers are that the Lord would continue to shine His favor on this land." -Bethel Church

(Redding, CA)—[Bethel.com/via CharismaNews.com] We want to bring attention to some alarming upcoming legislation in the state of California. We have been made aware of three upcoming bills concerning same-sex attraction and gender identity in children and non-minor dependents. We are releasing this statement in an attempt to educate families and ministries connected across California that may be of like mind on these issues. These bills are troubling to us. Therefore, we have made this uncommon step of broadcasting our concern and encouraging the faith-based community in California to research and contact your assembly members regarding these bills. (Photo: Bethel Church/Credit: Bethel Church, Redding/Facebook/via CharismaNews.com)

If these bills passed, it would be illegal for anyone to sell resources that offer treatment or ministry in order to reduce or eliminate same sex-attraction or gender dysphoria. This includes conferences, counseling, teaching, books or publications where money is exchanged for the resource. Also, children in foster care who expressed gender identity issues would be prohibited from receiving counseling or medical services that encouraged the child to embrace their biological gender. And those who are asking for resources to assist with addressing unwanted sexual attractions or gender identities would be prohibited from accessing mental health providers, even if they themselves desire such resources.

Below, you will see information on the three bills, as well as the letters Bethel has submitted in opposition to AB 1779, AB 2943 and AB 2119. We encourage you to research these bills and act according to the Holy Spirit's prompting to you.

How to Get Involved

If you live in the state of California and would like to engage with this issue, please join us by doing the following:

1. Contact the below California Assembly Members and lodge your respectful and polite opinion regarding these bills. Please note that the deadline to voice your opinion is TODAY, Monday, March 26, so we encourage you to act in a timely manner. You can send an email, or leave a voicemail. Emails are more effective than voicemail.

(If sending an email a simple and effective statement is "My name is [FULL NAME], my address is [FULL ADDRESS]. I'm contacting you to voice my strong opposition against the proposed Assembly Bill [1779, 2943, or 2119].")

2. Also contact your local California Assembly member and lodge your respectful and polite opinion regarding these bills.

For Shasta County you need to contact Brian Dahle: assemblymember.dahle@assembly.ca.gov

To find out your local representative use this website: findyourrep.legislature.ca.gov

3. Share this information with friends or family in California. We will also have information provided on our Bethel Church Facebook page. Feel free to share this information on your social media sites.

Thank you very much for considering this request. Please forward this to friends and relatives who may want to be aware and lend their voice. We are grateful to live in this beautiful state where our opinion matters. We have a hope-filled anticipation for California and our prayers are that the Lord would continue to shine His favor on this land.

AB 1779 Regarding Sexual Orientation

Proposed bill to ban mental health providers from assisting in sexual orientation change efforts for adults under a conservatorship or guardianship who express same sex attraction or gender dysphoria. The bill amends legislation that already prohibits mental health providers from any kind of effort to treat same sex attraction or gender dysphoria in children under the age of 18. (We oppose the bill and the existing legislation)...

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