Christian Coalition of South Florida

Congress holds hearings today (July23rd) to consider the repeal of HR 1246 - Military Readiness bill - DON'T ASK, DON'T TELL POLICY

SEC. 3. REPEAL OF 1993 POLICY CONCERNING HOMOSEXUALITY IN THE ARMED FORCES.

H.R. 1246: Military Readiness Enhancement Act of 2007

To amend title 10, United States Code, to enhance the readiness of the Armed Forces by replacing the current policy concerning homosexuality in the Armed Forces, referred to as "Don't Ask, Don't Tell", with a policy of nondiscrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

How our Presidential Candidates voted:

Congress plans to revisit the Military Readiness bill, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" originally presented in Congress in in 1993 by Former President Bill Clinton.

CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20515
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, June 4, 2008
House Members Form LGBT Equality Caucus
Goal is Equality for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender
(LGBT) Americans in the Military

Read the official language of the US Congress doc.

Click on link - Don't Ask Don't Tell Caucus

Don't Ask, Don't Tell Original Bill Feb. 28, 2007

US Congress forms a caucus comprised of members of both houses, including our own Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R) of, Miami-Dade, Florida., Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) of Weston, FL, Rep. Robert Wexler (D), of Delray Beach, The purpose of this caucus is to revisit the possibility of reintroducing the Military Readiness bill, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" originally presented by Former President Bill Clinton in 1994. This caucus will be chaired jointly by Congresswoman Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Congressman Barney Frank (D-MA).

Contact Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and ask her to ask to step down from being a participant of this caucus.

Contact:
Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen
Miami Office:

8660 West Flagler Street, Suite 131
Miami, Florida 33144
Phone: (305) 220-3281
Fax: (305) 220-3291

New Article from Baptist Press

Failure to pass this bill may increase the obligation of government to provide services or benefits to individuals in same-sex marriages if other states legalize same-sex marriages and if legally married same-sex persons assert their rights as married persons in Florida.

Marriage Amendment Legislation

Click on link YES2MARRIAGE.ORG

Important Gatherings - click on links below:

YES ON2 MEETING

Special Links on Marriage Articles
Special Report on Marriage

State by State Report

You can help Florida to become the 28th state to have a Amendment that upholds the institution of Marriage to be between a Man and a Woman. God made us that way for a reason...to procreate...or do you want to see a diminished society. You decide!

You can be part of helping to make history by volunteering your time to help pass the Marriage Amendment in November. As you know, the Florida Marriage Amendment must pass by 60% of the electorate voting Yes on2 in November 2008.

Only Recently US Congress passed a Federal Marriage Amendment Protection bill and the Senate followed by introducing a similar bill. Read more about this amendment below.

As you know more and more, judges are making decisions to overturn the will of the voter by legislating from the bench. We can stop this by Voting Yes on2. Get involved today.

Interesting article: Marriage Amendment statements
Read what the Presidential candidates say about the Marriage Amendment.

Miami-Dade County
Breaking News!

Miami-Dade County Commissioners voted to change the Church Zoning Requirements.

On July 1st, Miami-Dade County Commissioners voted 12-0 to adopt a Church Zoning Ordinance changing the current parking space requirements from 1 parking space for each 50 sq ft. to 100 sq ft. of auditorium seating.

This is a victory for churches interested in future church expansion projects such as adding on to the sanctuary, adding a daycare, library, cafe, or other project. This is ordinance will allow churches to reduce parking spaces in order to accommodate a building expansion project.

TEXT OF ORDINANCE:

The reason why the current law is discriminatory is because it treats churches differently and more restrictive than it treats similar types of uses or even more intense uses like general auditoriums, movie theaters, convention halls, private clubs, bingo halls, high schools, colleges, trade schools and even amusement parks.

This Ordinance corrects this unfairness or prejudice in the current law by placing the same requirement of at least one (1) parking space for each 100 square feet of the seating area in the main auditorium (sanctuary), including adjacent areas which may be use as part of the auditorium, as opposed to one (1) parking space for each 50 square feet of the seating area as the law now reads.

The law will make it easier to build churches on smaller parcels, because the size of the church parking lot will not have to be twice the size as required for auditoriums, performing arts centers and movie theaters, and four times the size requirement for high schools and colleges, and five times the size requirement for amusement centers.

ORDINANCE RELATING TO ZONING; AMENDING SECTION 33-124 OF THE CODE OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA TO CHANGE THE OFF STREET PARKING REQUIREMENTS FOR CHURCHES; PROVIDING SEVERABILITY, INCLUSION IN THE CODE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE

File Name: AMENDING SEC 33-124 RELATING TO ZONING
Agenda Date: 7/1/2008     Agenda Item Number: 7A

National News!

Breaking News

Senate introduces S.J. RES 43,
a Federal Constitutional Marriage Amendment similar to the one introduced in the House earlier.

On Wednesday, June 25th Senator Roger Wicker introduced a Federal Marriage Amendment.

S.J.RES.43
Title: A joint resolution proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage.

Sponsor: Sen Wicker, Roger F. [MS] (introduced 6/25/2008) Cosponsors (8)
Latest Major Action: 6/25/2008 Referred to Senate committee. Status: Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

TAKE ACTION

Do the following:

Please encourage Senator John McCain to sign on as a co-sponsor of this measure.

Senator John McCain:
241 Russell Senate Office Building,
District of Columbia 20510-0303
Phone: (202) 224-2235
Fax: (202) 228-2862

Contact Senator Wicker and thank him for his public stand to thank him for sponsoring this measure:

Senator Roger Wicker
Washington, D.C. Office
487 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington , DC 20510
Phone: 202-224-6253
Fax: 202-228-0378

Breaking News on Oil Drilling
Current Legislation:

H.R.6301

Title: To provide for exploration, development, and production activities for mineral resources on the outer Continental Shelf, and for other purposes.

Sponsor: Rep Pearce, Stevan [NM-2] (introduced 6/18/2008) Cosponsors (None)

Latest Major Action: 6/18/2008 Referred to House committee.
Status: Referred to the Committee on Natural Resources, and in addition to the Committees on the Judiciary, Science and Technology, Energy and Commerce, and Transportation and Infrastructure, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned

Take Action!

Call the Capital Switchboard at 202) 224-3121.
Speak to your Congressional Representative and ask them to become a co-sponsor.
Ask them to permit drilling in the Outer Continental Shelf.
Ask Congress to approve drilling for shale and other domestic energy sources.
Ask Congress to approve drilling in ANWR

June 20, 2008
Categories: Homeland Security

GAS LEASING PROGRAM

Drill here, Drill Now.

Bill # H.R.6107
Content of the Bill

To direct the Secretary of the Interior to establish and implement a competitive oil and gas leasing program that will result in an environmentally sound program for the exploration, development, and production of the oil and gas resources of the Coastal Plain of Alaska, and for other purposes. '

Original Sponsor:
Don Young (R-AK At-Large)

Cosponsor Total: 83
(last sponsor added 06/05/2008)
83 Republicans

The only Florida Legislator who has signed on as a sponsor of this bill is: Rep. Cliff Sterms of Florida (District 6). Where is our Florida Delegation. Call the Capital Switchboard at (202) 224-3121and ask to speak to your senators' and/or representative's office and encourage them to get behind this bill. Temporary relief is better than no relief.

H. J. Res. 89: Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States relating to marriage

On May 22, a resolution was introduced into Congress to pass a Federal Marriage Amendment. The sponsor of the resolution is Rep. Paul C. Broun of Georgia.

Currently there are 38 COSPONSORS

Co-sponsors, including Rep. Tom Feeney and Rep. Jeff Miller of Florida who have signed on to the measure. I ask you, where are the rest of the Florida legislators? Encourage your Congressional Rep. to become a co-sponsor of this bill. We can't afford to stand by and allow liberal judges to legislate from the bench, such as occurred recently in California.

Section 1. This article may be cited as the `Marriage Protection Amendment'.

Section 2. Marriage in the United States shall consist only of the union of a man and a woman. Neither this Constitution, nor the constitution of any State, shall be construed to require that marriage or the legal incidents thereof be conferred upon any union other than the union of a man and a woman.

Here's what you can do.

TAKE ACTION NOW!

Call the legislators in your district and ask them to become a
Co-sponsor of this resolution. Click on this link to find your legislator.
Florida Delegation.

Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen - (R-FL 18th)
Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-FL 17th)
Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL 20th)
(House Judiciary Committee Member)
Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R-FL 21st)
Congressman Ric Keller (R-FL 8th) (House Judiciary Committee Member)
Congressman Robert Wexler (D-FL 18th)
Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL 25th)

Contact the Judiciary Committee and ask them to move this resolution to the floor for action.

Address: 224 Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC 20510

Phone: (202) 224-7703 Fax: (202) 224-9516

Write the current Sponsor and Co-sponsors of the Resolution and thank them for taking a stand to protect the institution of marriage.

Rep. Paul C. Broun of Georgia
Washington, D.C. Address
2104 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4101
Fax: 202-226-0776

Rep. Tom Feeney
Washington, D.C. Address
323 Cannon House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-0924
Phone: 202-225-2706
Fax: 202-226-6299

Rep. Jeff Miller
1535 Longworth House Office Building,
District of Columbia 20515-0901
Phone: (202) 225-4136
Fax: (202) 225-3414

Miami Dade County News
Domestic Partnership Ordinance Passes by a vote of 8-4. Another slam dunk for the gay community.

Miami Dade County Commissioners trump the will of the people by voting 8 - 4 for a Domestic Partner Ordinance. With taxes already skyrocketing, and this ordinance which was recently approved by our commissioners, expect to see your taxes increase in the future.

You may not be aware that recently Miami Dade County has moved to a self-insured program and the County would have to absorb the cost differential which would result in over a 1.3 million cost differential that would be passed on the citizens of Miami-Dade for any new dependent. If 200 domestic partners enrolled, the additional cost would be in the millions and the costs would be passed on to you, the taxpayer, a cost that Miami Dade County citizens cannot afford.

Miami Dade County Headline News
"Gambling is Bad News"

From the Chairman's Corner
Doug Hurd

A Biblical Perspective on the detriments of Gambling

It is based on the premises of something for nothing, while God tells us that our dependency comes from Him.

God tells us in his word that we as Christians are to look to God as our provider, and that we are to be content with the material blessings we receive from His mighty hand.

To engage in gambling indicates both a lack of trust in and dissatisfaction with God's provision. Matthew 6:25-34

Money is given to us by God to be used for good, not evil. Anyone seeking to do God's will should not be involved in gambling." (I Thessalonians 5:22)

Like alcohol, or drugs, gambling can become a strong and compelling addiction for some people - and when it does, it inevitably brings destruction and sorrow in its path.