The Call (religion)
The Call is an organization which sponsors prayer meetings led by Lou Engle along with other Christian leaders pastors in the U.S.. The meetings request prayer and fasting by Christians in protest against issues such as same-sex marriage and legal access to elective abortion. The Call has drawn support from American Evangelical leaders, but has also been criticized for intolerance.
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[edit] Events
Originally planned as a co-ed youth version of Promise Keepers,[1] the Call hosts 12 hour events which combine prayer, sermons, and Christian rock music. The events are also known for their cultural and ethnic diversity, described in National Review as "the Breakfast Club of religious gatherings."[1] Speakers at The Call events frequently draw parallels between the pro-life movement and the American Civil Rights Movement. The Call is meant to be a gathering of fasting and prayer to confess personal and national sins, to pray for God’s blessing on the nation, and for spiritual awakening among youth.[2] Personal and national repentance among Christians and prayer for spiritual awakening has been the core focus of The Call since its inception. Much of the events are devoted to prayer and sermons against abortion and homosexuality.[1] The Call events has been attended by prominent evangelical leaders such as Mike Huckabee, James Dobson, and Tony Perkins. Engle believes that gatherings such as The Call are necessary to prevent Divine judgment from taking place in the United States due to legalized abortion and the acceptance of homosexuality in American culture.[3]
[edit] Uganda Controversy
On May 2, 2010, Engle traveled to Uganda and organized a TheCall Rally at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda. Engle's choice to hold a rally there was characterized by some as implicitly supporting an anti–homosexuality bill that had been proposed in Uganda shortly before his trip. The bill called for life imprisonment or the death penalty for gays and lesbians in Uganda.[4] Engle later said that he opposes the Ugandan bill and also called for the church to examine its own sins and to oppose violence against homosexuals.
[edit] Gatherings
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- September 2, 2000 (Washington, D.C.)
- October 3, 2002 (Seoul, South Korea) - Estimated 30,000[5]
- March 1, 2005 (Gunsan, South Korea) [6]
- July 7, 2007 (Nashville, Tennessee)
- January 12, 2008 (Cincinnati, Ohio)
- April 6, 2008 (Montgomery, Alabama) - Estimated 20,000[7]
- August 16, 2008 (Washington, D.C.) - Estimated 70,000 [8]
- November 1, 2008 (San Diego)
- January 17–18, 2010 (Houston)
- May 2, 2010 (Uganda)[4]
[edit] References
- ^ a b c Mark Hemmingway (August 18, 2008) Hearing TheCall National Review
- ^ Ed Hornick, (August 13, 2008) McCain, Obama to address 'values voters' CNN
- ^ Julia Duin, (July 27, 2008) More fast times at Call on Mall Washington Times
- ^ a b Kron, Josh (May 2, 2010). "In Uganda, Push to Curb Gays Draws U.S. Guest". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/03/world/africa/03uganda.html?ref=africa.
- ^ 더콜 기도성회, 성황리에 막내려, Christian Today, 2002-10-05
- ^ 더 콜 군산성회, 회개와 금식으로 '영적 대각성', Honam News&Joy, 2005-02-21
- ^ WSFA 12 News Montgomery, AL |Thousands Attend *
- ^ Montopoli, Brian (August 15, 2008). "Obama, McCain And The Evangelical Divide". CBS News. http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/08/14/politics/main4351338.shtml. Retrieved 2008-11-04.
