(NOTE: This story was updated at 5 p.m. Monday to include new information.)
By Charles Layton
The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association issued a statement on Monday in which it stood by the planned appearance of anti-gay celebrity Kirk Cameron at the Great Auditorium, while also stating that it “does not support derogatory remarks about any groups or individuals.”
The statement came after many weeks of intense criticism and debate over Cameron’s scheduled appearance, including a local flurry of letter-writing, emails and plans for a protest demonstration. The reaction was due to the former child actor’s remarks in a March 2 CNN interview, in which he called homosexuality “unnatural” and “destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization.”
Cameron is scheduled for two speaking engagements in Ocean Grove in late July, marking the opening of “Camp Meeting Week.”
Here is the full text of the Camp Meeting’s statement:
“In response to concerns raised regarding Kirk Cameron’s scheduled appearances, over the last several weeks trustee representatives of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association met with various constituent groups culminating in a special meeting of the full Board of Trustees. The three-hour long meeting included a conversation with Mr. Cameron, during which he clarified his public comments. He assured the Board that his comments were not intended to be divisive or hateful and he reaffirmed his ministry’s commitment to demonstrate love to all people. The OGCMA does not support derogatory remarks about any groups or individuals. Mr. Cameron’s appearances in Ocean Grove are dedicated to strengthening marriages and sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ.
“The Board expressed its commitment to building bridges, encouraging dialogue, and improving relationships within the community. The mission of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association is to provide opportunities for spiritual birth, growth, and renewal.”
The statement was issued under the name of Ralph del Campo, the Camp Meeting’s interim administrator.
Reached by phone later in the day, del Campo was asked what specific plans the Camp Meeting had for building bridges and encouraging constructive dialogue. “Well, the first thing,” he said, “is to continue to listen to the different constituent groups that exist in the community.” He said it was “too soon to develop specifics” as to how further dialogue might proceed.
Asked who these “constituent groups” are, he named Ocean Grove United but declined to name other groups or to say how many groups were consulted. “I’d rather not comment on the other groups,” he said. (Ocean Grove United had called on the Camp Meeting to cancel Cameron’s appearance and instead “bring an individual who fosters equality and diversity and whose definition of love is inclusive.”)
Asked whether Cameron might discuss the issue of homosexuality during his appearances here, del Campo said Cameron would present exactly the same seminar he presented at the Great Auditorium last year. He described that seminar as very successful and said “the issue of homosexuality was never brought up last year.”
Ocean Grove United said, in a press release, that it was disappointed at the Camp Meeting’s decision to feature Cameron as a speaker. “The Camp Meeting Association is of course free to promote whatever ideas and values it chooses,” the release said, “but it seems to us somewhat counterproductive to the fulfillment of its mission to endorse prejudice and hostility toward those of its neighbors who seek nothing more than to participate in building families, communities, and our nation as a whole.”
OGU said that although the controversy had created “unnecessary divisiveness” in Ocean Grove, “it has also led to some initial exchange of viewpoints and openness, and we look forward to further communication with the CMA to build bridges.”
Cameron, 41, is best known as an actor for his role on the 1980s television sitcom Growing Pains. He is part of an evangelical Christian ministry that emphasizes family issues.
Freedom of speech is becoming more and more one-sided. If you don’t agree with that side, you are a bigot, racist and intolerant of others. Sometimes the truth hits a nerve. In the words of the late Rodney King “why can’t we all just get along”
Hobe—Here’s the point: The CMA, its speakers and worshippers have not made “inflammatory statements” like you describe, (unless you can tell us about any occurring here in the Grove), so how should they “play a leading role?” If you mean that disinviting KC will be a “leading roll,” I doubt it. Since when have OG Christians taken on the responsibility for every yahoo in every radical church in the country? Maybe they should also condemn the vile anti-American statements made by Rev. Wright and also every foul statement made by any Christians anywhere in the US.
It is true that if the CMA didn’t invite him in the first place, that we wouldn’t be having these heated conversations in OG, but that boat has sailed a long time ago. They made a mistake. Let’s move on.
Bullets: “If someone called me the downfall of civilization, I would laugh in their face and walk away…”
I would agree with you if one person did this. The problem here is that gay people get a barrage of negative messages from people who use the Bible to justify their hatred.
Take the recent news like the preacher in NC who told his congregation that homosexuals should be rounded up and locked in a field to die off, or the preacher in Maryland who let a 4 year old child sing a hateful song to “homos” to the cheers of his congregation.
Unless you experience this kind of hate, it is easy to dismiss it. And then all these people follow up with “We love every one”. Really! Why should gay people have to tolerate these messages? Why should their parents, siblings, children or grand children have to hear these derogatory remarks for what to them is their natural loving family?
The inflammatory statements need to stop and the CMA could play a leading role in doing that here in Ocean Grove.
Wisher: “My point is that Christians do not state that people in second marriages are adulterers and destroying marriage, even though that is consistent with Jesus’ teachings. ”
I ABSOLUTLEY DISAGREE. I have been to many a Homily and sermon denouncing divorcees as sinners and adulterers.You need to go to more services of differing Christian denominations
Well put, Miss Lisa… I think you have summed it up quite nicely.
Nokares – thank you for your comment!
OGTS: But I think sin and degradation are separate things. For example, Jesus was silent on homosexuality, but had very strong words about divorce and remarriage. He said divorce was contrary to God’s will, and that if one should divorce and remarry, they are an adulterer. That would make Newt Gingrich, for example, a serial adulterer.
My point is that Christians do not state that people in second marriages are adulterers and destroying marriage, even though that is consistent with Jesus’ teachings. The reason that they don’t say mean things to the divorced and remarried is because they don’t want to hurt them, or children within earshot. And many Christians just don’t believe it is a sin, or care that Jesus specifically stated it was sin.
It is the same regarding gay families and their children. You don’t want to do any harm simply because you can, or because of what Jesus said, or because of your freedoms. You are nice because it is just the right thing to do. It really has nothing to do with religious teachings. You can be nice and believe what you want to believe at the same time. KC needs your example. Fill his ear up when he gets here!
Who is publicly condemning whom? Look at the Kirk Cameron poster on the OGU website. Hate Speech? Really? I am neither gay nor Christian, but to my eyes one side does look to be more divisive than the other at this point.
There are Gay Pride Parades, held out in public, to celebrate gay marriage.
What is so awful about Christians talking about their beliefs inside of a private building…a CHURCH, to be more specific?
If you don’t like it, you don’t have to listen to it.
It’s called free speech.
Wisher:
What KC said from his perspective is not a lie (a false statement made with deliberate intent to deceive; an intentional untruth; a falsehood.), or meant to degrade any person. Again what I think the root of what is being said by KC and what he believes is that sin is destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization. This from the perspective of a Bible believing Christian means that every person has sin that is equally destructive and only by God’s grace and forgiveness can any human overcome sin.
It just happens to be that homosexuality is a hotter topic than others and if you asked him he would probably say that sin is sin and one sin is not more of a sin than another. This question just happened to be on a hot topic, other then that where he is ultimately coming from is not outside of Christian belief as far as sin is concerned.
Thank you for posting the CNN clip, OGTS. I have been reading the blog comments and perhaps thought I was missing something. Cameron is a Fundamentalist Christian. That is his belief system. Many, many denominations in the Christian faith share this belief. Different denominations of Christianity interpret The Bible differently, and it is their right to do so. It is an amazing freedom we all share in this country-the right to speak and believe as we interpret. There are many people who “belong” to denominations of organized religious groups that do not share all the studies and interpretations of their organization. That is the norm. It is amazing that we can listen to so many different ideas and interpretations and have the right to think for ourselves.
I think it is fantastic that the Leaders of The Camp Meeting Association listened carefully and had a dialogue with other organized civic groups in town.
It shows respect and consideration. The statement issued by The Camp Meeting was thoughtful and respectful. Why the fire is still being fueled, so to speak, is beyond me. Cameron never said he hated anyone. He never said he was “anti-gay”. He simply interpreted his reading of The Scriptures and shared them.
Cameron will be speaking in The Great Auditorium, a privately held property owned by a religious organization in The United States of America which is a nation that allows freedom of speech and religion.
OGTS: The Southern Poverty Law Center is the organization that labels groups hate speech. And when a group is said to be hate speech, religious beliefs alone are not enough to label a group speaking hate. What does get the label hate speech are lies and degrading comments.
Now, gay relations do not destroy the civilization. You don’t even seem to think that, and no commenter on this blog has even said that, to their enormous credit and admiration. I have not read one comment on this blog where anyone said: “He is correct, homosexuality is destroying the civilization.” So if what he said was true, why won’t anyone here say it? They morally refuse to say it, including you, because you know it to be untrue and mean — and that is all hate speech is.
Celebrate your morality OGTS. I admire you. 🙂 You have picked a side in this respect, and it is not on Kirk Cameron’s.
A few points … The program he presented last year preceded his statements made earlier this year on national TV. Just because he said they will not be raised this year doesn’t change the fact that he made them and that they won’t be raised in some way, either by media coverage, protests or whatever this year. I simply can’t understand how people and the CMA can so lightly dismiss part of a message in favor of the rest of that message. According to him evidently, the only acceptable marriage is one based on fundamentalist Christian principles. That narrow view leaves quite a large percentage of the population out in the cold, even among us non-fundamentalist Christians in Ocean Grove.
Wisher: KC is not coming into my yard or your yard saying anything. He is coming to the CMA’s yard and probably won’t even say anything about homosexuality.
OhGee: If you look at what he said through his perspective your comparison is between apples and oranges.
OG: Love_It_So_Much_I_Work_Here_&_Own_My_Home_Here: So it’s ok to demand a Christian organization to allow something incompatible with their beliefs in their own buildings? The Methodist Church says this: “Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.”
If you look at the CNN quote KC didn’t say that the homosexual is destroying civilization, he said that “homosexuality” (not the person) is “unnatural” and “destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization”. What people here need the realize is that many Bible believing Christians believe that homosexuality is a sin and also that EVERYONE is a sinner in need if God’s forgiveness.
The root of what is being said is that sin is destructive to so many of the foundations of civilization. What KC said is not hate speech and, if it were hate speech, he also spoke it to himself, since in that same interview he said that he could stand at the top of the list as far as sin is concerned.
Before commenting on ten words pulled from an interview it could be helpful to put them in context.
Wisher: I don’t think he ever says that the gays should leave town, rather that those who do not agree with the CMA and wish to change how they operate should leave. The homosexual population has helped restore homes in OG, as have the heterosexuals, Christians, Methodists, Catholics and Jews. The person’s sexual orientation has no bearing on their ability to keep a home.
If someone called me the downfall of civilization, I would laugh in their face and walk away, for I do not see any worth in engaging someone who has such a small mind.
Damn, Kirk Cameron is lookin’ fine for 41!
Thank you hobe4030.
This is also to RL and the others who desperately want to hold onto the Ocean Grove that once was.
While I was initially against Kirk Cameron being invited to speak here after hearing his ugly and hurtful remarks while watching him on the Piers Morgan show, I understood and accepted the comments from those on this blog who felt differently.
Besides Ocean Grove having a large gay population living here full time, do you also realize that there is a large Jewish population living full time in Ocean Grove? I’m sure there is a good sized Catholic population living here as well.
We are a heterosexual family, mixed in both religion and culture, have owned a home here since 1996, and live here full time. We knew what Ocean Grove was about when we decided to buy our home and continue to accept the basis of what Ocean Grove has been built upon though we don’t subscribe to nor participate in many of it’s religious activities. We support the Camp Meeting by participating in many functions it offers through the year. We love the peacefulness, serenity, and beauty that living in this seaside community has to offer. We also love the beauty in the diversity OG offers. We meet our gay, Jewish, straight, Catholic and Methodist neighbors on Main Street, in our restaurants, in our stores, in our homes, and on our beach. We are grateful to have such an amazing group of friends from different backgrounds who contribute to what makes Ocean Grove such a special place. And we are members of Ocean Grove United because we agree with equality and liberty for all members of our society and certainly for all residents of Ocean Grove.
This is not about “changing” the OGCMA, which has been discussed ad nauseum in prior comments. This is about some residents of this community holding onto what once was and choosing not to accept the rich, diverse, and inclusive community that Ocean Grove is today. It’s time to look at this amazing place with the rich history the OGCMA has been built on, as well as others histories, and respect for who we are and what we all offer.
So to RL and others, we have no intention of moving to another shore town. We’ve spent a great deal of time and money in a place where we chose to establish roots. We love the inclusive Ocean Grove as it exists today and honor and respect the history that brought it to 2012.
RL You suggest gays leave. Well, the issue is not leaving, as most people who came here knew it was a Christian resort. And there is real charm and niceness that is in a Christian resort, and all that stuff is liked. There are lots of gay Christians, too. So that’s not the issue. The issue is kindness, compassion and gratitude for all the hard work gays have done to improve the town. This is not asking the CMA to build a monument, it is a simple request not to bring this kind of hurtful celebrity into town. Remember, that’s not asking for the moon. Being courteous and respectful to people is just something everyone should do. You know it is the golden rule — treat others with the kindness and respect that you would like, too.
I think conferring with Kirk on his speech and the statement the CMA made was a nice gesture, and really appreciated.
RL – Fortunately there are not too many people like you in Ocean Grove to make gays feel uncomfortable. Please read the Camp Meeting press release again. Hope you can understand what it says. In no way are they telling gays to get out of Ocean Grove. What a repugnant attitude.
Thank you, OGTS, for your statements. I agree with you. If people are that upset over the CMA’s decision, and other actions of the CMA, there are plenty of other shore towns they can live in where they will feel more comfortable.
It’s not as if the OGCMA has a clean record when it comes to discrimination against it’s own residents. A judge just ruled this January that the Camp Meeting violated a gay couple’s civil rights by denying use of the Boardwalk Pavilion that they rented to anyone up until a gay couple wanted to hold a legal-in-NJ Civil Union in it.
And now they decide to bring in a speaker who, on national TV, recently made hateful and slanderous remarks about the entire gay population. Good going, CMA! This really shows all us Ocean Grove tax-paying full-time residents how you’ve learned from past mistakes, and just how you truly want to “build bridges” and be inclusive to all in the OG community.
Same day as the Haskell. I’m going to Monmouth Park for the day!
OGTS, your statement is laughable. If Kirk Cameron made anti-Semetic remarks versus anti-gay ones, would we even be having this discussion? No, of course not. But in this day and age its still OK to discriminate and make hateful remarks against gay people, apparently. And the OGCMA just condoned that.
OGTS: No one should tolerate dehumanizing slander. You shouldn’t tolerate it either. If a neighbor came to your yard and told you that you were destroying civilization you would not tolerate that, and you shouldn’t. In fact you would be in error not to say anything. You should say this: “I am a good person, and am not destroying anything. Get out of my yard, and don’t come back.”
Well, this decision is not totally unexpected. At least they got him to soften his remarks for whatever that is worth.
Kudos to the CMA for standing firm on their original decision and for not letting the intolerant people, who preach tolerance, dictate who can and can’t speak at CMA functions.
To those who plan to protest outside the event: Why don’t you show some tolerance to those who disagree with you? When the CMA has a program that is offensive to me I just don’t go. I may also give my opinion to those at the CMA but I don’t make a production out of it. But if you still decide to protest I’m sure that the CMA will be tolerant of your display of intolerance.
Some people are sounding mighty intolerant here. Just saying.
So much for the Camp Meeting willing to compromise. They will get what they deserve. A lot of unwanted TV cameras and publications covering the protests.
Fail on so many levels. How in the world does his appearance ‘build bridges’ or ‘improve relationships’ in this community? I really, really hope the CMA and the town are fully prepared for the fallout.
I sincerely hope that when he speaks here, he speaks the truth about all marriages. The truth is that no gay marriage threatens any heterosexual marriage, that harming the marriages of gay people does not assist any heterosexual marriage, and that no child is denied a mother and a father through a gay marriage. It would be hurtful to hear anything other than the truth in the Great Auditorium, regarding all the marriages in Ocean Grove. All marriages in Ocean Grove assist the community by building lasting and stable relationships that foster trust and respect among all of us.