Update: A comment that was posted here pseudonymously accused candidate for Loudoun County Sheriff Greg Ahlemann (Pastor Jay Ahlemann’s son) of being anti-gay and racist, and of having a tattoo that he won’t show to anyone. He asked us to correct the record, since he has in fact shown us his tattoo. Equality Loudoun president David Weintraub sat down with Greg Ahlemann recently and talked about the rumors, the meaning of the tattoo, and some other issues in the race for Sheriff. We will post that interview as soon as time allows, and add the link to it here.
Update 2: Here’s the link to the interview.
Somebody thinks that the gullible class is alive and well in Loudoun County.
Readers who live here may have noticed, in recent weeks, the appearance of full color, full page ads for an organization called “The Church of the Valley” in some local newspapers. In one of the latest ones, they announce their intent to present awards to (posthumously, obviously) Jerry Falwell, Dick Black, and Patricia Phillips, as well as a new arrival named Richard Enrico, the director of an Ashburn outfit called the “Foundation For Moral Restoration” (also of “Operation Save America”)
This week’s ad includes a reprint of an American Family Association “action alert” about the Hate Crimes Bill, and opens with the banner headline:
“Will you ask your Pastor to take a stand against the sinful practice of homosexuality?”
The action alert is a textbook example of the jaw-dropping lie being disseminated by the AGI noise machine:
If pastors and other traditional moral and family value people of all religious backgrounds don’t aggressively oppose a bill now in Congress, in the near future, pastors will be subject to huge fines and prison terms if they say anything negative about homosexuality. THE PROPOSED LAW WOULD MAKE IT A CRIME TO PREACH FROM THE PULPIT FROM ROMANS, CHAPTER 1 OR CORINTHIANS, CHAPTER 6. If churches and individuals want to keep the government from telling us what we can and cannot teach and preach about homosexuality, we better get involved NOW!!
Even commenter Jack, who opposes hate crimes laws and is not exactly a fan of the GLBT community or of this organization, agrees with our assessment of this deceitful behavior. Frankly, it’s so over the top that you would have to be a wild-eyed joke with absolutely no regard for your own credibility to maintain otherwise. Read the actual bill. Also note that the “church” has altered the original AFA action alert that appears on their website to be even more histrionic and ridiculous, changing the conditional word could to would and will in several places.
So what are the leaders of “The Church of the Valley” revealing about what they think of Loudoun residents? Do they assume that we are uneducated or gullible, or are unable to locate the text of a bill? Do they believe that we cannot differentiate between a faith community, and a political organization that openly promotes candidates and party platforms? Where did they come from, and where do they get the funding to run several expensive full page ads each week, week after week? They sure don’t get it from the handful of folks who show up in Lovettsville on a Sunday.
And most importantly, why would any newspaper editor find this sort of lurid ad, one that is not only composed of a well-documented lie, but one that attacks the existence of some of their own neighbors, in any way acceptable for print? If this were an ad for another special prejudice, demanding that pastors “take a stand” against interracial marriage, or school desegregation, or made the claim that Christian children must be protected from “the Jews,” would these same editors have accepted it? What if the copy had read: “Will you ask your Pastor to take a stand against the sinful practice of Negroes riding on public transportation right next to our White Christian Women?”
Not all speech that is constitutionally protected deserves to be in print. Newspapers reject ads all the time because their content is inappropriate or offensive or obscene. This should have been one of those times.
Check your paper.
Sorry, David, but the comparison with race is completely bogus. It’s as bogus as the arguments the Church of the Valley is spouting. The “practice of homosexuality” is action. Race is being. One cannot change one’s race. (Michael Jackson notwithstanding.) One can change one’s behavior.
Jack that’s funny about MJ… you DO have a sense of humor.
OK … since you, and others, are hung up on the “action” of certain behavior.
“the practice of interracial marriage”. Surely there is a correlation that even you can agree with. The ban against propped up by biblical fervor.
“the practice of segregation”. Again, see above.
“the practice of discrimination”. Again, see above.
“the practice of intimacy in the privacy of the home”. (this goes for any degree of sexual orientation – the prevalence of heterosexual sexual practice variety arguably exceeding that of the homosexual variety.)
“the practice of religion”. (this being important in light of the Dept of Defense allowance of the Wikken symbol on a soldiers’ headstone and much opposed by, well, “tolerant religious types”)
I can go on and on about “the practice ofs ..(fill in the blanks)” where the bible has been used as a broad sword against “the practice ofs”, and invariably, enlightenment prevails and people come to their senses and are freed from the beliefs of others.
Tell me … what makes “the practice of homosexuality” so evocative for those that do not practice it? I am fascinated by the addiction that others have to the sexual behavior of consenting adults beyond their own. I’m not at all interested in what kind of sexual behavior my neighbors are practicing in their bedroom (gay or straight or anywhere in between), so I am finding it extremely difficult to rationalize the level of attention and inordinate degree of interest that my bedroom behavior elicits. The only conclusion that my feeble mind can calculate is that there is something missing from their own lives that leave them unfulfilled or left with an itch that can’t be scratched. What is the old saying? .. that which we oppose the most is that which we dislike in ourselves .. or something like that?
Anyway. Please refrain from invoking biblical passages. I can probably extract a myriad of passages where everyday “the practice ofs” are in violation – even by you – so that would be a waste of time and would lead nowhere.
Sorry, Jack, but you’re wrong. We’ve been over this ground before. You might as well be asking people to “change” their race, or act out the fiction that they are another race. What you continue demanding is that gay people act as if we are not gay, thereby truncating our own personhood. Not going to happen.
Meanwhile, how does a Christian pastor justify his behavior of bearing false witness?
Russell — What biblical passages say that marrying one of another race is a sin? Segregation and discrimination you seem to be arguing backwards. The Bible is quite clear that homosexual acts are sins. I have found no similar passages in the Bible on the other subjects.
David — People HAVE changed their sexual orientation, no matter how much you deny that or say it is impossible. With God, everything is possible. As for asking homosexuals not to “act gay,” I do not ask it — God commands it, and you cannot change that.
Meanwhile, why do you ask me to justify what I have said is wrong?
“People HAVE changed their sexual orientation..”
No, they haven’t. What they change is their behavior, not their orientation. Even the “experts” who peddle these therapies will tell you that.
I’m not asking you to justify it, I’m asking how Ahlemann can justify it. Perhaps your answer is that he cannot.
Assuming you are correct, which I do not, then they have changed their behavior as God commanded. We are all drawn to sin, and we all fall into sin. The repentant are forgiven, the unrepentant are not.
No-one can justify disobeying God — not when the command is “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour,” and not when the command is “Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind.”
Wow Jack “¦ like I said before, religious or biblical conversation here is pointless and leads nowhere. Speaking of making a point, I think you missed mine in the fact that biblical fervor has propped up a host of inequities, even throughout the centuries (slavery comes to mind) – direct biblical passage or not. And since the bible is irrelevant to me, other than having to protect myself against those that use it as a weapon against me, I find that I still can’t place the deficit of character where I am being forced to succumb to it. I thought I was protected against that by the Constitution?
Not surprisingly, my original question and accompanying content of my post remains unanswered. I have not once yet had someone able or willing to answer my question absent of their subjugation and accountability of free will to the bible.
Can anyone think for themselves?
Want to give it a try Jack?
I have repeated it below so that there is no doubt;
” “Tell me “¦ what makes “the practice of homosexuality” so evocative for those that do not practice it? I am fascinated by the addiction that others have to the sexual behavior of consenting adults beyond their own. I’m not at all interested in what kind of sexual behavior my neighbors are practicing in their bedroom (gay or straight or anywhere in between), so I am finding it extremely difficult to rationalize the level of attention and inordinate degree of interest that my bedroom behavior elicits. The only conclusion that my feeble mind can calculate is that there is something missing from their own lives that leave them unfulfilled or left with an itch that can’t be scratched. What is the old saying? .. that which we oppose the most is that which we dislike in ourselves .. or something like that?
Here is another question I have that no one has been able to answer. Want to try this one? “If I do not, have not, and will never engage in any kind of sexual behavior for the days of my life … what orientation am I?”
Thanks … RUSS
Hmmm. One of these things is not like the other.
Give up? “Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour” is actually a commandment. I wonder if attempting to elevate to the status of the Big Ten a minor culturally specific regulation, one which only recently became so fascinating, qualifies.
Russell — You thought wrong. The First Amendment say, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof….” A ban on same-sex marriage does not establish a religion.
“Tell me “¦ what makes “the practice of homosexuality” so evocative for those that do not practice it?”
That you are trying to normalize it. That you are trying to have our children taught that it is normal and OK. That you are trying to get churches to accept your relationships as holy, and to bless them.
“If I do not, have not, and will never engage in any kind of sexual behavior for the days of my life “¦ what orientation am I?”
Your orientation, in that case, would be irrelevant.
David — So only the Big Ten must be obeyed? I assume then that you think siblings should be allowed to marry. No, ALL of God’s commands are, by definition, commandments:
“Commandment – an authoritative command or order.” (Webster’s New World Dictionary of the American Language, Second College Edition)
Paul also reiterated the proscription against homosexual activity.
Jack,
Isn’t using biblical standards for legislation respecting an establishment of religion? … and then, for a recognized belief system that is neutral on the subject of same-sex marriage or allows it, banning it would be prohibiting the free-exercise thereof of their religious practices? I tend to think that each christian church runs its ministry in the way it deems appropriate based upon its own interpretation of what Jesus was teaching. Are you saying that your christian church is better than other or your belief is superior because you don’t agree with another one?
The education that you speak of is in relation to sexual orientation and families, not sexual acts and practices. Once again, your mind is singularly focused on sex. Where does that come from?
As far as the irrelevancy of sexual orientation goes, if your heart is adulterous, does that not make you an adulterer?
“Isn’t using biblical standards for legislation respecting an establishment of religion?”
NO. Establishment means establishing a State Religion.
“for a recognized belief system that is neutral on the subject of same-sex marriage or allows it, banning it would be prohibiting the free-exercise thereof of their religious practices?”
I do not have a problem with your hypothetical religion performing “marriages” between members of the same sex. If government benefits then accrue, I have a problem. We have seen this destruction of marriage in the Netherlands already.
“I tend to think that each christian church runs its ministry in the way it deems appropriate based upon its own interpretation of what Jesus was teaching. Are you saying that your christian church is better than other or your belief is superior because you don’t agree with another one?”
That is what ALL churches believe. That is why we have Catholics, Methodists, Episcopalians, Lutherans, Baptists, and Evangelicals. Remember that Jesus also taught that he did not come to destroy the Law, but to fulfill it.
“The education that you speak of is in relation to sexual orientation and families, not sexual acts and practices. Once again, your mind is singularly focused on sex. Where does that come from?”
What “education” did I speak of? If you mean the teaching of children that homosexuality is “normal and OK,” since homosexual orientation occurs in 1% to 3% of the population, it can in no way be considered “normal.”
“As far as the irrelevancy of sexual orientation goes, if your heart is adulterous, does that not make you an adulterer?”
Jesus words make that clear. As such, one must repent and ask His forgiveness for such thoughts, and ask for His help in keeping such thoughts from one’s mind. I suppose the same argument could be made for homosexual thoughts as well. I stand corrected.
Ah. Apparently, because left-handedness occurs in only 7% or so of the population, it can in no way be considered “normal.” Likewise, since only a tiny percentage of the population has violet eyes, this trait also can in no way be considered “normal.” Thanks for the laugh.
Of course, Jesus never said word one about “homosexual” love, feelings, acts, thoughts, or anything else. Those with this singular obsession must instead rely on elevating Paul’s words to an idolized status, as if this contextually specific passage can in any way compare in universal importance to what Jesus was saying about authenticity.
It’s really kind of insulting to make that comparison, as if every word in the Bible is equal in importance. In practice, of course, it’s not. You’re just cherry-picking because you have an agenda.
David, you are correct. Being left-handed is not normal, nor are violet eyes.
“Of course, Jesus never said word one about ‘homosexual’ love, feelings, acts, thoughts, or anything else.”
Really? Prove it. You cannot. He may have said such things, but they were not recorded in the Gospels.
“It’s really kind of insulting to make that comparison, as if every word in the Bible is equal in importance. In practice, of course, it’s not. You’re just cherry-picking because you have an agenda.”
You have it backward, David, if every word in the Bible does NOT have the same importance to you, then YOU are “cherry-picking because you have an agenda.” Are the words of God as reported by Moses of less importance than the words of Jesus reported by Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John? Jesus may not have said anything about homosexuality, but there is also no record of His mentioning marriage between siblings, either. Neither did he mention bestiality. Are they OK now, too, because He did not mention them? They are also in the same passage of the Law from which you would “cherry-pick.”
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Yes, of course. Jesus only said that all are welcome at the table, including most emphatically those the religious authorities have labeled as “unclean,” and that all of the law can be summed up by the commandment to love God and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
Let me know the next time you will be sacrificing and burning a bull in your yard so that I can make sure you are following the detailed instructions found in Leviticus down to the last jot and tittle.
Jack …
“Really? Prove it. You cannot. He may have said such things, but they were not recorded in the Gospels.”
So then you admit that the bible is possibly errant and that it is incomplete in it’s context? How fascinating that there may be words and understandings of Jesus’ meaning and intention that have been kept from the world. (mind you that a few thousand miles away, people managed to capture over 12,000 pages of the teachings of Buddha)
Oh… wait we already know that, because men wearing dresses, funny hats, and gold jewelry decided what they wanted people to be exposed to instead of having people think and make informed decisions for themselves.
Fascinating!
(All quotes King James Version)
10 And all that have not fins and scales in the seas, and in the rivers, of all that move in the waters, and of any living thing which is in the waters, they shall be an abomination unto you:
11 They shall be even an abomination unto you; ye shall not eat of their flesh, but ye shall have their carcases in abomination.
12 Whatsoever hath no fins nor scales in the waters, that shall be an abomination unto you.
-Leviticus 11:10-12
Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination.
-Leviticus 18:22
If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them.
-Leviticus 20:13
1 Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
2 If there be found among you, within any of thy gates which the LORD thy God giveth thee, man or woman, that hath wrought wickedness in the sight of the LORD thy God, in transgressing his covenant,
3 And hath gone and served other gods, and worshipped them, either the sun, or moon, or any of the host of heaven, which I have not commanded;
4 And it be told thee, and thou hast heard of it, and enquired diligently, and, behold, it be true, and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in Israel:
5 Then shalt thou bring forth that man or that woman, which have committed that wicked thing, unto thy gates, even that man or that woman, and shalt stone them with stones, till they die.
-Deuteronomy 17:1-5
10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, or that useth divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch.
11 Or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer.
12 For all that do these things are an abomination unto the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD thy God doth drive them out from before thee.
-Deuteronomy 18:10-12
5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.
-Deuteronomy 22:5
27 Ye shall not round the corners of your heads, neither shalt thou mar the corners of thy beard.
28 Ye shall not make any cuttings in your flesh for the dead, nor print any marks upon you: I am the LORD.
-Leviticus 19: 27-28
Are you similarly disturbed to see Red Lobster advertisements on television for shrimp and lobster? Are you similarly itching to stone Hindus for worshipping “other” gods? Are you similarly outraged that every major newspaper in the country prints daily horoscopes? Do you similarly deny entrance to your church or seek to change the habits (if not the clothing desires) of every woman in a pair of blue jeans? And what exactly should one make of those cross tattoos?
Talk about “cherry-picking”!
Rachel — The dietary laws were rescinded in both Acts and the Epistles. The rest, of course, still hold.
Unfortunately, there are some that we cannot know. Even among Jews, there is debate on what Lev 19 meant by “round the corners of your heads” and “mar the corners of thy beard.” I do have a beard, but I do not know where it’s corners are. Some say that to “mar the corners” is to fashion one’s beard into a “goatee,” which I do find abominable. Others posit that shaving one’s beard is trying to look like a woman.
In any event, these things were decided long ago by men whose lives were devoted to God. I, too, would like to know more of when, how, and why these decisions were made. If you have any information, please share it.
Does the church deny entrance to women in jeans? I imagine that some do. I am not in a position to deny anyone entrance. It is the job of a church to change the sinful habits of its congregants.
David, You ask some very good questions about the Church of the Valley. You indeed should look further, the man behind all this is Pastor Jay Ahlemann. Where does he get his money?? Why did he leave Ashburn many years ago? Could it be his anti-muslim or anti-gay stance? Some say he was asked to leave. Then he moves to California and returns to start an empire in the Shenandoah Valley. He buys a TV station to force his views down everyones throat. Worst of all, he is funneling money into his sons campaign for Sheriff in Loudoun. We should all be scared. Greg Ahlemann is anti-gay and racist. Ask to see the tattos on his arm. He will not campaign with short sleeves. It is time we stand up publicly and challenge this man before he becomes our next Sheriff by decietful and lying ways. These people are forming a religious cult right here in our community and know one will take a stand!!!! Wake up LOUDOUN COUNTY…..
Rachel,
It sounds like some people really wanted monotheism to take hold and to culturally distinguish themselves.
Fascinating!
AMEN … WAKE UP LOUDOUN COUNTY! … For that matter … WAKE UP VIRGINIA LEAST WE BE FINED FOR WEARING BAGGY PANTS, oh wait no, LEAST WE HAVE A RELIGIOUS TEST FOR ELECTED OFFICE IN VIOLATION OF THE US CONSTITUTION, oh wait no, LEAST WE NOT BE ABLE TO PREPARE OUR CHILDREN FOR THE REAL WORLD WITH RELEVANT AND FACTUAL EDUCATION, oh wait no, oh hell …. at least the presidency is limited to 2 terms.
One — It’s not “baggy pants,” it’s having your pants so low that your underwear is the only thing keeping your crack from showing.
Two — There is no such religious test.
Three — We are free to teach our children whatever we want.
One – then all the plumbers would be out of business.
Two – then we should remove the word “god” from all political speeches or political anything, leave churches for worship instead of getting out the vote and as a campaign stop, and why would it matter if Mitt Romney is a mormon?.
Three – hmmmm … I guess the school board didn’t get that memo.
“Greg Ahlemann is anti-gay and racist. Ask to see the tattos on his arm. He will not campaign with short sleeves.”
How interesting. This is the first I’ve heard anything about his tattoos. If he’s like his father, Greg will have trouble hiding his true nature for long. According to the Observer, Jay Ahlemann put on quite a show outside the Republican convention, telling Community Church pastor Arlie Whitlow “your leadership in this county among the Christian conservative community of Loudoun County is pretty much over.” What’s up with that? Jay also said nasty things about Steve Simpson in front of his daughter and made her cry. Oops. Greg had to distance himself, claiming that this behavior doesn’t reflect his values, and that he can’t be held responsible for his doddering old father. (Honor your father and your mother, Greg. The Bible says so.)
This is the guy who, when asked how he expected to run a large, complex Sheriff’s office with NO administrative experience, told a reporter “Jesus walks with me.” We’re living on a Comedy Central set, folks. Only it’s real.
Russell —
One — That is a ploy by plumbers to make you avert your eyes, lest you see what they are doing, and realize you could do it yourself. It’s how they stay in business.
Two — Article VI says, “no religious Test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” Such qualifications are age, residency, and birth-place. Failure to meet those qualifications means that one cannot even run for the office that requires those qualifications. Since Romney is running, and since Lieberman also ran, there is obviously no religious test. A voter, in his free excercise of religion, may place whatever requirements he wants on the candidates.
Three — The members of the school board are also free to teach their children whatever they want.
I am not going to make any religious arguements as they’ve seemed to get know where. I am a homosexual man living in the area and a friend led me to this article. I have read some of the responses and had to add my two cents. I have been gay my whole life. Ever since I was a small child I remember fantasizing about the lead character in movies taking me on dates and proposing to me. When I say small child I mean like 5 years old. All I know is that I have been as good of a person I can be. I do attend Church regularly and work hard. I hope one day that I will raise children. I want to raise my children to be accepting and love everyone with all their heart as I have been taught all my life. I want my children to be able to hang out with and play with homosexuals, Jews, Christians, Buddist and who ever they see fit. Mostly I want them to be able to discover their path in life and live it without shame or fear. I realize that there are a lot of people who hate me because they believe that I commit a grave sin. Then again, aren’t they commiting a rather large sin by hating me? And although they hate me, I don’t hate them back. I mourn for them because they aren’t willing to take the possibility of making a great friend. Yes I happen to be gay, but that is not all I am. I am a person with thoughts, feelings, and the whole package. God made me just like he made everyone else and he had a plan for me, gay and all. There is not one doubt in my mind that he doesn’t love me and I don’t doubt that when I die he won’t accept me into his kingdom of heaven because I love him with all my heart and soul.
As to the whole marriage issue. I am for gay marriage. I have known this couple who have been with each other for 50 years. They have unconditional love and they deserve marriage. I know that a lot of people talk about the sanctity of marriage and how gay marriage will ruin marriage. Firstly, the sanctity of marriage no longer exists. With all the divorce that happens and the fact that many people don’t even marry in a Church anymore. Clearly, marriage in America has now become a legal contract not a spiritual one for many. And isn’t this countries policy that the Church and State remain separate? So why exactly are all the arguments for outlawing marriage between two loving partners who happen to be the same sex all biblical and religious arguments? It seems like we’re picking and choosing when to use certain ideals and guidelines that we the people have set forth and upheld in this country. How does my marrying and leading a good productive life hurt anyone else physically or spiritually?
It saddens me that there are people in this world who have dedicated their life to oppressing and hating others when they could be doing some real good in the world like raising awareness for AIDS in Africa which kills millions and orphans millions of children. Or maybe taking this anti-gay money to sponsor needy families throughout the world who need food or medical attention. All I know is that God has a purpose for me and there is a reason I’m gay since I have been all my life. I’m going to life my life to the fullest and instead of worrying about those around me who i disaggree with, I’m going to make as big of a real difference in the world as I can.
Some day, someone is really going to blow the lid off this Ahlemann clown. He clams 1,500 in his church – sometimes 2,000. If a few folks could visit his sights and get a good count, I bet he doesn’t have 1/3 that many. He claims success at his previous 2 churches, the the truth is both were in steep decline when he finally left, leaving behind messes for others to clean up at both places. His last congregation had to hire an arbitrator to come in and help settle people down after he left. Neither wants him to even walk in their doors ever again, and he’d never be allowed to preach there. He simply is so full of himself he’s lost his way. Everywhere he goes he spews hate, division, and decline. It is all so terribly sad, and the worst thing is that the most gullible, innocent among us will be the worst victims.
That’s definitely true of the Lovettsville location. On a good day there might be 25 people there. I thought Ahlemann had just been away so long that he was out of touch with the Loudoun community, and mistakenly thought that this kind of attack would win him support. Maybe being out of touch and obsessed with sexuality is just a trait he has.
The more people that speak up, the better. Thank you, Jackson and Patrick.