A little of my background, to set the stage.•Came to Northfield in the 8th grade when my dad began teaching here and met my wife at that time.•Graduated from NU in ‘65 when it was an all male Corps only.•Went to Grad School from ‘65 to ‘70 at the University of Illinois.•Graduated with a PhD in evolution and immediately went to OBC.•Assigned to Edgewood Arsenal in MD and found a job in Army’s first ecological research program.•Stayed on active duty or in Reserves for 37 years and for the last five served as the “Old Man” of preventive medicine science, mentoring over 700 PMSOs in the Reserves and National Guard.•At age 31, began a serious study of the claims of the Bible.•At age 33, was convinced that the claims were valid and accepted Jesus Christ as my personal Lord and Savior.•In 1982 returned to Norwich and started NCF.

The Twelve Fundamental Principles of Christianity

1. God created the universe.

2. God is Holy.

3. We are morally unholy.

4. Holy and unholy do not mix.

5. God is Love.

6. Love for His creation inspires God to want us to know His Love now and experience it with Him for eternity.

7. 2-6 create a challenge for God.

7. 2-6 create a challenge for God.

2. God is Holy. 3. We are morally unholy. 4. Holy and unholy do not mix. 5. God is Love. 6. Love for His creation inspires God to want us to know His Love now and experience it with Him for eternity.

8. 1 gives God the right to solve that challenge (as He sees fit).

8. 1 gives God the right to solve that challenge (as He sees fit).

1. God created the universe.

9. God the Father, requires us to become Holy by assuming the Holiness of God the Son (Jesus) through the action of God the Holy Spirit in our lives.

10. He does this by enabling our unholiness to die with Jesus on the Cross, thereby entombing it, and replacing it with Jesus’ Holiness, which permits us to rise through His resurrection as a new, Holy creation.

11. We can know this is true through the revelation of Himself in His creation, His inspired Holy Word, His incarnate Son, and His involvement in our lives through the Holy Spirit.

12. 1.-11 combine to form a logical and consistent worldview.

Now onto how the above is relevant to how NCF (and every Christian) should relate to the LGBTQA.

Yes, the Bible does have something to say about your lifestyle. I know I don’t have to remind you of that. But, Jesus’ actions and words make it abundantly clear, when Love and the Law are in conflict, Love always trumps the law.

We are NEVER going to make progress if we forever remain strangers. We MUST get to know you and visa versa.

We MUST focus on what we have in common-that will unite us.