SOUTHFIELD, Mich.—Bishop Keith A. Butler of Word of Faith International Christian Center has brought together a coalition of ministers representing well over 2 million African-American Christians, to speak at a news conference in Washington, D.C., June 24 in support of the Federal Marriage Protection Amendment currently before the Senate.

"This Amendment is an urgently needed response to the judicial destruction of traditional marriage in America," Butler stated in a news release.

The ministers want to differentiate the cause of same-sex marriage from civil rights causes.

"We find the opposition's attempt to yoke their homosexual agenda to that of the Civil Rights Movement extremely disturbing," Butler stated. "Homosexuality is not a civil rights issue; it is a lifestyle choice, a decision that is not natural or normal. The Civil Rights Movement has as its foundation the fight for equality for African-Americans due to our skin color. Being born black was and is not a choice for us."

While in Washington, the coalition will call upon the Black Caucus to take note that their support of the gay-lesbian agenda runs crosswise to the vast majority of the black clergy members in their districts and their constituents.

The coalition includes: Bishop G.E. Patterson, Presiding Bishop of Church of God in Christ Incorporated, which represents well over 2,000,000 members; Bishop Charles Blake, pastor of West Angeles Church of God in Christ in Los Angeles, reaching out to a membership of over 20,000; Rev. Dr. Frederick K.C. Price of Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles, serving 21,000 plus members; Rev. Dr. Floyd Flake, pastor of Greater Allen Cathedral of New York located in Jamaica, N.Y., serving 13,000-plus members.

Other members are: Pastor Vick Bolton for Pastor Creflo A. Dollar of World Changers Church International in College Park, Ga., serving 21,000-plus members; Apostle Betty Peebles of Jericho City of Praise Church in Landover, Md., serving 15,000-plus members; Pastor Ira V. Hilliard, pastor of New Light Christian Center Church in Houston, Texas, with a membership of 20,000 plus; Bishop Arthur M. Brazier, pastor of the Apostolic Church of God in Chicago, with a membership of 16,000-plus; Bishop Paul S. Morton, Sr., pastor of Greater St. Stephens Ministries in New Orleans, serving a membership of over 20,000; Rev. Dr. Philip Goudeaux, pastor of Calvary Christian Center in Sacramento, Calif., with a membership of over 12,000.

The national organization for the Church of God in Christ, which is the largest, African-American Pentecostal denomination in the world, representing more than 2,000,000 members, also issued a statement in support of traditional marriage between one man and one woman only.