Kansas anti-gay crusaders Terry Fox & Joe Wright pull the plug on radio show

Less than two months after anti-gay minister Terry Fox abruptly walked away from his church, Fox and the Rev. Joe Wright have pulled the plug on their radio show.

The show and the church money Fox used to prop it up were allegedly one of the reasons leaders at Fox' old ministry, Immanuel Baptist Church of Wichita, were unhappy. Recently church leaders issued a statement saying that Fox misused the funds. Fox says he used the funds for the show, but that he had the power to do so.

Costing about $10,000 a month to broadcast, "Answering the Call" was reportedly number one in its timeslot on KNSS 1330-AM. The show was also broadcast nationally on Sirius satellite radio.

The Wichita Eagle reports that the two men say Fox' recent and sudden departure from Immanuel had nothing to do with their decision to end the program.

The Eagle reports:

Wright said they recently announced on the air that they needed financial support from listeners to keep the program going. But donations didn't come in to cover the costs.

"People seem to enjoy" the show, he said, "but for some reason, they don't want to pay."

The two men owe money for the show, but intend to pay it, Fox told The Eagle.

Fox and Wright are most well known for leading the campaign that successfully amended the Kansas Constitution in 2005 to ban same-sex marriage, civil unions and any other legal rights for gay couples.

Since leaving his old church, Fox has started a new church in a wild west theme park.

The Eagle's blog also notes the story and includes the usual interesting bunch of comments.

In This Moment's commentary & coverage includes:

Yee Haw Religion!Fox opens new church in theme park

Integrity failures & arrogance may have led to Fox' departure

Anti-gay pastor Terry Fox abruptly leaves church

If I wasn't so punchy tired tonight, I'd have more to say on this. It will be interesting to see what happens to Fox next.

Kansas anti-gay crusader Terry Fox accused of misusing funds by his former church

By Diane Silver

Out here in the wilds of Kansas, many of us have been waiting for a full explanation of why the Rev. Terry Fox walked away so abruptly in August from the church he led for almost a decade. Today, we finally know at least part of the story.

Fox' old church, Wichita's Immanuel Baptist Church, is accusing him of improperly using the church's missionary money to prop up his own radio program.

Fox confirmed to The Wichita Eagle that he had used a "sizeable amount" for the radio show he co-hosts with the Rev. Joe Wright, another anti-gay pastor, on KNSS and Sirius satellite radio.

However, Fox says that he had the authority to do that as Immanuel's senior pastor. His church doesn't agree. The radio program is not affiliated with the church. No word, yet, on whether the church will pursue legal action.

Fox and Wright, along with the Rev. Jerry Johnston, were the main movers behind Kansas' 2005 constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, civil unions and any other fair right for same-sex couples.

Yahoo reports that word of the monetary problems comes from Immanuel's Chairman of the Deacons Don James, who issued the church's first official comment about Fox' resignation this week. Yahoo also reports:

The prepared statement said witnesses testified that Fox had threatened to sue "individuals who might say anything negatively" about him and that his behavior
"reflected negatively on the Scriptural qualifications expected of a pastor."

Fox, of course, says he never threatened anyone. The Eagle reports:

The Immanuel statement says that a "careful examination of the church's financial records revealed reallocation of cooperate [sic] program funds. A portion of the reallocation was used for a radio program -- not affiliated with the church."

Cooperative program funds typically are donations used to support missions and ministries in the congregation and elsewhere.

Fox has started a new church affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convenion, Summit Church, which meets in a wild west theme park in Park City, Kan., just a few miles from his old church. The new church is already taking members from Immanuel.

So ... here we have Terry Fox, who made his reputation by attacking other people for being immoral. Now, gold old Terry Fox is being attacked for lacking a grasp of some of the most basic bits of the 10 Commandments. Note that the accusations against Fox aren't coming from his political enemies, but from those who have been his friends.

I can't judge Fox, but then I don't think he has a right to judge me, and he does that over and over and over again, seeking to destroy my family for no other reason than the fact that I'm gay.

My advice to Fox is simple: Before you seek to lead others, look to yourself.

In This Moment's coverage of Terry Fox includes:

Yee Haw Religion! Terry Fox opens new Kansas church & declares love for homosexuals

Integrity failures and arrogrance may have forced departure of Kansas minister Terry Fox

Anti-gay minister Terry Fox to lead new church after abruptly resigning from his old post

Kansas anti-gay pastor's exit probably wasn't "all love and understanding"

Anti-Gay Pastor Terry Fox abruptly walks away from his Kansas church

Yee-Haw Religion! Terry Fox opens new Kansas church & declares love for homosexuals

By Diane Silver

Anti-gay minister Terry Fox, late of Immanuel Baptist Church, drew 500 people to his first service Sunday at his new church, The Wichita Eagle reports.

His new venue, called Summit Church, meets in the Johnny Western Theatre at Wild West World in Park City, less than 10 miles from his old church. Many of the people attending on Sunday formerly went to Immanuel.

Fox' reportedly left his old church just before Immanuel's deacons were going to confront him on possible ethical lapses, arrogance and host of other issues.

Fox told his new congregation that dress would be casual so folks could come for a little religion and then spend the day in the theme park.

Fox also said that he wants to reach out to "all people." The Eagle reports:

That includes reaching out to people of any lifestyle, even if it's a lifestyle the church doesn't agree with. He cited one such lifestyle.

"We love homosexuals," he said. "And they're welcome to come to church here."

No word yet, on whether lesbian and gay parents would have to give up their children at the church door as Fox doesn't believe queers should be parents.

No word yet on whether people in decades-long and deeply loving same-sex relationships would be required to abandon each other. Fox thinks such love destroys heterosexual marriage.

Actually, there's no word yet on whether Fox will tackle the issues that are really threatening heterosexual marriages such as infidelity, divorce, poverty, substance abuse, etc.

Stay tuned for further signs of Fox' love.