The atmosphere at the Faith in America town hall meeting for its “Call to Courage” campaign became tense after the meeting was opened for public comment.

Jimmy Creech, executive director of Faith in America, began the meeting and introduced himself and his organization. He said he was at one time a Methodist minister who was released from his ministry after he offered to perform a gay marriage. Since then, he has been educating the country on religious-based bigotry, and has been landing campaign locations close to where he felt the majority of intolerant individuals are – rural neighborhoods.

Following his introduction, a panel spoke about their personal experiences with or as members of the gay community. They also spoke of their opinion of the newly revised Iowa Civil Rights Law and their approval of the legislation’s passage of more rights for the gay community by Governor Culver.

The floor was then turned over to the audience for questions and comments. Blank stares and silence lingered for approximately a minute until a young man from North Carolina stood with a comment. As he walked down the aisle, person after person followed and lined up after him. As each passing question was posed, people could be found in tears, praying, or even hitting their heads in frustration.

Although many of people involved in this discussion were accepting of the gay community, there were those who stood strong in their opposition.

Randy Abell, senior pastor of Heartland Baptist Church, 3504 N. Grand Ave., was one member who had contrasting ideas. Standing at the microphone with a crisp, red Bible, he referenced biblical passages in Romans and Corinthians.

“If we can’t turn to God’s word to decide what is immoral, where can we turn?” he said.

“Amen” said some of the crowd, followed by applause from the Baptist members in the audience. Twenty rows back and in the center of the audience, a woman of the gay community held her hands to her face, shook her head and looked disgusted.

That woman had previously stood up to the microphone to applaud the Ames community for its support, saying she was “never aware of the overwhelming support for the gay community” while growing up in Ames and was now ecstatic that such a caring environment was available for teens seeking to come out of the closet.

Frederick Lewis, senior pastor of First United Methodist Church 516 Kellogg Ave., stood up to extend an offering for the LGBT community to join in celebration of Christ with his congregation.

“Help us accept each other as individuals made in God’s image,” he said.

Members of his church were also present, along with members of other churches in the Ames area that welcome members of the LGBT community to partake in their services.

After a few more speakers gave their speeches, a man took the microphone, and identified himself as Sam Erickson.

“Are you here for political clout?” he asked Creech. “We all know all about homosexuality already so you could have done without that,” he said.

Creech responded by clarifying his message once more, then turning the microphone over to one last speaker. However, Erickson was not done.

After that speaker, Creech began to address the audience with a farewell when Erickson spoke again.

“Now wait, you give him a chance to talk for 15 minutes. I deserve a chance to speak, too,” he said.

Some members in the audience vocalized their agreement with Erickson’s request.

After another run at the microphone and another comment made, followed by a brief discussion, Erickson pointed his finger at Creech who had been addressing his comment and said

“You sir, are a liar,” he said.

Erickson then left the building, slamming doors behind him.

Some audience members were in tears, twiddling their thumbs, squirming in their seats and biting their nails. People were rushing out in hopes to exit the silence as soon as possible.

Although the meeting was not concluded as Creech had planned, he stood calmly in the center of the stage and smiled. He thanked everyone in attendance for their thoughts and what they brought to discussion. He thanked the panelists once more and then encouraged people to stay and chat before exiting.

After the meeting, distinct groups of people joined together in small circles to talk about the evening. One group standing by the door was discussing the punishment they thought the gay community had coming.

“They are all going to hell,” could be overheard.

Other groups talked about how the evening was a great accomplishment and experience, and how it would affect the community.