Gay, Lesbian Activists Take Aim At Local Church

KING COUNTY - A Sunday church service started off with very tight security in Kirkland. Police officers were called in to stand guard at Antioch Bible Church for fear of a confrontation with gay and lesbian activists.

Some people are taking issue with something the church's pastor claims to have done.

Pastor Ken Hutcherson says he played a vital role in influencing Microsoft to drop its support of House Bill 1515, which would have made discrimination against gays and lesbians illegal in Washington State.

"My son is gay and I don't want him to be discriminated against," explained Catherine Swadley.

Swadley came to voice her concerns to the pastor. It took a lot of negotiating before the church security guard allowed the couple dozen visitors to go inside the church.

In the end, the protestors all had to agree to lose their rainbow colored armbands in order to be part of the Antioch Church service.

Felicia Mueller described the deal as a small sacrifice. "What we're doing is hoping that by having some human contact with members of this church, it may cause some of them to question their pastor's message of hatred and discrimination."

Swadley and the rest got their chance to speak with members of the congregation.

After the church service, Swadley shook the pastor's hand and asked him, "Would my gay son be welcomed here?"

Hutcherson replied "Yes, as long as he's going to confess his sins he's more than welcome."

Church member Danna Percival explained, "a lot of churches will bend the rules or make it seem a different way," explained church member Danna Percival, "but this church is so strong on what the bible says, that's what we're going to go off of."

But what did the pastor think about Swadley - and the rest - sharing their viewpoints?

"If they keep coming back, we're gonna expect them to change. If they don't change their lifestyle but they keep coming back and want to be a part of this church, we're gonna do like we do anyone else. If they are sinning and won't repent we're gonna bring them before the church and kick 'em out," Pastor Hutcherson said.