First the UK, Now Germany: Politician Calls Franklin Graham ‘Hate Preacher’ and Tries to Cancel His Festival by Steve Warren for CBN News
Evangelical churches in Germany are defending Rev. Franklin Graham in the face of criticism over his biblical beliefs on sexuality.
Graham, the president and CEO of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA), and Samaritan’s Purse, an international relief organization, is scheduled to preach at a Festival of Hope in Cologne this June.
Premier Christian News reports a local politician has called on the venue to cancel the event, accusing Graham of being a “hate preacher.”
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In response, several churches have issued their support for the evangelist. The Evangelical Free Church of Cologne said in a statement that the allegation against Graham is defamatory.
The church also explained that Graham’s goal for the tour was simply to invite people to his presentation of the gospel – a transformation message which they said: “resists radicalism and racism and works for justice and peace all over the world.”
Heinrich Derkse, the director of the Bible Seminary in Bonn (Bornheim), also said Graham was not stirring up hate against gay people and maintained that he “would never call for human rights to be restricted for homosexuals,” according to PCN.
Graham has said that while he believes marriage is solely between a man and a woman, he is not preaching against anybody. He is scheduled to speak at Cologne Lanxess Arena on June 20.
In announcing the Festival of Hope in Cologne (Köln), the BGEA said: “Franklin Graham’s father, Billy Graham, launched his first meetings in Germany in 1954, which led to nearly four decades of ministry in Germany and reached more than three million people with the message of God’s love.
“Franklin Graham believes, as his father did, that what Germany and the rest of the world needs is spiritual change.”
