Crystal Cathedral To Choir: Sign This Anti-Gay Statement Or Leave The Group

The choir at California's famed Crystal Cathedral is being asked to sign an anti-gay statement or they'll be booted from the group. And that has some choir members very unhappy.

Former and current choir members say they are particularly offended by a statement in the document that refers to homosexuality. Long-time church members say this is the first time they have seen the cathedral take a firm stand against homosexuality and are disturbed by it. The covenant states: "I understand that in an era where images of family relationship and personal sexuality are often confused, Crystal Cathedral Ministries believes that it is important to teach and model the biblical view. I understand that Crystal Cathedral Ministries teaches that sexual intimacy is intended by God to only be within the bonds of marriage, between one man and one woman." Ann Moore Waltz, a long-time church member and the Cathedral's first soloist to stand and sing on top the snack shack in Robert H. Schuller community church at the Orange drive-in said, she does not agree with the statement in the covenant. "If I were still in the choir and if that was presented to me, and if a gay person had walked out, I would have walked out with him or her," she said. "If you are a Christian group and people come to you, you should be a good servant, love them and shine the light of Jesus on them – regardless of who they are."

A spokesman for the Cathedral says that gays are not banned from the choir, but they must sign the agreement that marriage is only for one man and one woman. The Crystal Cathedral declared bankruptcy last October and owes millions to over 500 creditors.