BERMUDA'S First Church of God will play host to a conference next month which will hear from visiting evangelists with controversial views on sexuality, homosexuality, cloning, and the appropriate roles of men and women in the family.

Conference host Bishop Vernon Lambe has invited "three dynamic speakers" ? Bishop Eddie Long and Dr. Wanda Turner from the US, and Dr. Myles Munroe from the Bahamas ? to participate in a "Nation Changing Conference" which will take place from December 2-5.

Bishop Lambe said: "We specifically chose these renowned speakers to join us at this year's conference as they will have very important messages to impart. At no time has Bermuda needed to hear these messages more."

According to a press release, Bishop Long, of the New Birth Missionary Baptist Church in Georgia, will speak about "the need for men to stand tall, take their rightful positions, and answer their calling to take back their families, neighbourhoods, and nations".

Bishop Long has a traditionally fundamentalist view of homosexuality and of women's roles ? but even the fundamentalist web site myfortress.org takes him to task for some recent comments in sermons and on US television.

On Black Entertainment Television (BET), in the July 25 edition of he said: "Y'all scared now. Ain't nobody saying amen. Cause you figured I'm going to come up talk about what you did, where you was last night and how you did it! And who was on top!"

On Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN), in the October 24 , he said : "You wanna know if you are a man or a woman? Present your body. (Bishop Long stands in front of the congregation and spreads his legs) Look! (Bishop Long bends forward and looks down) It's either one or two things! Just one or two!"

On TBN onNovember 2 he said: "We like foreplay with God, but we make sure we have our spiritual contraceptives on. Cause we don't want to conceive nothing."

On TBN on November 14 he said: "Let me help you out, gentlemen. If my wife ever starts bringing home more money than me, I will pick her up on payday and take her straight to the bank and deposit her cheque in the joint account. And I won't be jealous because it's still my money. Might even give her a little bit. I wasn't talking about money. (Prolonged laughter). There are going to be times in your marriage that your spouse ain't going to like what you decide, and you can discuss it, and discuss it, and discuss it. But still there will be a moment when you got to make a decision, and this decision will probably close the promised land temporarily (laughs)."

The black American web site Operation Rebirth complains about Bishop Long's politically incorrect views on women and on homosexuality in his sermon .

"Woman is the soul of man. She is his flesh consciousness, in essence. God made Eve to help Adam replenish the earth. Woman has the canal . . . everything else is an exit. God had to separate Adam and Eve where they connected, so he could tell them to reconnect in covenant to duplicate him."

"In Christ, God puts his seed in us. Any other way is a spiritual abortion. Cloning, homosexuality and lesbianism are spiritual abortions. Homosexuality is a manifestation of the fallen man. Spirits can be inherited or acquired. You can have a strong, domineering mama and a weak daddy that creates a spirit in a male child that makes him more effeminate. This is true for homosexuality and any other disorder in our lives."

Both web sites, the fundamentalist and the homosexual, highlight this particular passage from the Bishop's sermon.

"God brings himself back to himself through covenant, through blood. (Within) the ordained process of God, marriage, when a virgin man has sex with a virgin woman, there is blood shed on his penis which represents covenant and the redemptive grace of God. That's the reason why, men, you are circumcised, so that every time you pull out your male organ and it wants to go in the wrong direction, you can SEE that you are in covenant, and anything that goes against the covenant is anti-Christ."

DOCTOR Wanda Turner's online book store reports that she is "a best-selling author, businesswoman, and motivational speaker, and is internationally known for her unique ministry style. Transcending racial and denominational barriers, Dr. Turner is anointed to teach, preach, and articulate prophetic words to men and women everywhere, propelling them to new purpose and destiny in Christ."

Dr. Turner's books include , in which she wrote that "Man enjoys the public glory while the woman is content to weave the covering of her glory in the secret place. Behind every powerful man there is a woman of power who has passionately poured her power into the foundation of the launching pad for her husband's success. The pyramid of humanity is built upon the power of influence and relationship that is forged in that private place of intimate relationship."

Her book promises that readers will "discover the tactics of the enemy that lead you down the road of unparalleled remorse". , subtitled , suggests that "if you have ever come to a point of depression, fear or defeat, then you need this book"! posits that "all the struggles in your life have you rattled and confused. Move past your issues and break free from the enemy, (who) will try anything to prevent you from moving beyond your issues, just as he did with the woman with the issue of blood. This woman of determination, willing to fight her way through any obstacle standing between her and her healing, had just enough strength for her outstretched hand to barely touch the hem of His garment, which immediately brought her freedom. Like her, you can be free of the shame and bondage of your issues."

Dr. Turner is married to Bishop Andrew Turner, "with whom she pastors Covenant Worship Centre of Inglewood, California", and is the CEO of MECCA Ministries International Inc. She more recently founded Calling First Ladies ? a "ministry to spouses of bishops, pastors, and celebrities world-wide".

Dr. Myles Munroe's web site describes him as the "Founder, President and Senior Pastor of Bahamas Faith Ministries International. He is a multi-gifted international motivational speaker, best-selling author and business consultant addressing critical issues affecting every aspect of human, social and spiritual development. (He was) one of the youngest recipients of the Queen's Birthday Honours, 1998, the Order of the British Empire."

"Dr. Munroe's years of successful dedication and service to mankind stemmed from his personal vision of 'Transforming Followers into Leaders'. The spiritual impact being made by him is evidenced by the demand for his books to be distributed in over 80 countries through the best-seller distribution process. Pastor Myles' message is that all men are equal and every human being has a purpose and the ability to fulfill his God-given purpose in life.

"He has a passion for helping people in developing Third World countries to understand they are born with an awesome destiny and the ability to fulfil their God-given dreams. His teachings focus on the historical mental damage that has affected millions of people who have been oppressed or displaced as a result of colonial powers, slave trades, or other negative historical experiences that had negative impacts on their social adjustments."

Dr. Munroe's life is not all work and no play.

"We know Dr. Myles Munroe as a gifted artist, a talented concert pianist, master of the guitar and worship leader," reports the web site. "But don't forget the words of his eldest sister, Sheila Francis, 'Myles is most inquisitive'. Well, she was right because he has discovered the world of golf among his friends of diverse background.

"Our Senior Pastor believes a true leader is a model for his followers, and as Jesus led, so does Dr. Myles Munroe ? breaking barriers to help all mankind in the discovery of destiny, purpose, potential and leadership."

THE news release for the "Nation Changing Conference" reports that "an opening service will be held at 7 p.m. on December 2 at the National Sports Centre. On December 3 at 9 a.m., there are separate sessions for men (led by Bishop Long) and women (led by Dr. Turner).

This will be followed by an open session with Dr. Munroe at 11 a.m. at the First Church of God on North Shore Road. A worship service will also be held at the National Sports Centre at 7 p.m. on December 3. The opening service and worship service are open to everyone at no cost. The remainder of the conference will cost between $100 and $375.

"On Saturday, December 4, gospel singer and Grammy Award winner Yolanda Adams, along with Darius Brooks, will bring a musical message of praise to Bermuda, as they present in concert at the First Church of God. On December 5, Dr.Turner will speak at an early service at 11 a.m. The closing service, conducted by Dr. Munroe, will take place at 4.30 p.m. Both sessions will take place at the First Church of God."

For $100, participants may register for all conference sessions and conference materials. For $375, participants may bring a partner to the conference sessions, receive preferred seating and copies of conference CDs.

Speaking on BET in July, at the "Singles Conference 2004", Bishop Long said: "The reason why you are here is because you are sick of church, you're sick of hearing folk talk and no action. You're sick of being delivered from your stuff several times. You're sick of all this fake and phony stuff. You're sick of that flesh glorying. And you're sick of being poor, broke and jacked up!"

Bishop Long's appearances on TBN have not been affected by reports this summer in the that Paul Crouch, the evangelist who founded the largest Christian network, vehemently denied a former employee's accusation that they had had a homosexual encounter ? though not before Crouch paid the employee a settlement of $425,000.

The site myfortress.org begins its eight pages of quotations from Bishop Long's televised sermons with a passage from the book of Matthew 7:15: "Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves."