PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Seattle-based church whose founder preaches against homosexuality and calls yoga pagan has paid $1.25 million for a building in a southeast Portland neighborhood that’s one of the most liberal in a city known for its active gay and lesbian community and its gay mayor.
The Oregonian reports (http://bit.ly/nfHj2X) the Mars Hill Church was founded by Pastor Mark Driscoll and has nine campuses, with three more to come. It bought the vacant church last week and announced a gathering Sept. 10.
Some residents wonder what it’s doing in a precinct that went for Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber last fall by more than 90 percent.
The leader of the neighborhood association says it seems an odd fit but he’d like to meet the church people and have an amicable relationship.
