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Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Seattle coffee shop owner who had city event canceled by LGBTQ backlash defends his faith
Seattle-area coffee shop owner and pastor Keith Carpenter wants his critics to know he doesn't hate them; in fact, he'd love to meet them and chat over a cup of joe. "I'd love for them to just get to know us instead of trying to shut our business down without even trying to know us," Carpenter told Fox News Digital. Carpenter is pastor of Epic Life Church and owns three Pilgrim Coffee locations in Seattle, Washington. His newest coffee shop, in the Shoreline suburb, had barely opened before it faced online attacks due to his church's support for traditional Christian beliefs on marriage. After the community learned that a "Coffee with a Cop" event would be held at Pilgrim's newest location, angry progressives flooded the Shoreline City Hall Facebook announcement with negative comments. "Coffee with a Cop" events are held in communities across the nation to strengthen relationships between local law enforcement and residents. Seattle-area 'Coffee With A Cop' Event Canceled After Shop Owner's Christian Views Attract Lgbtq Backlash Commenters demanded the city pick another venue that wasn't "bigoted" or "homophobic" and vowed to hold a protest outside the shop. One comment even called for Pilgrim to leave Shoreline, saying that Carpenter's views on marriage did not align with the progressive city's ideals. Read On The Fox News App In response to the backlash, Shoreline abruptly canceled the event, saying it was not their intention "to make any community member feel unwelcome based on the selection of the event venue and the values that the venue may or may not hold." Shoreline added that they were committed to making their city "welcoming to all." Carpenter was stunned by the city's response. "They could have made it really easy and just said something like, 'Hey, we decided to move the location,' and then just let it be," he told Fox News Digital. Tennessee Pizza Shop Faces Backlash After Declining To Cater Same-sex Wedding Carpenter also found the city's response ironic, because it seemingly excluded his business due to his religious and political beliefs in the name of "inclusivity." "If we really want to believe in an inclusive city, that would include all of us — not excluding 40% of the population who might have voted differently, or who attend a church, or hold different opinions about things," he continued. "That's not inclusive. What we've discovered is we're the ones excluded, without anybody really talking to us," he added. Carpenter said strangers online have attacked his character and spread "lies" about his church and business that he said couldn't be further from the truth. "They're calling me a megachurch pastor, pocketing all the money myself and forcing my parishioners to work for free… I lead a church of 80 people," the pastor said. Christian Physician Assistant Fired For Opposition To Trans Policy Has Day In Court "It's just a whole bunch of character assassination online from people who have never met me, who have never asked me anything, and I've never sat down with. They just assume that I'm hateful," he added. The pastor said he faced a similar incident last year when his business was abruptly shut out of its longtime partnership with a local elementary school, where he had invested "thousands of dollars and man hours," because a teacher complained his church wasn't "inclusive" enough. Despite these experiences, Carpenter stressed that he holds "zero animosity or hate" towards those who've judged him or hold different beliefs than he does and just wants the chance for the community to get to know who he really is. Carpenter said his church, Epic Life, welcomes people from all walks of life, including those who don't believe in God, or who are struggling with their gender identity or drug addiction. Seattle Business Owners Warn Violent Crime Is Happening On A Nearly Hourly Basis: 'This Is Madness' It serves the local community in several ways, including partnering with local organizations to provide free meals and coffee, and providing shelter for the homeless and addicted. He planted Epic Life Church and one of Pilgrim's locations on Aurora Avenue North, an area infamous for prostitution, fentanyl overdoses and violent crime. Carpenter said that when he and his wife moved to Seattle about 16 years ago, they were following a spiritual calling to bring "change and light" to this dark part of the city. "We often bring women off the street who have nothing on after being raped and abused all night into our office and hold them. We see people in body bags, friends of ours who have overdosed in hotels," Carpenter said. "We're taking care of a spot where the city of Seattle has no idea how to really encounter this." His church's mission is centered on living out John 10:10, which says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." "If we sat down without the mob around, we'd probably be friends," he said. "We really, truly believe that no matter where we've been or where we're heading, we're all pilgrims on a journey that is best shared with friends and maybe enemies over a cup of coffee." A spokesperson for the City of Shoreline told Fox News Digital, "The City is committed to being a welcoming place for all people, no matter who they are or what they believe." "The work of local government is mostly focused on the basics—it is potholes, sidewalks, and public safety. Coffee with a Cop is supposed to be a place where law enforcement can talk with residents about law enforcement in Shoreline. When the March 26 event got caught up in issues other than public safety, it could no longer serve its purpose and was canceled. Moving forward, we will only host these events at public facilities," the spokesperson article source: Seattle coffee shop owner who had city event canceled by LGBTQ backlash defends his faith
Fox News
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Seattle coffee shop owner who had city event canceled by LGBTQ backlash defends his faith
Seattle-area coffee shop owner and pastor Keith Carpenter wants his critics to know he doesn't hate them; in fact, he'd love to meet them and chat over a cup of joe. "I'd love for them to just get to know us instead of trying to shut our business down without even trying to know us," Carpenter told Fox News Digital. Carpenter is pastor of Epic Life Church and owns three Pilgrim Coffee locations in Seattle, Washington. His newest coffee shop, in the Shoreline suburb, had barely opened before it faced online attacks due to his church's support for traditional Christian beliefs on marriage. After the community learned that a "Coffee with a Cop" event would be held at Pilgrim's newest location, angry progressives flooded the Shoreline City Hall Facebook announcement with negative comments. "Coffee with a Cop" events are held in communities across the nation to strengthen relationships between local law enforcement and residents. Commenters demanded the city pick another venue that wasn't "bigoted" or "homophobic" and vowed to hold a protest outside the shop. One comment even called for Pilgrim to leave Shoreline, saying that Carpenter's views on marriage did not align with the progressive city's ideals. In response to the backlash, Shoreline abruptly canceled the event, saying it was not their intention "to make any community member feel unwelcome based on the selection of the event venue and the values that the venue may or may not hold." Shoreline added that they were committed to making their city "welcoming to all." Carpenter was stunned by the city's response. "They could have made it really easy and just said something like, 'Hey, we decided to move the location,' and then just let it be," he told Fox News Digital. Carpenter also found the city's response ironic, because it seemingly excluded his business due to his religious and political beliefs in the name of "inclusivity." "If we really want to believe in an inclusive city, that would include all of us — not excluding 40% of the population who might have voted differently, or who attend a church, or hold different opinions about things," he continued. "That's not inclusive. What we've discovered is we're the ones excluded, without anybody really talking to us," he added. Carpenter said strangers online have attacked his character and spread "lies" about his church and business that he said couldn't be further from the truth. "They're calling me a megachurch pastor, pocketing all the money myself and forcing my parishioners to work for free… I lead a church of 80 people," the pastor said. "It's just a whole bunch of character assassination online from people who have never met me, who have never asked me anything, and I've never sat down with. They just assume that I'm hateful," he added. The pastor said he faced a similar incident last year when his business was abruptly shut out of its longtime partnership with a local elementary school, where he had invested "thousands of dollars and man hours," because a teacher complained his church wasn't "inclusive" enough. Despite these experiences, Carpenter stressed that he holds "zero animosity or hate" towards those who've judged him or hold different beliefs than he does and just wants the chance for the community to get to know who he really is. Carpenter said his church, Epic Life, welcomes people from all walks of life, including those who don't believe in God, or who are struggling with their gender identity or drug addiction. It serves the local community in several ways, including partnering with local organizations to provide free meals and coffee, and providing shelter for the homeless and addicted. He planted Epic Life Church and one of Pilgrim's locations on Aurora Avenue North, an area infamous for prostitution, fentanyl overdoses and violent crime. Carpenter said that when he and his wife moved to Seattle about 16 years ago, they were following a spiritual calling to bring "change and light" to this dark part of the city. "We often bring women off the street who have nothing on after being raped and abused all night into our office and hold them. We see people in body bags, friends of ours who have overdosed in hotels," Carpenter said. "We're taking care of a spot where the city of Seattle has no idea how to really encounter this." His church's mission is centered on living out John 10:10, which says, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." "If we sat down without the mob around, we'd probably be friends," he said. "We really, truly believe that no matter where we've been or where we're heading, we're all pilgrims on a journey that is best shared with friends and maybe enemies over a cup of coffee." A spokesperson for the City of Shoreline told Fox News Digital, "The City is committed to being a welcoming place for all people, no matter who they are or what they believe." "The work of local government is mostly focused on the basics—it is potholes, sidewalks, and public safety. Coffee with a Cop is supposed to be a place where law enforcement can talk with residents about law enforcement in Shoreline. When the March 26 event got caught up in issues other than public safety, it could no longer serve its purpose and was canceled. Moving forward, we will only host these events at public facilities," the spokesperson added.
Yahoo
26-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Seattle-area 'Coffee with a Cop' event canceled after shop owner's Christian views attract LGBTQ backlash
A Seattle suburb canceled its upcoming "Coffee with a Cop" event after it faced protests because of the coffee shop owner's Christian beliefs. Seattle radio host Jason Rantz reported that the city of Shoreline, Washington, canceled the community event, which aims to strengthen the relationship between police officers and residents, after the city's Facebook page was flooded with negative comments from liberals upset that Pilgrim Coffeehouse would host the event. Pilgrim Coffeehouse is owned by Keith Carpenter, head pastor of Epic Life Church. The church states it believes marriage is between "one man and one woman" on its website. Commenters vowed to hold a protest and one even called for the coffee shop to leave the city, saying that Carpenter's views on marriage did not align with the progressive city's ideals. Pro-police Coffee Shop Owner Wins $4 Million In Free Speech Suit Against University Officials "Picked the Christian homophobic coffee house!" an account called "Sounder Sam" posted under the city's venue announcement. The same person alerted the community that a "pro LGBTQIA2S+ protest" was planned outside the coffee house the morning of the event. Read On The Fox News App Other comments accused the city of picking a "bigoted" and "anti-LGBTQIA+" venue and demanded it be hosted elsewhere. In response to the backlash, Shoreline abruptly canceled the event, Rantz reported. "It was neither the department's nor the City's intent to make any community member feel unwelcome based on the selection of the event venue and the values that the venue may or may not hold. When planning future events, we will be more intentional with our venue selection," Shoreline City Hall wrote in a March 12 statement posted to Facebook. The cancelation announcement was met with mostly positive comments. "Thank you, Shoreline!!!! My family feels a little bit safer in our neighborhood now thanks to this decision," one comment under the City Hall Facebook post read. Another said, "Thank you for listening and doing the right thing." Carpenter also responded to the cancelation post by outlining all the ways his church helps the needy in the community and pledging that everyone would be treated with respect and dignity at his coffee shop. He also spoke out against the cancellation in an interview with Rantz. "It is a form of discrimination, for sure," Carpenter told the radio host, adding that he didn't want to play "the victim card." Trump Announces Executive Order Creating Task Force To 'Eradicate Anti-christian Bias' Carpenter said he could deal with online backlash but that there were also "blatant lies" being spread about his church and coffee shop. "We serve anybody who walks in the door. I don't even know (if they're LGBT). We don't ask questions. So it's like a non-starter for us, because nobody's asking questions at the door. Anybody who walks in that space will get the same exact beautiful, generous, generously hospitable treatment. And probably the best cup they'll have all month or all year," he told Rantz. He said it didn't "make a lot of sense" that the city would exclude his business from participating in the event while at the same time touting its inclusive values. "It basically says, 'We don't want Pilgrim Coffeehouse in our city,' and putting it out there publicly," Carpenter told Rantz. "It's completely opposite than [the]message they're trying to say about inclusivity. It's the opposite of that, and it's hard. It's hard as a business," he added. A spokesperson for the City of Shoreline told Fox News Digital, "The City is committed to being a welcoming place for all people, no matter who they are or what they believe." "The work of local government is mostly focused on the basics—it is potholes, sidewalks, and public safety. Coffee with a Cop is supposed to be a place where law enforcement can talk with residents about law enforcement in Shoreline. When the March 26 event got caught up in issues other than public safety, it could no longer serve its purpose and was canceled. Moving forward, we will only host these events at public facilities," the spokesperson added. Carpenter did not immediately return Fox News Digital's request for article source: Seattle-area 'Coffee with a Cop' event canceled after shop owner's Christian views attract LGBTQ backlash
