Homosexual’s web link on PCUSA email ‘accident’
By John H. Adams, The Layman Online, December 30, 1999
A spokesman for the Presbyterian Church (USA) says one of the leaders of the denomination’s year-end youth celebration “accidentally” included a link to his homosexuality-promoting personal web site in an e-mail to exhibitors.
The Layman Online posted a story about John Mayes, who designed the web site for “The Dawn … An Epiphany” and serves as director of exhibits, after receiving a forwarded copy of an e-mail Mayes sent to participants.
Below his signature on the e-mail, Mayes included a link to his web site, called “AMAYESD.” The Mayes site includes a long account of his “coming out,” solicitation of chat and photos from people who visit his site and promotion of a homosexual social organization in his hometown of Charlotte, N.C.
Gary Luhr, associate director for communication of the Presbyterian Church (USA), quoted Ed Craxton, associate director of Christian education, as saying that “John Mayes’ web site address appeared accidentally in the signature line of two e-mails that were sent to people who had requested information about ‘The Dawn.…'” Luhr said the address was deleted from other similar e-mails and that the Mayes web site address “did not appear on any PCUSA web pages devoted to “The Dawn.….”
In its report posted Dec. 29, the day “The Dawn … An Epiphany” began in Indianapolis, Ind., The Layman Online said Mayes’ web site included a resume that traced his employment career. The resume says he served in youth ministry in several PCUSA churches and provided leadership for a number of presbytery and camping youth events. It also says he worked briefly as an architect. The resume indicates that he is currently unemployed.
Luhr said, “Mr. Mayes, who is not ordained, has served a number of Presbyterian churches in North Carolina as a youth minister. His primary responsibilities with ‘The Dawn …’ have been to coordinate exhibit hall activities at the event.”