“I was God’s First Choice,” TPD Chief Revell Says at Billy Graham Retreat
Staff
October 1, 2021
UPDATED OCTOBER 29, 2021
TPD Top Brass Attended and Spoke at Three-Day All Expenses Paid Billy Graham Law Enforcement Retreat Last Week
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OT obtains recording of Revell’s Speech
October 27th Tallahassee City Commission Update
Steve Uhlfelder Demands Answers, Revell Responds Defiantly to Critics, Giving First Public Comment Since Controversy, Confirms Payment for Appearance
October 13th Tallahassee City Commission Update
Equality Florida Speaks Out
Full October 13th Tallahassee City Commission Comments
Original Story:
Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell this month spoke at an all-expenses-paid three-day retreat at one of America’s most notorious homophobic institutions: the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA).
BGEA hosted the three-day long Chief Law Enforcement Officer Appreciation Event retreat from September 28-30th at the opulent Billy Graham Training Center at the Cove. Our Tallahassee Police Department Chief not only attended the event, but even spoke at it as well.
“While I wasn’t the City’s first choice, I was God’s first choice,” Revell says in the recording, discussing his highly controversial appointment as Tallahassee’s Police Chief.
Revell discusses how it should be the “number one priority” for police chiefs to spread Christianity in the ranks of their police departments. “What is your agenda to share the gospel of Jesus Christ to your officers?”
Revell encourages other chiefs to push back on their City Managers and City Commissioners if criticized for working in religion into the management of their departments “Hold the line,” he says, comparing his role to Peter and Paul from the Bible.
“Don’t move the line because of opposition you might face,” beginning to discuss his criticisms by County Commissioner Bill Proctor about Revell’s 1996 killing of Nuke Williams.
Revell at times seems mocking of the separation of church and state, discussing how he received a letter from the ACLU after he was sworn in, and discusses another letter in support from a Washington DC organization that cheered him on and promised to defend him legally.
TIP LEADS TO BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS RETREAT
OurTallahassee began looking into this issue after a concerned member of the community reported that they overheard Revell discussing his weekend plans at the September 27th, 2021 Blueprint meeting, which our source described as “I overheard TPD chief Lawrence Revell yesterday talking about speaking at a Billy Graham Center event for executive law enforcement.”
After extensive research, OurTallahassee linked through LinkedIn searches the employees of the BGEA, one of which is Allen Scroggs, who lists his position as the Director of Law Enforcement Events. We began tracking the social media activity of all prominent BGEA employees to look for signs of Revell. On Thursday, we were able to confirm Revell’s speaking engagement at the all-expenses-paid retreat from a Facebook post made on Scrogg’s personal Facebook page on Thursday, September 30th, 2021, which is included below.
THE BILLY GRAHAM TRAINING CENTER AT THE COVE
The BGEA boasts about their Blue Ridge Mountain retreat, the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove on their website about the opportunity for spiritual renewal and relaxation. The famous 2,500-acre private resort hosts BGEA events and training retreats throughout the year.
In a video posted to our YouTube channel, the BGEA showcases the amenities at the Cove below.
BGEA'S LONG HISTORY OF HOMOPHOBIA
Billy Graham, his son, Franklin Graham, and the large non-profit organization have a long history of anti-LGBTQ+ stances.
On the current BillyGraham.org website, under the FAQ section, there’s a question entitled “I have a loved one who is gay, where can I find help?“. In response, the non-profit suggests:
“We want to assure you that any willing person can be liberated from homosexuality through the power of Jesus Christ; see 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, especially verse 11. If your loved one is not yet willing to seek freedom from homosexuality or seems unable to find it, then you should pray earnestly for his or her release.”
BILLY GRAHAM RAPID RESPONSE TEAM: LAW ENFORCEMENT APPRECIATION EVENTS
Revell spoke at the event, a subsidiary of the BGEA, the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (RRT) on Thursday, September 30th, 2021.
According to RRT’s mission statement, they state “The Billy Graham Rapid Response Team strives to give officers the opportunity to build their spiritual fitness and encourage Christ-centered growth in their careers, marriages and lives.”
The BGEA RRT hosts an annual Chief Law Enforcement Appreciation Events, which recently wrapped up from September 28-30th. A copy of a promotional flyer for the same event in 2020 list the event cost $295 for an individual, and $495 for a married couple. However, the 2021 event page states, “There is no charge for chiefs, sheriffs, and their spouses.”
If there is any doubt that the BGEA’s homophobic stances do not extend to their RRT program, a job posting for Law Enforcement Manager for their Rapid Response Team states:
“We believe God’s plan for human sexuality is to be expressed only within the context of marriage, that God created man and woman as unique biological per complete each other. God instituted monogamous marriage between male and female as the foundation of the family and the basic structure of human society. For this reason, we believe that marriage is exclusively the union of one genetic male and one genetic female.”
It is worth noting that police chiefs and those in leadership in law enforcement realize that their public position and duties are closely linked to their personal lives. In May 2021, the interim Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz rejected Graham’s invite to their appreciation dinner, stating in a department email that “based on Graham’s history and affiliations, the email has raised concerns that the SPD may not be committed to the equity of our community’s LGBTQ members … I want to make clear the Department fully supports the equity and just treatment of all people.”
CITY OF TALLAHASSEE ORDINANCE BANNED CONVERSION THERAPY
Revell was appointed Police Chief by City Executive Reese Goad in a controversial move in a botched police chief search over the 2019 holidays, after previously rejecting the popular Antonio Gilliam in a highly public feud with the City Manager. That led to the appointment of Revell, and Gilliam releasing a letter to the public denouncing the botched search under Goad.
In April 2020, the City of Tallahassee passed a ban on conversion therapy within City limits. The conversion therapy ordinance reads in part:
“The City of Tallahassee has a compelling interest in protecting the physical and psychological well-being of minors and vulnerable adults, including but not limited to LGBTQIA+ minors and vulnerable adults, and in protecting its minors and vulnerable adults against exposure to serious harms caused by sexual orientation and gender identity change efforts…”
Tallahassee Mayor John Dailey has been a strong supporter of Revell. Dailey helped run interference on community pushback against Revell’s appointment to the role in early 2020, and worked privately behind the scenes to elevate Revell into the role when discussions with Gilliam began to unravel.
David Bellamy, a former police officer has filed for City Commission Seat 3 against Jeremy Matlow. Bellamy, a close ally of Dailey, has also been a long-time supporter of Revell, who supported Revell throughout the controversies of the police chief search. Bellamy is widely rumored to have been recruited by Dailey, Prosecutor Jack Campbell, and Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce incoming Chairman Sammie Dixon.
LISTEN TO THE FULL AUDIO OF REVELL'S SPEECH
OurTallahassee began looking into this issue after a concerned member of the community reported that they overheard Revell discussing his weekend plans at the September 27th, 2021 Blueprint meeting, which our source described as “I overheard TPD chief Lawrence Revell yesterday talking about speaking at a Billy Graham Center event for executive law enforcement.”
We rely on sources, sometimes anonymous, for our reporting. We can’t do it without you. We encourage you to view our method of sourcing our reporting on our about page so that you can help us bring important issues about our community to light while protecting your identity.
15 Responses
Do you mean to say that just yesterday, Sept 30th-
The Tallahassee Chief of Police was voluntarily at Billy Graham’s explicitly and blatantly homophobic retreat center, giving a talk?!
That is scandalous.
That is not what he should be doing during his work week, while paid to be serving our city. Which includes our gay and lesbian chuldren and families.
The LGBTQ groups at FSU and FAMU should get this information right away. Everyone needs to know this.
Thank you for your reporting.
Isn’t it unethical under the ethics code to receive gifts or attend “all expenses paid” events? Or did the City/taxpayers pay for it? Has anyone filed an ethics complaint? Hmmm.
If he was chosen by God, perhaps God should be the one paying his salary.
This is why church and state are supposed to be separate
Because one man’s magical, invisible, sky monkey does not get a say in my civil rights
Honestly if I hadn’t already quit the station ( due to poor covid policies) this would have me walking out the damn door. This guy is a joke.
His number one priority is to proselytize his department? Forgive me for being naïve, but I always thought that a police chief’s number one priority is supposed to be to “protect and serve” their community.
For those of you who do not know, or have forgotten, our loyalties are as follows.
1. GOD
2. Family
3. Work and other things
God is always first, and if he is not in your life, he should be.
In case you haven’t figured it out yet, he is a public employee. Therefore he is required to obey the Constitution of the United States which explicitly separates Church and State. If he cannot do that, then he has no business being a public employee.
Also consider this: Your religious freedom ends at the tip of your nose. What you personally believe is your business and your business alone. You have no right to try and force anyone else to believe in your religion.
The United States Constitution does not state in so many words that there is a separation of church and state. The first part of the First Amendment to the Constitution states: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Therefore, it is more accurate to say that the Constitution promotes freedom of religion and prohibits the federal government from inhibiting its citizens’ ability to worship as they wish.
Yes!!!!
Totally agree!!
The man can do what he wants with his private time.
Your personal loyalties should not have to be the loyalties of all those around you. It is just as important to respect others personal values as it is to respect your own. Though you have the freedom to believe in what you believe you do not have the freedom to tell others what they should or should not believe. People have the freedom to believe in god just as much as people have the freedom not to believe in god.
I listened to Police Chief Revel’s message from start to finish and it it was very encouraging and enlightening to know we have him as our Police Chief in Tallahassee. He never once said anything about or against “gay people”. He said he wanted to treat every person as Christ Jesus treats us and he wants his officers to do the same. I am proud to have him as our Police Chief. Sincerely, Linda
Police unions are too powerful. Yes they should be a guarantor of due process, first amendment rights, etc. But blindly lining up to support this bigot isn’t their responsibility.
Stand strong Mr. Revell!
Seems people always have to have a reason to create chaos.
So many more important things to focus on other than what you do with your personal time.
Kudos to you for being fearless and not letting your foundation crumble.
Don’t back down Chief Revell. The hate-filled LGBTQ-XYZ movement doesn’t get to rule over you. I support you 100%