background, having been educated at Biola University, and the church is commonly described as evangelical. In 2001, the director of women’s ministries outed the choir director to the church's board, and the church responded by offering him therapy to "cure" him of his homosexuality, then firing him when he refused. The church was sued, and defended itself successfully through a long-running series of appeals on First Amendment grounds, saying that 'an admission of homosexuality could be interpreted as "moral and sexual actions that are a sin."' In 2013, politically conservative church members were offended when Beshore traveled to Washington, DC, to lobby for a pathway to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. According to a Wall Street Journal interview, 'Mr. Beshore said some members (of Mariners) accused the church of taking a political position that flouted U.S. law after preaching about immigration in the fall. "I tell my people they need the poor far more than the poor need them. That’s what a follower of Christ should do," said Beshore. References and notes External links Mariners Church Evangelical megachurches in the United States Megachurches in California Evangelical churches in California Churches in Orange County, California Christian organizations established in 1963 Buildings and structures in Irvine, California 20th-century Protestant churches Tourist attractions in Irvine, California