Can We Talk?

By Theresa D. McClellan

Faith Advocacy Coordinator

"Gay Christian? Yes! Campaign

I love the fall.  This is an exciting time when we start preparing the earth, laying the groundwork and nurturing the land for the promise of future blooms.

Such is the work of our fall season with GIFT. This is an exciting time as we create and collaborate with others. This is the time we nurture one another with the hope of future allies and  stronger lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of faith. We pray for and act to help create a stronger and vibrant church community where all God’s children are welcomed, encouraged and allowed to share their God-given gifts.  Some upcoming new programs seem like answers to prayer.

Our support group for all ages -GRITS- held it’s first meeting in September. It was an exciting session with good conversation including one with an ally from a conservative church who wanted to know how to get the conversation going in his church. It is always inspiring and hopeful when allies join the conversation. All are welcome.

GRITS has decided to meet twice a month on Wednesdays with the first session of the month allowing more time for talking and support and the second session with more time to explore issues and get to know one another better with activities. To that end we are exploring discussions following specific movies. Other second session events could include book clubs, dinners, outings, speakers. Give us your ideas as we look forward to seeing old and new faces on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Vine at the First Place Building, 207 East Fulton Street.

It was wonderful that an ally wanted to know how to get more involved and we provided mutual encouragement. Here is another fantastic opportunity for all people of faith who want to learn how to have the conversation in their church communities. The nationally recognized Institute for Welcoming Resources will hold its “Building an Inclusive Church”  three-day conference in Grand Rapids on October 27-29 at Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church, 514 Eastern Ave. SE.

Through sound Biblical and theological education, faith-based community organizing skills, meaningful worship, and discussion of lesbian, gay, bisexuality and transgender issues, this conference will prove helpful to lay leaders, clergy, denominational leaders and members and leaders in denominational LGBT groups.

The premise of the conference comes from the belief that “every person, regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity, deserves to be honored as a beloved child of God and celebrated at Christ’s Table.” 

“Building an Inclusive Church" offers powerful tools to help the Church be the church it is meant to be - just, loving and extravagantly welcome.”

This is exciting news for West Michigan. The $25 conference is hosted by “All One Body” and “Room For All,” two inclusive-building groups that come from the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church of America faith traditions.  The conference is open to all denominations and organizers are hoping to attract a large number of people from various Western Michigan churches and denominations, said Sheryl Mulder spokesperson for All One Body.

She said both the Christian Reformed Church and the Reformed Church of America have “the same current struggles with the official stances on LGBT issues within our denomination and we are working towards helping our denominations begin to dialog and listen to different viewpoints.”

Mulder said she recognizes that the Christian Reformed Church “has a lot of work to do” to be fully inclusive. ”We feel that baby steps are what we are hoping for at this point. We also recognized that change on the current stance of the Christian Reformed Church will be much more effective if it is created from the ground up (laity) versus from the top down (Synod).”  She is hopeful that members of the Christian Reformed Church will engage in the conference.

The Institute is an ecumenical consortium of denominations in the Welcoming Movement. They have full scholarships available and the deadline to register is October 11. So make this a wonderful National Coming Out Day present to yourself and register.

I know I intend to go. I hope to see you there. For more information and to register for the conference visit www.WelcomingResources.org/Community.Org.htm

Unacceptable!

By Theresa D. McClellan
Faith Advocacy Coordinator
“Gay Christian? Yes!” Campaign

Unacceptable.

These are the only words to describe the actions and non-action at the Gay Day celebration in a Grand Rapids neighborhood park where Bible-toting characters spewed hate and violence toward women and anyone within earshot.

On Saturday Aug. 4 the East Hills Neighborhood Association organized “Gay Day,” as a day to recognize and celebrate diversity, the current and historical presence of gays in their community, and an inclusive spirit.

The family-friendly event featured food, local bands and educational booths about organizations such as the National Organization for Women and TEAM (Tolerance, Equality and Awareness Movement).  Our Gays In Faith Together (GIFT) “Gay Christian? Yes!” table was scheduled to be there, but a family crisis kept me away.

Unfortunately, nothing deterred protestors from “Gay Day” in Cherry Park. But this was a different kind of protest. These “protestors” made vile threats against some of the women in the park, threatened to rape them and cited Bible passages as support for their threats. Other women reported that the men suggested someone should put a bullet in their head.  Much of this vitriol was caught on video and audio tape. Follow this link. 

This goes far beyond free speech. This is hate speech. Violent-inciting speech. Fear-inducing speech.  The kind of speech that if not slammed as unacceptable and unfitting of anyone purporting to be a person of faith, is seen as acquiescence.  These characters can be dismissed as fringe, and attention seekers, but their message of Biblically supported violence and hate leaves a stench in the air that has to be addressed.

The Bible can and has been used to support violence and dismissal of women, foreigners, blacks.  As a follower of Christ, I use the Bible to show expressions of God’s love for all and to share the Christ message of celebration, acceptance and inclusion of all that God has made.

I am calling on other followers of Christ to reject and dismiss these Bible-toting characters and their message of  oppression and hate which marred the day in the park.

Silence is unacceptable.

If silence is allowed to be the norm in this community, the Grand Rapids Police Department would feel no compulsion to change their stance and say they would now investigate the matter.

Initially, the GRPD said there was nothing they could do, despite video evidence of threats. Police allegedly said threats could be taken seriously if they were made over the phone.  Really?

That response led people in the LGBT community to relay ,through social media, other acts of violence against them that were allegedly ignored by police. This created a sense that not everyone deserves police protection. Again, unacceptable.

But members of NOW and TEAM and yes GIFT’s  “Gay Christian? Yes!” Campaign are raising their voices to say the violence and threats of violence are unacceptable in this community.

I have a special message to my lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and ally brothers and sisters of faith.

The days of “just sitting with it” because you think no one hears you or sees you, or will stand with you in solidarity, are over.

For too long we have sat silently in church pews, in classrooms, in public places, where others have felt it was their right to create an atmosphere of shame and fear.

Because you raised your voices as victims of oppression, and as oppressors of oppression a light has been shined on this community.  We will continue to hold up that light.

We will not be dimmed.

GIFT joins "Inch Fest" the music and justice festival Friday

By Theresa D. McClellan

Faith Advocacy Coordinator

“Gay Christian? Yes!” Campaign

When you are a small community church with a mission to listen and be heard, what do you do?

If the church is the “Square-Inch Community,” you bring multi-textured music to the masses and raise the bar by highlighting tough social justice issues happening in our community.

So that's exactly what Pastor Steve DeRuiter chose to do by creating the free "Inch Fest" concert. The concert will be 4 p.m to 10 p.m. Friday June 20 in a parking lot in the 1000 block of Wealthy Street SE across the street from the Sparrows Coffee House.

The event features six bands offering music styles from indie alternative, to folk to Christian hip-hop to punk.  And when your not jammin' with the sounds, you have the chance to get more involved with six local social justice groups - including GIFT - that will have information tables and representatives who work on tackling issues of affordable housing, sex trafficking,  safe neighborhoods, and safe and affirming places to worship for the lesbian, gay, bi-sexual and transgender communities.

"We want to promote local goodness," said DeRuiter in explaining how he chose the participating social justice organizations. "Our church is really interested in promoting local business and justice organizations and art" said DeRuiter. His small church community meets Sundays in an upper room at the Inner City Christian Federation Bldg. at 920 Cherry St. SE.

The social justice organizations represented will include the Manasseh Project which is working on educating others on what is called the sex-slave industry occurring right here in West Michigan. The project is an outreach of 

Wedgewood Christian Services which is working to end the sexual exploitation of men, women and children.

"They have stats on how many of these victims are homeless and from the LGBT community, especially when LGBT kids get kicked out of their homes," said DeRuiter.

Too often, LGBT youths and young adults are ostracized by their families - based on church teachings - and wind up disconnected and on the streets. 

GIFT and the "Gay Christian? Yes!" Campaign, which works to spread the message that you can be gay and Christian, will also be present.  Our persistent message of hope and affirmation is crucial for youths and all who are told they are worthless and something to be dismissed just because they are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender or questioning.

To be able to spread our message of hope and affirmation in the neighborhoods and on the streets of Grand Rapids is indeed a blessing for GIFT and for all those who will hear. Our website includes a growing list of inclusive churches and more churches are wanting to know how they can embrace all of God's children. We regularly connect with people of faith who attest to the difference it has made in their lives to have found a supportive faith community.

Pastor DeRuiter is a Christian Reformed Church pastor whose small community of believers come from the parent church of Eastern Avenue Christian Reformed Church.

"I want to figure out how we can best be a church for our LGBT brothers and sisters, even though our Christian Reformed Church has miles to travel. How can we approach this as a church? We have gay members, they just want to know how to be a disciple of Christ," said the pastor.

So one way to reach out to multiple communities is to create a festival. He will not be preaching at the six-hour event. He will have free Bibles available and a box for prayer requests and literature about their church. It will mostly be multiple musicians, diverse information and a chance to get to know and learn about each other. There will also be vegan treats for sale.

Other justice groups expected are Safe Haven Ministries, which provides help for women in abusive relationships. The Inner City Christian Federation which helps create affordable housing and the East Hills Council of Neighborhoods which works on community development and building strong, safe, connected neighborhoods.  Square Inch Church is in the East Hills neighborhood.

"We are letting people know we are a Christian community in this neighborhood and we aim to be a safe place for you. My prayer is that people will know who we are and seek out questions about us and the universe in a Christian context," said DeRuiter.

He calls the expected music the 

“the Best local Band Lineup of the Summer”

They are:

Heartside Hooligans:http://heartsidehooligans.bandcamp.com/album/heartside-hooligans-2

Care: http://care.bandcamp.com/

Circle Maybe: http://circlemaybe.bandcamp.com/

Alert (hip hop from Chicago)http://www.facebook.com/thealertlive/app_204974879526524

The Soil and the Sun:http://thesoilandthesun.com/

Cains and Abels: http://cainsandabels.tumblr.com/

Ghost Heart: http://www.ghostheart.com/

--------------------------

Churches tell us of your programs and efforts to include the LGBT community and we will help spread the word on Theresa’s Table.

Send story ideas and church information toTheresa@GayChristianYes.org

A Golden Opportunity

By Theresa D. McClellan

"Gay Christian? Yes!"

Faith Advocacy Coordinator

When we started our "Gay Christian? Yes!" advertising campaign during Holy Week, some opponents quoted Scriptures to show why we were wrong. My faith tells me we are not wrong and our website is filled with resources showing examples of a God whose love is unconditional with arms wide open.

But starting May 20, those who say no, and those who know yes, will have an opportunity to learn more in a seven-week series titled,"What the Bible Really Says About Gay Christians (May Surprise You!"  

This series, led by the Rev.Bill Lyons of St. Johns Congregational United Church of Christ, is exactly the kind of work we were hoping to see come out of our advertising campaign - getting the conversation started in the community.

St. John's is one of the more than 30 churches on our growing list of gay-friendly churches to be found on our website. Rev. Lyons, 48, has offered to provide this seven week course which he says will be affirming to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Christians and also enlightening to those in the middle who have not made up their minds. The series will help those who believe one cannot be gay and Christian understand why they believe that. It will and also help those who who hear that message not to be dismayed, said Rev. Lyons.

The sessions are meant to create knowledge, dialogue, hope and mutual understanding with respectful dialogue while keeping everyone whole. 

This is an exciting opportunity for GIFT and the community. 

Rev. Lyons, who has more than 26 years experience as a pastor, has been honored for his biblical scholarship. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Bible and a Master of Divinity in Christian Theology. He is a doctoral candidate at McCormick Theological Seminary. He said he is hopeful the series will also attract those who have questioned the theology behind the billboard message.

Rev. Lyons has three adult children. He and his partner of 11 years live in Grand Rapids.

The free seven-week 90 minute sessions will be held Sundays starting May 20-July 1, 2012 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at St. John's United Church of Christ, 1934 Bridge St. NW, Grand Rapids, MI 49504.  The church is located where the corners of Bridge Street, Covell Street and Lake Michigan Drive meet.

I know I'm going. Hope to see you there!

To register for the free event or for more information, contact the church at 616-453-2497 or email them at office@stjohnsucc.comcastbiz.net

The Billboard is Gone: The Message Remains

By Theresa D. McClellan

“Gay Christian? Yes! “

Campaign Coordinator

Our billboard is down.  But our ministry is even stronger!

On Monday, April 30, our visual and very public beacon of hope, the “Gay Christian? Yes!” billboard, came down. It was the end of our 30 day contract.

The billboard, featuring a rainbow angel with outstretched arms to say “Yes!”  was a welcome sign like no other to everyone entering the Grand Rapids city limits on northbound U.S. 131.

I found myself often taking the 28^th Street entrance onto the northbound freeway for no other reason than to see that beautiful symbol of hope that represents the prayers, hard work and diligence of so many individuals, church leaders and volunteers who believe in our dream declared in our mission statement:

“To proclaim the love of Christ for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender people and their allies and to affirm their presence and inclusion in the Christian community.”

As the business cycles of life move on, the billboard is also gone for now, replaced by a restaurant ad featuring a delicious meal.

But our billboard provided another kind of sustenance. Beneath the beautiful “Yes!” angel we included our website GayChristianYes.org which continues to delight, enhance, engage and encourage all who visit.

Here is where pastors, theologians and believers shared in the “Easter Keepers” section why their faith compels them to believe that “Yes! you can be Christian and a member of the LGBT community.”

These Easter Keepers continue the teaching of Christ’s message of hope and revival from the chains of despair, which is why that essay series began Easter morning and continues through the 50 days of Easter ending May 26.

We chose to start our billboard campaign during Holy Week, the seven days of deep prayer and contemplation before Easter Sunday. This decision proved to be a God-send as one church, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 4301 Ambrose Ave. NE, felt so inspired by the billboard, they asked how to be a part of the Campaign on Maundy Thursday and created a petition to join our campaign that was signed three days later by 70 people including church leadership on Easter Sunday morning.

One of my favorite stories of the impact of this billboard came from board member Cara Oosterhouse, whose personal story was carried on the MLive website by the Grand Rapids Press.  Someone in a store she frequents recognized her picture in the media and shared that he, too, was a gay Christian . But he and his long-time partner left the church after being spiritually wounded by an oppressive, condemning sermon message. He had no idea, until visiting our website, that there were multiple churches in this community willing and ready to open their doors to him and his partner.

Before the April 3 Campaign unveiled, we had 25 churches listed on our website. Since the billboard Campaign, we started receiving calls regularly  from church representatives or pastors wanting to know how to get their name on our list of churches opening their doors to all God’s children. We start the process by having them fill out a survey, to-be published soon, explaining what it means for them to be a gay-friendly church. We now have 38 churches listed on our website and expect it to grow.

It is a blessing indeed when a website can be the source of helping to bring the sheep back to the fold of God’s outstretched arms.

We want your stories of how you have been impacted by the “Gay Christian? Yes!” Campaign. Please share them on the  Forums Page.

Every Monday, we will see a video essay by a gay Christian or ally telling their faith journey. Make these your pages and create and share your three-minute, affirming video stories of your faith journey. To submit a video, upload to YouTube and email the link to your video to content@GayChristianYes.org

And every Tuesday, here at Theresa’s Table where all are welcome, I will highlight a program, individual or give you updates on our “Gay Christian? Yes!” Campaign.

We have much to celebrate.

For even though we no longer have that welcome sign like no other for those entering the city limits, Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell makes clear his vision for this region.

You can hear and see that vision 8 p.m. Friday May 4, when the West Michigan Gay Men’s Chorus presents their concert “It’s a New Day When…" at the East Grand Rapids Performing Arts Center, 2211 Lake Drive SE.

Mayor Heartwell created a message of hope for the region with a special declaration that will be unveiled in the video at the concert. I was blessed to be a part of that short video that features community voices telling how “It Gets Better” for even the Christian gay community. Beyond the video, the concert features some powerful and emotional songs with sweet harmonies by the chorus. For the $15 tickets see www.wmgmc.org. 

The West Michigan Gay Men’s Chorus Board President Joseph Workman said he wants to send a message of hope through the concert that “It Gets Better” and “better starts right now, in this very moment."

“Better starts when we all take a stand in our lives to show others love and acceptance. It is a new day when we stand and say children are precious and beautiful, regardless of the sexuality identity or orientation,” said the chorus board president.

I believe we have started making West Michigan better with the raising up of our sign.

The billboard’s appearance has ended for now. The message proved to be a ray of hope for many rounding that curve on the highway. But keep returning here. Another beacon of hope is just around the corner.

Can a Billboard save a life?

Blessings,

I want to thank you for the prayers and support you have given me in my role as Faith Advocacy Coordinator for Gays In Faith Together (GIFT).

We have some exciting programs planned in the coming months. And as you consider spending your tax refund, I want to share with you how you can help our "Gay Christian? Yes!" Campaign based on just one call to our office. I  want you to know this is long. But the message is important and worth your time, so please, continue reading and know that your help will make a difference.

The young one on the other end of the phone line just wanted another voice, another perspective from a spiritual source.

So she called our GIFT office and left a message for Chaplain Jim Lucas. For some reason, her pastor decided to stand at the pulpit decrying all things homosexual. He got to the point where he said if there were any homosexuals in his congregation they should leave. Now.

The young one sat in her pew. She didn't want to move and be noticed. She didn't want to stay for a spiritual beat down. Her parents knew, but never talked about, their daughter's sexuality. They were enmeshed in their own shame fed by cultural and religious messages. So she stayed and felt alone, unheard, unseen, unwanted.

We have seen the news reports of what happens to youth who feel this way with no where to turn. Chaplain Jim returned the teen's phone call, but her angry father suggested we not call again

Imagine what that Sunday afternoon car ride home from church was like for that family driving past cornfields in silence. Heavy silence. Imagine if while driving they passed a billboard stating "Gay Christian? Yes!" and beneath those words was the web address www.GayChristianYes.org with the tagline "you are not alone."

Imagine if she went to her computer and found the site filled with sermons from local pastors whose faith journey showed them that God says yes to all God's children. What if she found pastors willing to talk to other pastors that have not yet embraced this message of hope? What if she found testimonies from young ones like her who had been in the same circumstances? What if she found others who moved from the depths of despair to the joy that comes from accepting their gayness and Christianity?

What if her mother, who dared not have the courage or know how to address the elephant in the room, went to our website and connected with other parents of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender children? What if she found essays and books and movies and meeting spaces to engage in conversation with others like her?

What if her father, who hung up on the chaplain, decided to watch the videos on the website in his own time? The series of brief, pointed and Spirit-filled videos ask if you really know what the Bible says about homosexuality. Other videos show honest discussions of the struggle and how others came out whole.

 What if he saw and read testimonies from other fathers, mothers, pastors, like him, who are on a journey of discovering how they can honor their faith while loving and affirming their non-conforming child? What if after reviewing the entire site, the father called his pastor and said, we need to talk.

What if you could help make this happen?

YOU CAN!!!!

 We need your financial support to make this billboard campaign a success. We are preparing the website and resources for an early spring release. We are collaborating with others and creating programs and projects under the "Gay Christian? Yes!" campaign that will nurture families, churches and individuals who want to help express the welcome message that there are no mistakes, we ALL are God's children and loved.

We want to have billboards across West Michigan in the spring of 2012 announcing the good news that yes, you can be gay and Christian and directing people, who have been spiritually bullied, to places of comfort.

We don't want another young one to hear from the pulpit that they are going to hell because of who they are attracted to.

We don't want anyone to sit in silence when they hear such a message without having the spiritual and educational resources to challenge such statements.

We believe that you, too, want a world, where everyone who wants a church home, can find one where they are not condemned or ostracized because of who they love.

I believe that you want to help with this campaign and you understand that this is a tough sell and requires a lot of work. I am committed to the work and weekly give much more than the 20 hours I am paid. I just ask for your financial help to make this Campaign successful.

  A few people have supported us with major donations of $500 or more, but we also need donations of $10, $25, $50, or $100. Whatever amount you give, we greatly appreciate your partnership and your willingness to share this message with at least 10 other friends.

As an added benefit, if you send your donation before April 15, you will have an easy reminder of your wonderful tax deduction for 2012. (GIFT is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization.)

We welcome your donation by check or online. If you would like to donate with a check, please make it out to GIFT and send it to our office with the Gay Christian? Yes! Campaign in the memo.

GIFT
207 East Fulton
Grand Rapids, MI 49503

If you would like to donate by credit card online, please go to our website www.GaysInFaithTogether.org and click on the Donate Now button which uses the secure Just Give service..

Would you like to learn more about GIFT’s growing ministry? We invite you to read our autumn newsletter by following this link: http://gaysinfaithtogether.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/GIFT-RAP-Autumn-2011.pdf

I think often of the young one who called and I pray that she continues to seek messages of hope regarding her faith and sexuality.  My faith tells me that since she sought us, she will continue seeking. But I worry about all of those who don’t have it in them to make such a call. They are the ones most in need. They are the ones we can reach with your help. We start by sending the message clearly and boldly:  

GAY CHRISTIAN? YES!

In Faith,

Theresa D. McClellan

GIFT's Faith Advocacy Coordinator

Gay Christian? Yes! Campaign

Happy Knee Year!

By Theresa D. McClellan


Faith Advocacy Coordinator

Gays In Faith Together

“It is not I, but the Christ within who does the work.”

These amazing words salved my tears 3 a.m. Sunday morning as I lay crying in my Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital room.

In pain and overwhelmed, I’d paged the nurse desk late Saturday night and asked if she’d go online, find and print the day’s Daily Word message from Unity Magazine.

The Daily Word is one of my favorite sources of spiritual sustenance. Each day a random topic is expressed in an essay inspired by a Scripture verse. I’ve received the magazine in my home for years. And even when I misplace it, it re-appears just when it’s needed with a message so profound, on point and seemingly just for me.

But since my Dec. 30, 2011 total knee replacement surgery, I have been without it. I forgot to renew my subscription.

But God is good and always on time and delivers to us exactly what we need. Often more.

This is the story of how a random message made it clear that God is constantly finding ways to show us we are not in this alone. All we have to do is listen, be open, and look for God’s work to unfold, often at the hands of surprising messengers.

This is also a message of how our “Gay Christian? Yes! Campaign is going to unfold in the spring of 2012 despite the human frailties of its organizers.

But I’m getting ahead of myself. This started in the fall of 2011 when I finally decided to seek help for my painful knees. Seeking just another pain relieving shot, I was informed my pain was caused by agonizing bone on bone knee deterioration. I needed two new knees. My reaction was instant.

“I can’t have surgery now, I’m in the midst of a major campaign starting in 2012!”

My accompanying friend and the nurse viewing my x-rays were aghast at my statement. They convinced me if I didn’t address this now, my future scenarios would be bleak.

So I agreed to a Dec. 7 surgery. Bouts of bronchitis caused surgical delays for me, but once fully healthy I finally snagged the Dec. 30 date.

I made preparations at work and home getting ready for this life-altering surgery, but it soon became clear how un-ready I was for everything coming my way.

As we start this New Year and our “Gay Christian? Yes! Campaign , I know all about being overwhelmed and about the power of God.

I’ve spent the last year with a talented team of Christians leading the way in praying, planning and collaborating to make this “Gay Christian? Yes! Campaign a success. With your continued involvement, some amazing events will begin to unfold this spring.

Preparing for and having that surgery led to the discovery of other health issues. After four days in Saint Mary’s Hospital, and ten at Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital, learning how to walk again in an amazingly supportive environment whose motto is “restoring hope and freedom,” I saw and felt God’s hand in my life.

It was never more apparent the Sunday morning of January 8 when God’s blessings unceasingly continued to bubble forth.

My asthma was out of control, my blood pressure numbers were consistently rising to stroke levels and the pain in my new surgical knee was unbearable. To keep all this at bay, a team of doctors had three computerized pages of drugs they were giving me daily and I would have to do the same once home.

I was scared and overwhelmed and paged the nurse asking her for more pain meds, a print out of my drugs list and a computer print out of the Daily Word. Saturday turned to Sunday morning and she brought me the message. I was not the only one feeling overwhelmed, she leaned against the wall and read it silently. I asked her to read it to me aloud.

The anonymous scribe was writing about feeling overwhelmed and used the New Testament Scriptures from Colossians 3:11 for inspiration.

This was the opening line of the essay. “It is not I, but the Christ within who does the work”

My nurse looked at me as I lay in bed crying while she read to me softly. She cried and held my hand. “May I give you a hug,” she asked?

“Yes, please?” I responded.

I requested the Daily Word message and a printout of my drugs on Saturday, but she was finally able to complete the task around 3 am Sunday morning leaving me a message that was right on time.

I used that message throughout the rest of the day to buoy me when my physical therapists sent me back to my hospital room because my blood pressure was out of control; later still in the day when a friend, who was going to bring my mother to visit me ,called to say sickness changed his plans and could I find someone else to bring my mother.

I saw God’s handiwork when out of the blue an old reporter friend ,hearing I was in the hospital, called to check on me and offered to bring my mother to see me upon hearing my dilemma.

I saw God’s handiwork again when my 85-year-old mother finally arrived, but after a short visit, became ill herself in my rehab hospital room with flu-like symptoms. Another friend arrived to take her to the nearby hospital emergency room, while I lay helpless in my hospital bed.

And once my mother was released from emergency, hours later to spend the night with one of my friends, I saw God’s handiwork as I sat on my bed and wept, releasing tears of pain and fear and relief.

And I heard the prayerful words of my roommate, an elderly stroke victim who thought she had lost her words.

“Lord, I don’t know what I’m saying or how to say it,” she prayed, “but be with my friend her and her mother. Let her know you are in control”.

I grew calm and an incredible sense of peace filled me. I felt it again that night when my sister Vanessa called me from Houston and prayed the Our Father to me with me repeating after her. As I heard myself pray, I was reminded of how my stroke-addled father would end each night repeating the Our Father as my sister Connie prayed it to him. My father Frank and my sister Connie are in heaven now and surrounding me with love.

As Vanessa prayed to me that Sunday night and I thought of all the God moments in just one Sunday, I knew at that moment that nothing, no thing could separate me from God and no thing could separate us from doing God’s will of spreading the “Gay Christian? Yes! message.

Just before midnight, the nurses came in to check my blood pressure. All had heard about my day and expected the numbers to be horrific. But I was floating in God juice and the numbers could not touch me.

On the first reading I was 180, then 190. I told the nurse I felt fine and asked her to read me my Daily Word printout while I focused on deep breathing. Their brows grew increasingly furrowed as my top numbers climbed past 200 and my bottom number reached 101.

“I don’t care what that computer says,” I told her while smiling at the computerized blood pressure monitor. “God’s got this” I said waving my hand from the soles of my feet to the top of my head.

“Well I care,” the nurse stated while consulting with a second nurse. I lay back and breathed and the nurses watched in amazement as the numbers decreased to 143 over 87.

I was physically, emotionally and spiritually exhausted, but I knew at that point that even though my flesh was weak and I was not where I wanted to be in the campaign, even though I had not yet met personally with every pastor that expressed interest and even though illness had not allowed me to raise all the monies for the billboard campaign, I realized God was telling me that I did not and would not go this alone.

And finally, you know how I knew I was on the right track with the Gay Christian? Yes message, I want back to Colossians where the message is “Christ is in all”

Sounds like Yes! to me.

Now it is February and after a month of intense physical therarpy and after ingesting medically necessary serious pain pills, I am home looking forward to outpatient therapy.  My brain fog has cleared and I am moving toward returning to the campaign.  This is my first column. I hope it sounds like yes to you.

Special GRITS gathering Wednesday Nov. 30 You're invited!

"Ahh the holidays. Time for family, friends, the food. Sometimes Thanksgiving can be stressful. Were you and your relationship served up as the main course? Relax. Breath. Come to the next GRITS meeting 7 p.m. Nov. 30 where we'll all unwind, share holiday stories, laugh, pray, eat, support one another AND bring your dreams as we make plans for the 2012 future GRITS sessions and create a team to make it happen.

Things we're considering:
-Growing GRITS to twice a month meetings with speakers from area churches.

- GRITS outings: dinner anyone

-GRITS church visits: hey we are gay Christians, some of us don't have a church and are kinda shy about finding one. Go as a group.

-GRITS study sessions: what keeps you strong in the storm, how have others before you?
We'll be reading,learning and discussing the works of strong gay Christians including Rev. Melanie Morrison, Rev Candace
Chellew Hodge and your choices . . .

-GRITS action:
The idea of GRITS (God Rocks In The Stream) is creating and nurturing vocal, visible, strong LGBT Christians and allies. Standing strong in heavy currents. Being the one that stays and changing the course of the difficult conversations. Are there community projects we want to tackle/support as gay Christians in 2012?

Who we are:
We are in our 20s to 80s. We are churched and unchurched. We are struggling and solid. We are part of GIFTs "Gay Christian? Yes!" Campaign.

We provide unconditional love and support to one another through prayer, study, fellowship, fun, connections and collaborations. We are preparing ourselves for the reactions that will come in April 2012 as the "Gay Christian? Yes!" billboards are unveiled and we are letting the world know that yes, you can be gay and Christian. Yes, you can be an ally. Yes, you can be person of faith and LGBT.

Join us, see how much better we can be together!

GRITS meetings are held in The Vine, enter the rear southwest door of the First Place Bldg, 207 E Fulton Street, beneath the GIFT offices.
For more information call Theresa at 774-0446.

Why we hold the Transgender Day of Remembrance and Hope

By Theresa D. McClellan
Faith Advocacy Coordinator
Gays In Faith Together


Less than 200 miles from Grand Rapids, a mother is grieving the loss of her 19-year-old child who was born male and self identified as a beautiful woman named "Treasure."

She was mutilated, burned and left on the ground like a piece of trash.

The publicized reactions by some, who read of this horrendous murder in Detroit last month focused on whether the victim, was male or female. Really?

The mother had to identify the torso of her loved one. The details are horrific. But because the one who was violated, is a member of the transgender community, one of the marginalized ones, there has been little outrage.

This is why we hold the Transgender Day of Remembrance. For all the non-conforming treasures out there who are cast aside. For all the mothers who are not allowed to fully grieve, their loss clouded by inane, insensitive, inappropriate questions, speculations and comments. For all those whose lives have been lost around the world to violence because they did not conform to the sexual roles expected of them.

We hold the Day of Remembrance for those who have been slain. We hold this day of Remembrance and Hope for those non-conforming transgendered friends who have come through the journey and found solid footing.

We also hold the Day of Remembrance for the allies who are willing to stand up and say "Enough" to those who see bullying, violence and murder as sport.

By the end of the Transgender Day of Remembrance and Hope service on Sunday November 20, 2011, participants will have celebrated all the ways that we are while recognizing the toll of violence being who you are has on the Gender variant community.

It is on that tightrope of remembrance and hope that allies and gender variant people will reveal how we can make a difference and change the course of bias, said organizers.

These messages of remembrance and hope will be interwoven into a service featuring a thought-provoking message from nationally known activist and educator the Rev. Dr. Julie Nemecek, soul-stirring music and presentations from the gender variant community.

The service will be held 6:00 p.m. Sunday November 20th at Plymouth United Church of Christ, 4010 Kalamazoo Avenue SE, Grand Rapids, MI. The service is being planned by the Transgender Education Collaboration, Transpectrum, Plymouth United Church of Christ and GIFT (Gays In Faith Together).

"So often transgender and gender variant people go through their lives unnoticed by others. But there are exceptions where bias prejudices and even violence makes life impossible and all too often cut short for people that do not follow the societies’ ideas of gender,” said transgender educator and activist Jena Lewis.

“We hope that by both taking the time to remember, but more importantly to celebrate gender variant people, we can help open eyes in the community, and maybe even open doors for gender variant people." said Lewis.

Through the sharing of stories, reading of names and visual presentations, the service will create a space where all are free to be. There is hope that the service will serve as a springboard of action for others wanting to make Michigan and the rest of the world a safer and more informed place for the transgender and gender variant communities. Following the service, organizations such as the Transgender Education Collaboration (TEC) will have information and make connections during a reception for all present, said event co-organizer M Kelley.

A planning team, led by Lewis, Kelley and VanDoren have been working to create a space where there is space for hope and remembrance. The service will have secular and spiritual overtones as recognition that some in the transgender community have been shunned by religious traditions and would not feel comfortable in a church setting.

My faith tells me God rejects no one. So when anyone is rejected by the church, or church followers it is our role to make sure that everyone knows the outstretched arms of God embrace all, even if you've been told God does not live in or believe in you.


Please join us:

What is the future for Gay Christians in West Michigan?

By Theresa D. McClellan
Faith Advocacy Coordinator
Gays In Faith Together


On Thursday night, crowds will pour into the Loosemoore Auditorium on the downtown campus at GVSU to watch the free premier screening of the People's History of the LGBTQ community in Grand Rapids.

From the trailers and descriptions posted on the Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy, (GRIID)website, we will hear interviews, see archived Grand Rapids Press news clippings, and television news broadcasts about the struggle for justice and equality by the LGBTQ population in Grand Rapids.

We will see familiar faces from Grand Rapids' past and hear stories that make us cringe in pain over the blatant discrimination, dismissal and demonization of who we are. We will rise up in our seats in recognition of those who paved the way before us. And if we are really listening and not just socializing, we will ask ourselves what is my role, what can I do?

The faith community is an important piece and continues to be an important piece of that struggle. We will see how people of faith wielded their religion to restrict, and we will also see how people of faith stepped up and reclaimed a vision of a God of love and hope.

As we watch our history, as revealed on this screen, consider where you fit in and consider how you represented your faith? Also consider, how do you want to be seen in the future? And before and after the movie, stop by our Gays In Faith Together (GIFT) table and see where you can fit in in making West Michigan a beacon of hope for all with our "Gay Christian? Yes!" Campaign that will launch publicly in 2012.

Our mission is to "proclaim the love of Christ for lesbians, gays, bisexuals, and transgender (LGBT) people and their allies and to affirm their presence and inclusion in the Christian community."

For some, that mission is pretty radical. As followers of Christ, we see it no other way. Which is why we are launching a bold, exciting, blessed and Spirit-filled Campaign that will launch publicly during the 50 days of the Easter season 2012 and continue at least through 2013.

We are forming a collaboration of churches, other organizations and individuals to lay the groundwork for this exciting campaign. There is a lot of movement in Grand Rapids and West Michigan on LGBT concerns that will affect the history and future of who we are and how we are in this community and beyond.

So make sure you also visit the tables of others such as Holland is Ready and TEAM as well as the gay-friendly churches present. And after the movie, some of you will consider joining the fundraiser at the neighborhood pub The Meanwhile Bar where the Until Love is Equal group has gathered.

Let us create a groundswell of hope and support and action.

In creating this work, GRIID creator Jeff Smith explained it this way.

"There is an underside to every age about which history does not often speak,

because history is written from records left by the privileged.

We learn about politics from the political leaders, about economics from the entrepreneurs,
...
about slavery from the plantation owners, about the thinking of an age from its intellectual elite."

Howard Zinn

Following the model of radical historian Howard Zinn, this project involves the documentation of the history of the LGBTQ movement in West Michigan.

By doing interviews and collecting archival material, this project has produced a documentary film and an online archive of material about the struggle for equality and justice by the LGBTQ community in West Michigan. The screenings of “A People's History of the LGBTQ Community in Grand Rapids” will allow for continuing dialogue about the LGBTQ movement and provide a forum for current and future organizing.

This is a project of the Grand Rapids Institute for Information Democracy. The LGBT Resource Center is proud to be a co-sponsor along with GVSU’s Kutsche Office of Local History.

Come join us Thursday 6:30 p.m. Nov. 17 at the Loosemoore Auditorum in downtown Grand Rapids on the GVSU campus.

We will be there. I hope you will also. Because our vision for West Michigan is "that every LGBT person may walk freely in the love of Christ."

That has not been our history. May it be our future.

Bless tonight's 7 p.m. National Coming Out Day Service

By Theresa D. McClellan
Faith Advocacy Coordinator
"Gay Christian? Yes!" Campaign

There is an excitement in the air as we ready for tonight's National Coming Out Day service at St. John's United Church of Christ, 1934 Bridge St. NW.

The hard work of the programming committee of the "Gay Christian? Yes!" Campaign is evident. The songs, the message, the creation of a sense of togetherness, purpose, family, solidarity and love is not by chance.

On this day we ask everyone to COME OUT! Show who you are. Embrace all that God has made you, be that lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, ally.

One friend wrote on his Facebook page that he is coming out as a heterosexual who strongly supports the LGBT community.
I like that. That takes guts.

Others are considering coming out as Christian members of the LGBT community. This is another action that takes guts for there are those who say you cannot be a person of faith and LGBT. Some of those voices come from within the LGBT community, from people who have been so bullied from the pulpit they say why embrace your oppressor?

Others are pondering is it safe? Can I tell my sister, my mother, my father, my pastor, my Christian college counselor. I'm tired of walking on eggshells and telling so many lies to fit in. I, too, want to celebrate the love of someone who looks like me.

My heart goes out to those on that journey. Those first steps are excruciating. But the joy, the freedom, the reality that God makes no mistakes and the reality that there are places of worship that will embrace you, walk with you and who will ask you to walk with them as they learn their way. That is truly a blessing.

That is one of the joys of this "Gay Christian? Yes!" Campaign as more churches and individuals come on board to see how they can help,learn and walk with their congregation.

Come to tonight's service and you will hear stories from those coming out, you will hear music from the West Michigan Gay Men's Chorus that will make your heart soar. You will hear a gospel song that comes from my story. "I Want You to Know My God" a song I wrote more than a decade ago in response to a well-meaning pastor who informed me that my love of another woman was "not of God."

But my relationship with God told me a different story and as I came out to my pastor and shared my story, my faith and continued mutual dialogs, I saw the power of God as my pastor eventually held up the Bible and told the congregation, "this is a book of love, do not use it to beat up people."

We all have stories. Feel the poignancy, the power and the blessing of National Coming Out Day as celebrated in a church setting and stay afterwards for fellowship and learn more about our host church St. John's UCC led by the Rev. Bill Lyons, learn about out other gay-friendly churches and learn about the "Gay Christian? Yes!" Campaign.

The song I will sing with the Plymouth Chorus is also the kickoff of a song contest, a search for songs expressing the faith journey of LGBT Christians in all the ways that we are: Blues, Christian, Folk,Gospel,Indie, Jazz, Rock. The songwriter's contest will culminate in a concert in 2012.

Come Out and be blessed.

Is Gay a Gift?

By Theresa D. McClellan

So a recent response to a billboard outreach to the gay community by a Toledo church has prompted another church leader to erect nine billboards stating, "Gay Is Not a Gift"

The message is that "no one would choose this."

Often I hear lesbian,gay,bi-sexual,transgender (LGBT) and heterosexual people say; why would anyone choose to be hated and demeaned?

When actually the question should be, why would anyone choose to demean, diminish and dishonor any of God's creation; especially in the name of God?

For me, gay is definitely a gift. It is one of the many gifts God has blessed me with and that I have CHOSEN to embrace. It wasn't always so. Societal pressures, media messages, even messages from some pulpits, leave no doubt that fully embracing all that God has made you to be is not ok if you do not conform to expectations of masculine and feminine.

The fallout from this pastor's message will have some - who already wonder and question why they are gay, lesbian, bi-sexual or transgender, feeling unsure and unsafe.

But that is why there are allies, LGBTQ organizations and a continuously growing number of safe places of worship where people can explore how to be all that God has meant them to be.

As the Faith Advocacy Coordinator for the "Gay Christian? Yes!" Campaign under GIFT (GaysInFaithTogether.org) it humbles and pleases me to see the collaborative efforts here in Grand Rapids for the upcoming Oct. 11 National Coming-Out Day Service at St. John's United Church of Christ, 1934 Bridge St. NW.

With Scriptures that salve and a meaningful message from the Rev. Dr. Randal Jelks, this 7 p.m. Tuesday night service will hopefully heal wounds and open doors.

With powerful music from the West Michigan Gay Men's Chorus, poignant messages from those who have made the journey out of the closet and an original gospel song celebrating and affirming all of God's children, this worship service will prayerfully help answer the question, "Is Gay a Gift?

The answer is a resounding Yes! Gay is a gift. So is being heterosexual or however God made you. There are no mistakes.

After the Tuesday night service, visitors will be able to come downstairs for a dessert reception where we will fellowship with one another. There are more than two dozen churches on GIFT's ever-growing list of gay-friendly churches.

We are getting responses daily of their intent to be represented at the service with tables of information, sermons, adult-education programs, support.

My prayer is that those here in Grand Rapids who have been shamed and demeaned because of who they are, will realize they are not alone.

My prayer for Toledo, and the rest of the world, is that those who have been hurt because of how they are made will not drive by and see harsh words condemning them. They will look up in their community, whereever they are, and see hope.

Three men on a Wednesday

By Theresa D. McClellan
Faith Advocacy Coordinator
Gays In Fath Together

Wednesday night is rolling around again, but this time the story is different.
For on this Wednesday night, an 18-year-old man by the name of Max Singer is taking positive action against something that bothered him.

Armed with food, youthful energy and the unifying belief in accepting all people, Singer is organizing a youth march on Holland City Hall for Aug. 3

Max wants to raise his voice in protest, and give courage to other youths finding their voice, by demonstrating against the city council’s decision not to include sexual orientation and gender identity in the city’s non-discrimination ordinances.

On Wednesday, Max will ask the Holland City Council to reconsider its June 15 split vote.

He felt compelled to action after sitting through his first Holland City Council meeting July 20. He listened to the majority of supportive voices come from outside Holland. He realized how he felt on the issue and believed there were others in his age group who had remained quiet or unaware.

So he is organizing, through Facebook, a 5 p.m. march on Holland City Hall from Smallenburg Park. The culinary arts student decided he would provide food and cook for people, according to his proud mother who appeared Friday night in Grand Rapids at the Wealthy Theatre in Grand Rapids.

She was present for the showing of the Queeries movie, “Through Our Eyes,” the powerful documentary of earnest young gay Christians struggling with the messages of shame and condemnation they hear from their Sunday pulpits or in their homes.

One by one, the youths in the movie told painful stories of their inner struggle of trying to be themselves, while hearing soul-crushing messages from their faith leaders that who they were was unacceptable to God.

One youth told of being kicked out of his home by his father for being gay, while his crying mother said nothing in dutiful silence.

Another told of trying to pray away the gay and finally realizing after three years “the gay” would not go away.

Others told of knowing in their hearts, in their Spirit, that they were all right with God and of hanging on to that belief one day at a time.

I was glad to be watching this movie with other gay Christians from Plymouth United Church of Christ and St. John’s United Church of Christ. These are just two of at least 23 churches on our ever growing gay-friendly list of supportive churches.

I was glad to be with allies like Holland PFLAG, West Michigan Pride, Grand Valley State University GLBT Resource Center and of course GIFT (Gays In Faith Together) where we proclaim the news with resounding boldness that God makes no mistakes and Yes, you can be a person of faith and LGBT.

And I was glad we had set up information booths in the lobby telling of area gay-friendly churches and programs to affirm the LGBT community.

But before we watched the movie and saw the struggles of those in the documentary, we were reminded of the very real struggles of our neighbors in Holland.

Max’s mother spoke at the request of local journalist/facilitator Tommy Allen who wanted everyone to know what was happening in Holland. She told of her son, who like most his age, was oblivious to the City Hall actions. Since the vote, she has had signs in her front yard declaring her space a discrimination free zone. Sometimes the signs are stolen and she just makes more. On July 20 she brought her son to a council meeting and it was life-changing.

For a young man who had been raised in a family “committed to diversity” the young man with Hispanic and African-American siblings felt he had to “do something.“

He figured food would more readily bring people together, So he will feed them before the peaceful march. As his mother spoke at the theatre, others offered to bring food as well.

Contrast that with the actions of two men from the previous Wednesday.

They, too, saw something that “bothered them.”

Walking back to his car following a Michigan Equality reception for the new executive director, Denise Brogan Kator, Dave Battjes was attacked in downtown Grand Rapids.

He was wearing his pink Michigan Pride t-shirt and two young thugs in their 20s threw him up against a wall, punched him in the ribs, called him a gay slur and told him gays don’t deserve to live.

One young man encounters struggle around difference and wants to widen the circle. Two other young men encounter difference and want to destroy.

What messages have they been hearing that makes them think it’s ok to attack what is different? Who else is listening to those messages?

What are we doing to counter those vitriolic messages of dismissal and dishonor with messages of love, acceptance, affirmation and grace?

What are we doing so that no other child or adult, on a documentary movie screen or in our own backyard has to hear false and painful words about who they are and their place in the world?

Spirit: Can't Crush This

As I walked through Riverside Park Saturday during the annual West Michigan Pride celebration, an old-school song, “Can’t Touch This,” from the prophet MC Hammer reached my ears and made me smile.

Of course, the way I think, I instantly gave it a new-school flavor and changed it to “Spirit: Can’t Crush This.”

For as far as the eye could see there were people filled with joy in the sunshine. Their Spirit was not shaken despite two separate heartbreaking decisions that week by the Holland City Council and the Christian Reformed Church Synod to maintain the status quo on harmful messages regarding the treatment of homosexuals.

On Monday the Synod decided 93-81 not to re-examine its theological position on homosexuality that has been unchanged since 1973. For those brave and determined allies and gay Christian Reformed Church Christians who supported the change, the decision to maintain the premise that homosexuality is sinful despite new studies, is heartbreaking.

And later that week the Holland City Council voted 5-4 to allow discrimination against homosexuals. Again, the rhetoric, the venom, the conversations that made it ok to accept that anyone should be treated less than, was heartbreaking.

But on Saturday, despite those voices in our communities that can wreak havoc on the souls and spirit of the lesbian, gay, bi and transgender community, there was pride and joy and light in the air at Riverside Park.

People were hugging one another, renewing old acquaintances, admiring new looks, flirting with one another, helping one another and basking in the freedom one has when one feels safe to hold hands in the park.

As the Gay Men’s Chorus stood on stage and the Rev. Matthew Cockrum of Fountain Street Church took the lead on a song about love, I watched young and old gay couples sitting in the grass sharing hot dog lunches, cuddled in one another’s arms and swaying to the music. Clusters of gay friends and family enjoyed the day just laughing, listening, being.

I watched drag queens dressed to the nines - in heels too fierce for me - command the stage with their presence; and sister-friends “Nervous but Excited” - with guitars and strong voices - pic their way into hearts of new fans.

Returning to my booth, Gays In Faith Together (GIFT), I watched with pride the confidence of young volunteers telling their stories of hope to strangers questioning if there was hope.

I swelled with pride and gave silent praise to Spirit when at one point our entire booth was engaged with visitors: a middle aged leatherman; a young lesbian couple with a baby; two gay teens; a mother with a gay son; a shy young black man, all with a hunger to know our message that yes, you can be Gay and Christian. Yes, you can nurture your spiritual life and embrace your sexuality. Yes, you can be all that God has meant you to be AND celebrate all the gifts that God has given you.

No, you are not an abomination. You are not evil. You are not unloved. You are not a mistake. You are not to take in those negative messages that crush your spirit.

My heart went out to a young man who told me he hasn’t been to church in eight years since a minister told him he was not welcome. He missed church, he said. He wanted a church home. I hugged him and showed him our growing list of more than two dozen gay-friendly churches and faith-based groups on our website and directed him to the record-number of churches and faith groups present in the park to say yes to him: Bridge Evidence Group; Center for Inquiry; First Park Congregational Church; Fountain Street Church; Plymouth United Church of Christ; Reconciliation Metropolitan Community Church; St. John’s United Church of Christ; and Westminster Presbyterian.

I saw love, and joy and connection and I thought of how the week started in Holland where discrimination found its footing with a 5-4 vote to deny efforts to even pursue the conversation.

I thought of the countless hours, efforts and prayers by Holland is Ready and other supporters to make a difference and I felt a sense of pride in their strength, grit, grace and Spirit that it takes to wage an uphill battle.

I relished in the eagerness of young allies and family members bringing their gay friends to our booth and the stamina of two senior volunteers who nonchalantly walked a half-mile to reach our booth just to be sure they could be there to provide yet another friendly face and listening ear in support of the lgbt community.

By the time we we ran out of fliers of our church listings and the sermon from our Chaplain Jim Lucas stating “God Does Not Condemn Us” the day had nearly ended.

But I left Pride with an extra buoyancy in my already joyful step because I knew that we had played an important part. This is why Pride is so valuable.

Spirit - Can’t Crush This.

GIFT announces LOGO contest for "Gay Christian? Yes!" collaborative campaign

Are you creative?

Artistic?

Want to make a difference?

At West Michigan Pride today, GIFT announced the start of the GIFT LOGO contest for our "Gay Christian? Yes!" collaborative campaign.


GIFT LOGO CONTEST DETAILS

OVERVIEW

The purpose of the GIFT Logo Contest is to design a logo for GIFT’s “Gay Christian? Yes!” collaborative campaign.
We want an original, unique (no clip art) and dynamic image that represents the joy, hope, and energy of what it means to say Yes! to being gay and Christian. By participating in the contest, the artist accepts and agrees to comply with the official rules.
- All entries, images and artwork become exclusive property of GIFT (Gays In Faith Together).


The logo will be used online, in print, and on merchandise. The final version of the logo will need to be suitable for high quality printing.


How to Enter:
1. All entries must fill out the “Logo Entry” form found on the website. This form requires that you list the name, address, phone number, age and email address of the entrant.

2. Entries may be submitted by email to Theresa@GaysInFaithTogether.org with the subject line “logo contest” no later than 7:31 p.m. on 7/31/2011.

3. No more than 3 (three) entries may be submitted by any one entrant

4. Entries must conform to the Submission Guidelines set out below. Entries which fail to do so will be rejected.

5. Deadline for Entries is 7:31 p.m. July, 31, 2011.

6. There is no fee to enter the contest.

Required elements:
- The design must contain the words “Gay Christian? Yes!”
-We want an original, unique (no clip art) and dynamic image that represents the joy, hope, and energy of what it means to say Yes! to being gay and Christian.

Submission Guidelines:
The purpose of the Gays In Faith Together Logo Contest is to design a logo for the “Gay Christian? Yes!” campaign collaborative. The winning design will appear, in some form, on all promotional materials for the collaborative. This includes posters, mugs, programs and t-shirts.


-Entries must be original.

-Care should be taken to ensure that Entries are not in any way similar to
existing logos or other copyrighted images.

-After you create the logo, convert the design into a usable web version and print quality version of the logo. The logo must adapt well to electronic and print media, to reproduction on small and large surfaces, and to use in color and grayscale.


Eligibility:
Contest is open to everyone. If you are between the ages of 13 and 17, your parent or legal guardian must sign the consent block on the official entry form to ensure that you have your parent or legal guardian’s permission.


FORMATTING:
For purposes of submission, please submit the design in .png, .jpg or .psd for (Resolution of 300 dpi) AND as a .pdf file (less than 10MB). If the logo incorporates non-standards fonts, you must be able to provide us with the font should your logo be selected. If you are chosen as a winner, you MUST be able to provide a high-resolution vector file.

Prizes:

1. One crisp $100 bill
2. Artistic credit for your winning design on www.GaysInFaithTogether.org and an article on you in the Theresa’s Table blog.
3. The opportunity to be featured in an online interview.

Selection of winners:
All entry designs will be screened and those that comply with the contest rules and guidelines will be judged by our staff and volunteers of GIFT and be made available for a public vote.
The winner will be notified by phone, email or regular mail at the end of the contest.
In the event that no entry is selected, GIFT reserves the right to declare no winner and to run the contest again at a later date.

Please contact the GIFT office 616-774-0446 or send questions to Theresa@GaysInFaithTogether.org

Kenyan minister dedicated to advocating for gay Christians in Africa comes to West Michigan to visit with GIFT at noon on June 3

By Theresa D. McClellan

When you live in a country where sexual minorities are shunned by church and society, how does your faith give you the strength to support and advocate for them and how do you give comfort to gays who feel the church is compelled to persecute them?

Listen, learn and be inspired by the message from visiting Kenyan pastor, the Rev. John Makokha, who will share his journey of faith and advocacy with GIFT staff and supporters in downtown Grand Rapids at noon Friday June 3 in Room 3109 at the First Place Building, 207 East Fulton St.

The Rev. John Makokha, a pastor in Nairobi, Kenya, is also the country director of "Other Sheep Africa" an organization dedicated to advocacy on behalf of gay and lesbian Christians. He and his wife, Anne, offer educational workshops for pastors, seminary faculty and lay church members on human sexuality and gender identity.

Their ministry is based on the Scriptures from John 10-16 "And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd."

Rev. John is a senior pastor of the Riruta United Methodist Church and founded the "Children of Africa Hope Mission" where he and his wife provide elementary education, clothing and meals to orphans and other vulnerable children living in the slums of Nairobi.

Local philosophy professor and Fulbright scholar David Hoekema met Rev. Makokha last year while studying abroad in Nairobi. "We were deeply moved by their dedication to the slum residents of Nairobi they serve, to the plight of gay Kenyans shunned by church and society and to their dedication to the Lord," said Hoekema.

"We are eager to introduce John to others concerned for the future of the church in Africa," said Hoekema who has organized several opportunities for others to meet with Rev. Makokha during his week-long visit to West Michigan.

For anyone working to ensure that the message of God's unyielding love emcompasses everyone, and for those wanting to support an important ministry, this is a must-see session. So join us.

Rev. Makokha will also appear 6/4 at the Amazwi Gallery of African Art in Saugatuck. 6/5 at the 9:40 a.m. Sunday Westminster Presbyterian Church adult education forum, and 6/6 at a luncheon with Calvin College faculty and staff.

For more information, contact Professor Hoekema at 616-826-7046 or dhoekema@calvin.edu. To learn more about Rev. Makokha's ministry, also see www.othersheep.org/Members_Makokha.html

--
Theresa D. McClellan
Faith Advocacy Coordinator
Gays In Faith Together (GIFT)
616-774-0446
www.GaysInFaithTogether.org

Join us in Lansing May 14 for statewide faith-based conference on LGBT inclusion

By Theresa D. McClellan
Faith Advocacy Coordinator
Gays In Faith Together

Blessings,
This is an exciting time for the LGBT affirming faith community as we learn from one another May 14 in a statewide conference. I wrote this press release for the Together In Faith collaborative. The lineup for this conference will prove to be an exciting time. Whatever your faith background, you will be inspired and leave with new friends.
See registration info at the end of the release.



Faith does not mean exclusion. So what does it mean for the state of Michigan when all God's children are embraced and protected?

Join us May 14 when statewide faith leaders, committed to equality for all, gather to learn from and support one another in an interdenominational, multi-faith, multicultural conference in the state's capital.

The day-long "Together In Faith" conference "Lifting Up the Voice of All-Embracing Love" featuring workshops, resources, and worship, will highlight ways people of faith can be effective in working for equality for all within their faith communities and in the broader community.

Organized by the Together in Faith collaborative, this impressive, inclusive conference pulls from peoples of faith from the Upper Peninsula, Detroit and her suburbs, Western Michigan, Southwest Michigan and all points in between.

For too long, some have used their faith to beat down and hold back God's children and Michigan has become synonymous with tight-fisted oppression. We say that has to change as our faith compels us to create justice and to have an all-embracing, all-encompassing love of all that God has made.

Together In Faith is a continually growing statewide, interfaith collaborative of faith-based LGBTQ advocates and allies. The conference will be held May 14, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Pilgrim United Church of Christ Church in Lansing,Mi.

To register: www.inclusive-justice-together-in-faith.org

Sponsored by: Inclusive Justice, Divine Peace Metropolitan Community Church, Fortunate Families, Gay Christian? Yes! Collaborative, Gays in Faith Together, Michigan Fairness Forum, Michigan Round Table for Diversity and Inclusion, Interweave & Michigan Unitarian Universalist Social Justice Network, LGBT Ministries of Central United Methodist Church, Oasis TBLG Outreach Ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, OutCenter, Pilgrim United Church of Christ, PFLAG Detroit, PFLAG Manistee and the Southeast Michigan Synod Diversity Task Force of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

How to make soup

By Theresa D. McClellan
GIFT Faith Advocacy Coordinator

The soup pots are empty. The wine glasses are clean. Happy bidders walked away with their prize winnings, including the huge framed drawing of Barbra Streisand, and the conversations and laughter has temporarily ended.

Our second annual Soup, Wine & Silent Auction at the Cascade Winery was a success in so many ways as connections were made and renewed. Saturday's event occurred because so many people said "YES!"

Yes, I will open my doors to you and your organization. Yes, I will take time from my busy schedule and create and ladle soup for you. Yes, I will take my merchandise, my livelihood, and offer it up to you for the benefit of your organization and the important work you do. Yes, I am busy, but I will find a way to spend a few hours on a cold and wet Saturday to support you by purchasing a ticket.

And those who said no or not at this time created an opening for more conversations. Everyone in our GIFT family worked hard to make this happen, culling our resources and calling in favors.

I remembered at the last minute that I had tapped multiple sources except my own Blackberry, a phone that just keeps alphabetizing all the contacts and numbers I've thrown in there and imported from previous phones. So I started making calls, renewing conversations from relationships past.

"Yes, I retired from the Press in 2009. I work with GIFT now as their Faith Advocacy Coordinator. GIFT is an acronym for Gays In Faith Together."

Silence. Then "Wow. Really? Wow. My church feels strongly about that gay issue, that it's wrong. ...But I can't judge." I was told this more than once. And because of relationships built over the years, the conversation didn't stop there.

One woman told me she, too, felt strongly about the "gay issue" and agreed with her church. We've had a professional relationship built on mutual respect. She did not know I was gay. She realized it is hard to embrace church traditions that shun when you see the person as whole.

As we talked, she also realized there may be some in her Christian Reformed Church who could benefit from a message of God's love for all God's children and from connections with other gay Christians who embrace all that God has made them to be. She vowed to pass on my email address (Theresa@GaysInFaithTogether.org) the GIFT website (www.GaysInFaithTogether.org) and the fundraising event to some in her church. We've also set up time to discuss my work further.

I spoke with a minister who let me know that "this will be a hard sell in the black church. Most black churches believe homosexuality is sin. It's a choice," he said.

It is a choice, I said. I choose to accept all that God has given me in order to be all that God wants me to be. We agree to have lunch and discuss this further.

At the fundraiser I spoke with an older black couple who came out to support me. Over soup and sips of wine we talked. "The church can be harsh on this issue. Sometimes I hate what I hear in my own church when they talk about gays. I think really, in 2011?" she said.

I remind her that there are likely members of the LGBTQ community in her congregation hearing those messages and suffering in silence in their pews thinking everyone agrees. Or perhaps the message is being uttered by a pastor thinking this is what the congregation wants to hear.

Another seed has been planted that will garner further conversation or entry into a church for further discussion. I am pleased. Because every time we hold a program or engage in conversation it gives us another entryway into spreading the message that there are no mistakes. God loves us all and Yes, you can be gay and Christian or a person of faith AND a member of the LGBTQ community.

These conversations can create allies and give courage to those who never thought they could be an ally. These gatherings give hope and safe spaces to members of the LGBTQ community and allies who love and support them. This fundraiser will help us continue our work making our way into churches and providing resources that give hope.

And just like a good soup or a fine wine we have brought together the ingredients that over time will make you say aaaaah. Blessings, and thank you all for your role in making this happen.