Sharpton to Headline Black Church Summit
By Keith Boykin, in spirituality
Thursday, January 19 2006, 1:29AM
I've always believed that the black church is the primary obstacle to acceptance for black gays and lesbians. The black church has enormous power in our community, and unfortunately that power is not always used for good. I've had my issues with some black church leaders in the past, and I still get dozens of emails from homophobic religious types every week (yes, every week). I used to respond to these messages with long, detailed discussions about the Bible and homosexuality, but then I realized something. Most of these people weren't interested in reason. They were only interested in repeating the misinformation they had heard from their pastors.
The emails would invariably follow the same script. They would (mis)quote the Bible, tell me I'm going to Hell and then claim they would pray for me. That's not the making of a fruitful dialogue, so after years of frustrating conversations, I don't even bother to respond to these messages anymore. That's why, given the level of dialogue between black gays and lesbians and some black church folk, I'm pleased that the two sides will finally be sitting down together to discuss their issues this weekend.
Today I head to Atlanta for the National Black Justice Coalition's first ever black church summit. The summit, a two-day event at First Iconium Baptist Church in Atlanta, will launch a major discussion on gay and lesbian issues among black faith leaders.
Former Democratic presidential candidate Rev. Al Sharpton and Bishop Dr. Yvette Flunder, Senior Pastor of the United Church of Christ's City of Refuge Church in San Francisco, will be featured speakers. Rev. Sharpton recently announced an initiative to challenge homophobia in the black church. This will be his first participation in a meeting that will deal directly with that initiative.
The summit will begin tonight with an opening reception at the Atlanta City Hall Auditorium. Invited dignitaries for the opening reception include Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and Ambassador Andrew Young. Other conference invitees include Rev. Willie Wilson, Rev. Jesse Jackson and Rev. Peter Gomes.
It's a long overdue discussion. Let's hope it bears fruit.
Comments conceal
M
January 19 2006, 3:03AM
Keith I will pray for you and the other attendees; not out of a spirit of superior goodness or salvation through heterosexuality (I'm not het.), but out of joy, thanks, and hope for greater understanding of our diversity.
tlq
January 19 2006, 9:48AM
I seriously cannot take this conference to heart with Al Sharpton at the forefront. The man has been pimping his people and playing the race card for so many years as he’s lined his pockets; he has lost much respect among many clear-thinking blacks. The trend also appears that many blacks are migrating to the large “megachurch” which is despised by the far left.
Al still has an appeal to the smaller, traditional church that has lost its grip and influence to a greater mass of black Christians. They (traditional churches) have very little influence today (why do you think the GOP caters to the larger mega-churches and won elections while ignoring the more traditional ones – who has the greater influence and impact). I’m an independent (not GOP or Dem.) and to me, Al is looked at as an embarrassment and clown. Nice effort, but you’re going fishing in a rowboat in a pond when the ones you are angry at have naval warships in an ocean. If change is really warranted, how come it's being held in a city were several Mega-Pastors have churches but not one of them was invited?
I question the real motive...I don't believe it's being done in the spirit of "bridging the gap" but rather get some folks told in the "black bible belt" - Atlanta. Perhaps these Pastors were invited, if so I would be curious to their response.
I wish you all the best and hopefully something positive will come out of the conference and true reconciliation will happen versus the divide growing even wider.
exas76132
January 19 2006, 9:48AM
Good luck,
I will remain hopeful and I wish you all the best. Go there with your head up high and please don't cower to the church because it seems that us gays are the only ones that want anything to do with them anyway. They have lost their moral authority and fewer people take them seriously because of shenanigans in and out of the church. Just walk into any Black church and you will see that the only people who still follow the church loyally and without question are the elder Black women. Now, if only the preacher man can keep his hands off them and stop taking their money. LOL.
We are not the problem. Many Black men (gay and straight) leave the church is soon as we can because the hypocrisy is simply too much to sit in those pews and tolerate. In spite of that, I believe a of meeting of the minds necessary. I just won't sacrifice my soul and person as a gay person.
I hope you get everything you set out to accomplish.
T
January 19 2006, 2:35PM
I do wish this event was televised! Keith, you'll come back with a full and detailed report, won't you?
Mel Smith
January 19 2006, 8:37PM
Keith, I would like to think you for all the positive work that you do. As T mentioned, I hope the program is televised. I would order a tape or whatever. I'm sorry that I could not attend the program.
Keith Boykin
January 19 2006, 11:09PM
Meeting of minds in Atlanta
(Gay, lesbian leaders say it's past time for black churches to accept homosexuals into religious community)
By Leslie Fulbright
San Francisco Chronicle
Thursday, January 19, 2006
A landmark meeting of African American clergy and members of the gay and lesbian community that begins tonight in Atlanta is the keystone of an effort to promote the acceptance of gays in black churches.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2006/01/19/MNGK3GPM6L1.DTL
M
January 20 2006, 4:07PM
The Religious Right has landed on sexual orientation as a wedge issue. We are waking up to see that two can and must play at this (with the end hope of turning our enemies into friends - if not the leaders, then those who are following them out of ignorance and fear) if we are going to become stronger and healthier SGL black people.
Apostle Samuel Jones Sr
January 22 2006, 10:10AM
Blessings
I am an advocate of the living of the Holy Bible as close as we can as pertaining to our life and our lifestyles. We believe that people as humans will always have rights and choices,however when it comes to living according to the HOLY BIBlE we are without compromise,not to say that anyone is perfect but it's within our inperfections that GOD works. I believe that the only place in the church for gays and lesbians is at the alter to be healed and delivered from their way of living,that's not to discredit them from being in the church but it makes them realise that GOD is a GOD that can deliver thier sins as homosexuals. Now this is not gender or how they turned it's a fact of living according to the Truth of GOD without compromise. Where there is no reprodution or the ability to reproduce as a family or as a partnership there is no commitment to replenish that which GOD has commanded us to do.
I feel for the liar. the thief and the homosexual without labeling the abomination it's a matter of GOD's principles
Mel Smith
January 22 2006, 2:53PM
Apostle Samuel, most of us respect your views, but for over 30 years, the scientific community has argued that homosexuality is NORMAL and acceptable. Therefore equating us to theives and murderers is insulting to our intelligence because those groups of people help to destroy families and they also destabilize our economy. What a homosexual person do in their home does not affect anyone. Also, the seed/reproduce argument is weak because there are heterosexual people who do not have kids, and there are homosexual people who do have some. Also, like heterosexual people, some of us have sexual lives and some of us do not. That's why people should not always create images of us in a promiscuous manner. Rev. Sharpton is trying to make our communities stronger.
Laura
January 23 2006, 12:34AM
Apostle Samuel bellowed: "I feel for the liar. the thief and the homosexual without labeling the abomination it's a matter of GOD's principles"
translation: "I feel for the liar. the thief and the homosexual without labeling the abomination it's a matter of IMPOSING MY OWN PERSONAL HANGUPS on YOU"
well apostle samuel, unlike mel smith, i do not respect your views, as your views do not respect any of us.
you're coming to a primarily Black gay site...do you really think we haven't heard your "abominations" line of bull before?
is there nothing sicker than Black heterosupremacist who use 'god' the way slaveholders, segregationists, and white supremacists do. lol!
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