Friday, October 8, 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Soulforce Symposium
Greetings Friend!
It is my pleasure to announce to you an educational symposium the will be held in Philadelphia, PA on November 5-7th, 2010.
I am Jason Conner, Director of Programs for Soulforce and 2010 Equality Rider. This Symposium holds a very special place in my understanding as a gay person. I grew up in a very conservative Christian home. I was raised Mormon, and I served a two year mission for the church where I preached 'the gospel'. I share an all too common story. I was raised in an environment where people in the LGBTQ community were referred to as freaks, deviants, and sinners. Simply put, I was taught to fear LGBTQ people. I absorbed these lessons, all while realizing I was one of these 'wicked' people who was considered so despicable. My inner turmoil escalated to a turning point while serving my mission. I was trying to serve God to the best of my ability, and yet these seemingly "perverse" thoughts and feeling just wouldn't go away. I confessed my feelings to my mission president, someone I considered to be a man of God, and one of the best individuals I had ever met. I explained to him that I was so conflicted and grief-filled that I had contemplated suicide. I felt so hopeless and alone. He responded by reading me a scripture, Romans 7:24, which reads:
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
Here I was, more vulnerable and broken than I had ever felt, looking for Christian love and support from this man that I so admired, and I was greeted with confirmation of my worst fears, that I was undesirable in the eyes of God. Immediately after reading me this scripture and telling me that I could overcome these "same sex attraction" afflictions, I was ushered into therapy. I had never heard the words "ex-gay" or "reparative" therapy. All I knew was that if I didn't comply with this therapy program, I would be sent home from my mission, to face the shame and disgrace of my family, church, and friends. I spent nearly a year being told that no one in the "homosexual lifestyle" could ever be truly happy, and that "those people" were incapable of healthy relationships with others. After leaving the mission I found a young woman to whom I was eventually engaged, but by the grace of God, I was able to see the tragedy that heterosexual marriage would mean to me. I ended this engagement, and through participating in the Soulforce 2010 Equality Ride, I come out of the closet and accepted myself as the beautiful creature God has created me to be.
I share my story with you to illustrate several important things. I am not angry with the mission president who read me that scripture. I'm also not angry with the therapist employed by the church to "fix" me. These individuals were victims of misinformation, perpetuated by large and well funded organizations. Most of us are familiar with organizations like Focus on the Family, NARTH, and Exodus Ministries. These organizations teach a message that is clearly harmful to LGBTQ people and pose a great danger to our society. They promote views that LGBTQ individuals are sick and should and can be fixed or changed. They cite false science and statistics that they themselves fund and compile. What are we to do with all of this false information flooding the media, the pulpit, and even the floors of the Senate and House? Thankfully, we have Soulforce, an organization that continues to "stand in the gap" for oppressed people. We are delighted to offer this newest educational symposium which we believe will dispel untruths about LGBTQ identities and reparative therapy:
A Soulforce Symposium
Philadelphia, PA November 5-7, 2010
The Truth about Faith, Science, Love and Reparative Therapy
We are bringing together some of the most knowledgeable individuals from around the globe to teach us how to confront the false science and news out there about LGBTQ individuals. We will also look closer at reparative therapy, and how to cope as a survivor. This symposium is perfect for all LGBTQ individuals and allies. Preregister now and be the first to receive updates about presenters, locations, and special hotel deals. Click here to preregister!
Even if you can not attend, please donate to Soulforce so that we can continue fighting spiritual and political violence against LGBTQ individuals. Click here to donate now!
I look forward to seeing you in Philadelphia this November. Great change comes from great action. Great action is perpetuated by knowledge. It is my hope that the knowledge we gain at this symposium will lead us to stand up against corrupt individuals and organizations, letting them know that we are people who are whole, and just as deserving of love and equality as anyone else. See you soon!
I share my story with you to illustrate several important things. I am not angry with the mission president who read me that scripture. I'm also not angry with the therapist employed by the church to "fix" me. These individuals were victims of misinformation, perpetuated by large and well funded organizations. Most of us are familiar with organizations like Focus on the Family, NARTH, and Exodus Ministries. These organizations teach a message that is clearly harmful to LGBTQ people and pose a great danger to our society. They promote views that LGBTQ individuals are sick and should and can be fixed or changed. They cite false science and statistics that they themselves fund and compile. What are we to do with all of this false information flooding the media, the pulpit, and even the floors of the Senate and House? Thankfully, we have Soulforce, an organization that continues to "stand in the gap" for oppressed people. We are delighted to offer this newest educational symposium which we believe will dispel untruths about LGBTQ identities and reparative therapy:
A Soulforce Symposium
Philadelphia, PA November 5-7, 2010
The Truth about Faith, Science, Love and Reparative Therapy
We are bringing together some of the most knowledgeable individuals from around the globe to teach us how to confront the false science and news out there about LGBTQ individuals. We will also look closer at reparative therapy, and how to cope as a survivor. This symposium is perfect for all LGBTQ individuals and allies. Preregister now and be the first to receive updates about presenters, locations, and special hotel deals. Click here to preregister!
Even if you can not attend, please donate to Soulforce so that we can continue fighting spiritual and political violence against LGBTQ individuals. Click here to donate now!
I look forward to seeing you in Philadelphia this November. Great change comes from great action. Great action is perpetuated by knowledge. It is my hope that the knowledge we gain at this symposium will lead us to stand up against corrupt individuals and organizations, letting them know that we are people who are whole, and just as deserving of love and equality as anyone else. See you soon!
Sincerely,
Jason Conner
Symposium Organizer
 |  |  |
Kansas East event Oct 24
Here is info about an Event Oct 24 in Kansas East Conference of the UMC! Wide is God's Welcome of KS East is letting us know so I hope some folks can attend!
We have the Inspiring Communities Conference at Hastings College on Oct 22, 23 and you might just head on down then to Valley View UMC Overland park, KS that sunday for this event!
See info below with Linda Bales coming from Board of Church and Society of the UMC!
Also the Author of THE SHACK will speak to start the conference on SHAME in our Society at St marks UMC Lincoln Oct 24 at 7 pm. To get tickets for the author sunday night or the conference, go to the church website.
Linda Bales Todd from the General Board of Church and Society will be the keynote speaker for a seminar entitled Heterosexism and Homophobia: How We All Pay the Price to be held at Valley View United Methodist Church (8412 W. 95th St.) in Overland Park on Sunday, October 24 from 2:45-5:00 PM.
Andrew Mitchell, pastor of Stull United Methodist Church and the author of the Kansas East Conference petition on Heterosexism and Homophobia, which was approved by the 2008 General Conference, will explain why and how the petition was developed. Linda will facilitate a discussion of societal factors that contribute to these attitudes, how homophobia and heterosexism are manifest in today’s world, and why the United Methodist Church should be addressing these issues. Worship through music will be lead by Reverends Mitch and Jan Todd.
The Conference Board of Church and Society, realizing the importance of educating United Methodists on this subject, encourages your attendance.
$5 donation at the door requested.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of Wide Is God’s Welcome - KC is to strengthen the Body of Christ through the full inclusion in the United Methodist Church of persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
VISION STATEMENT
This mission will be fulfilled as we unite Kansas City area United Methodists for education, advocacy, and empowerment.
The mission of Wide Is God’s Welcome - KC is to strengthen the Body of Christ through the full inclusion in the United Methodist Church of persons who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.
VISION STATEMENT
This mission will be fulfilled as we unite Kansas City area United Methodists for education, advocacy, and empowerment.
Church Within a Church September Devotions
You may find these devotions to be very powerful:
http://www.cwac.us/devotion-journey
http://www.cwac.us/devotion-journey
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)