Sanctuary Conf
LGBTQ+ Church Leader Conversation
Date: 09/22/2018
What It Was
My church is in the heart of PVD and we have noticed the abuse that LGBTQ+ Christians go through. We as a church leadership decided to sit down with other church leaders, leaders in our church community, and people that are apart of the LGBTQ+ community in Providence. The goal was to bridge the gap that had been created by previous church trauma, and the part of the event that had this conversation was lead by Pastor Andrew Mook who is the pastor of Sanctuary Church, we also had leaders from Gordon Conwell Seminary. I was invited because I work with Mook on academic research of LGBTQ folks and my significant other and I have been through church trauma so we can relate more to people who have experienced trauma.
How Does This Relate to YDEV
This was by far one of the best social justice events that I have ever been apart of. I have never heard people who do not identify as LGBTQ+ stand up and speak to others about why they should not be oppressed. I also have never heard another religious figure stand in the gap for a community they do not identify with, and it was AWESOME. It was awesome to see all of the research P. Andrew had worked on for years, but to also have people who are part of the LGBTQ+ community affirm what we are doing, and start to heal from the trauma they have faced. It really taught me to stand up for injustices even if it does not affect me directly.
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