Notes & Reflections from the Soulforce Journey

Author Archive

Queer Inclusion Matters for the Presbyterian Church

Monday, June 28th, 2010 by Brian Murphy

“We don’t even need to talk about why being gay is wrong, right?” our youth pastor asked the 10th grade guys Sunday School class.

The classed nodded in agreement.

My friend, Tom Langford, added, “And it’s not a choice. There is no gay gene.”

The conversation moved swiftly on to another topic. I remember nothing else about that day, or even that year, other than those forty five seconds when smiling, well-intentioned guys in khakis and polo shirts unknowingly condemned me to hell.

(more…)

Celebrating Rev. Glasspools consecration as bishop

Tuesday, May 18th, 2010 by Brian Murphy

We are delighted and humbled to join in celebration with the Episcopal Church USA and welcome their newest bishop, Rev. Mary Glasspool, to her post. Rev. Glasspool is the church’s first openly lesbian bishop and the first openly gay bishop to be consecrated since Bishop Gene Robinson’s controversial installation in 2004. Congratulations Rev. Glasspool! And congratulations to the Episcopal Church USA for your open embrace of God’s love for all people!

Read more on the Episcopal Church website

Announcing Our New Executive Director

Sunday, April 11th, 2010 by Brian Murphy

Rev. Dr. Cindi Love begins her new duties as Executive Director for Soulforce on April 22, 2010. Dr. Cindi Love brings a wide range of leadership, management and organizational experience to her new role as SOULFORCE’s Executive Director. From January 2005 until April 2009, she served as the Executive Director of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC). Prior to MCC, she served as an Executive Dean in the third largest community college system in the United States, as a Senior Executive of The Toro Company (NYSE:TTC) and CEO and Founder of several award winning corporations, including one named to the INC 500 in 1990. In 1990, Dr. Love was named one of the “Top 50 Entrepreneurs” in North America by Inc. Magazine, the Young Entrepreneur’s Organization, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dr. Love is the creator of the Would Jesus Discriminate? campaign and author of a book by the same name.

Learn more about Cindi

Rider Personal Blog Roundup

Wednesday, March 24th, 2010 by Brian Murphy

Many of the 2010 Equality Riders are writing frequently on their personal blogs.  Below are excerpts from a few.  Enjoy!

Jason ConnerThe Road to Equality
by Jason Conner

Recent Post: One Week: Three Schools!
My general thoughts on the ride are primarily positive. We have had a lot of room for growth in the past few days. We have learned a lot, made some strong connections and a few mistakes. This past week has helped me recommit myself to the important work we are doing. I had students come up to me with watery eyes telling me how alone they felt before we got there. We were able to connect people on these campuses who felt like outcasts and loners. They were able to see that there were people in the world who loved and affirmed them for being who they are, not in spite of who they are. Of all the churches and religious venues I have visited, I have never seen Christ like behavior more embodied than by my 24 fellow riders.

Advance Directive
by Jennifer Luu

Recent Post: Divine Hammer
Valley Forge Christian College refused to let us on campus and told students that they would be expelled if they came out to talk to us. Then, on Friday morning when we arrived at Charlestown Park, bordering the VFCC campus, fear-based, religiously oppressive groupRepent America, was there to greet us. (Visit their website if you are sitting down and don’t have any food in your mouth– it might drop out when your mouth falls agape.) In response to this warm(ed by the threat of hell) Valley Forge welcome, The Equality Ride held. We held hands, two candlelight vigils and a community rally and sang lots of lovey songs with lyrics like, “Love inside of our hearts / Love, and only love, is moving me.”

Sabrina DizBecause Jesus Loves Me
by Sabrina Diz

Recent Post: Response to Malone Student
I hope to do your letter justice by answering below; however, it would be ideal if you can meet up with us any of the three days we will be in Canton, OH as I am sure the answers I give will open up more questions and comments!

Before I go on, I’d like to clear something up. While it is true that homophobia is successfully spread by religion and maintained by the church, not all the Riders feel oppressed by the Christian faith. Personally, I go to an affirming church and am happy to say I am Christian and queer :)

Stuart BrewsterInterlocking Systems of Equality
by Stuart Brewster

Recent Post: Stop #3: Huntsville, AL – Oakwood University
Those small, subtle shifts we saw in the first closed door meeting grew perceptibly larger throughout the afternoon. I think they will continue to grow. I hope they will. The students of Oakwood deserve to know they are not alone, and that they are loved just as they are. All of them.

We all do.


Andrew Langdon

The Wayfarer’s Creed
by Andrew Langdon

Recent Post: And the silence is shattered
So I know many people have been anxiously waiting to hear from me about what has been happening as I travel for justice.  There’s just been so much going on that I haven’t been able to write down my thoughts about everything that’s happening.

Houghton Students Speak

Thursday, March 18th, 2010 by Brian Murphy

After the Equality Ride stop at Houghton College, a group of students made a video asking “What happens next?”

Short video made to promote open, on-campus discussion of sexual orientation & gender identity. Created after a visit from the SoulForce Q Equality Riders. Love you all!