How to Bridge the gap?

[Jennifer5]

Originally Posted by CaptainSnoopy

How do we get that message spread to other Christians and churches and pastors in our respective areas? How do we get everyone into a room to listen and talk?

I do like the conference idea, but what size group are wer talking about?

If you're expecting a large group, I can't offer much... but I go have a couple ideas for smaller groups.

One thing is movie night. It tells the community that you are very welcoming. You provide a family friendly movie on a big screen and a place to spend the evening. You pay for this by selling popcorn, candy and drinks. Don't know how it will help the chuch, but you're about bridging the gaps right? Does that mean it always have to be religious?

Two, what about a community potluck? Have people come and bring their favorite dish. This gives everyone a chance to talk, without any commitment.

Three, what does your community have to offer? In my town we are surrounded by different tribes, so the church strongly supported a medicine wheel.

Oh course, that particular church isn't doing well and the medicine wheel gets a far better turn out then they do... but maybe that's what bridging the gaps is all about.

Perhaps where you are, the meditation group would be well received?

[Petrese]

Originally Posted by CaptainSnoopy

What should be on the agenda and what should be tabled if it comes up?

I know this is a subjective question...but if you were in that room and you had an opportunity to speak to a group of ministers...what would you want them to know? What would you want them to walk away with? And if they looked at you and sincerely asked,"When I leave this room, what do you want me to do differently?"

What would your answer be?

Convey to them the humanity. In other words let them see people, the person that happens to be LGBT. Not just 'gay' but a human. I think how to do that best is just what others above have said, let a few people tell the story of themselves. If a person sees commonality between themselves and another person then it is a lot harder to be biased against that person. The BS just kinda goes away what is left over is reality.

[Petrese]

Originally Posted by BruceChris

Science seems to be finding that we all have the same, nominally female body for the first few weeks of life, and that our anatomy, orientation, and gender identity are all formed by a complex interaction of hormones, and hormone receptors, as well as chromosomes. And from what I can see, S/He intended it that way.

Namaste' Bruce Chris

hmm, perfect , well put

[sawyer]

Why do single people go to church. Straight singles go looking for friends and spouses. That's the same reason I'd go to your church. It has to be a gay place. There has to be others like me. Attractive guys. It has to be like any other gay place minus the ultraloud music and the other stuff that bars have. Make it a christian gay place and you'll get a lot of straight people that will come along with them because whether we want to admit it or not we're all bisexual, more or less.

I dont go to gay bars. I live 7 hrs. from Chicago. I'd come to your church if there were friendly gay guys there.

[PaulCOreo]

Have you contacted the Chicago Coalition of Welcoming Churches? They are a group of churches which has a lot of interrelations on a variety of interdenominational topics. I am new to Soulforce? Is the Chicago Chapter active?