RENWL

The Rev. Dennis Meredith, center, pastor of Tabernacle Baptist Church in Atlanta, began a change in his preachings against homosexuality eight years ago when his son Micah told him he is gay. (photo courtesy of New York Times)

“The ascendancy to power of many of our African-American religious leaders has been predicated for so long on the devaluation of women and LGBT people. These ministers, who are supported by the Family Research Council and refuse to see the relationship between the black civil rights movement of the ’60s with the LGBT struggle to have the freedom to marry, merely become the overseers of a right-wing Republican plantation that will pad their pockets provided that they promulgate the master’s rhetoric.”

~ Rev. Irene Moore from her essay Unholy Matrimony: The Black Church & the Christian Right (2004)

It’s understandable why so many LGBTs are turned off to religion. No need for us to go down an exhausting laundry list outlining the obvious and well-trodden. And yet…as a community we are in the midst of a crisis movement. That’s really what the quest for equality is when it comes right down to it. It’s a social and cultural crisis.

Click on blue shaded area to hear short audio excerpt of anti-gay sermon by Bishop Alfred Owens of Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church, Washington DC: 0505owens

One of the things that troubles us in regards to the LGBT equality movement these days is the absence of a strong God consciousness at the forefront of the journey. And we feel that without it, this battle for full civil rights and recognition as equals is going to be a multi-decades drawn-out and tiresome affair filled with sputters and spots—-a legislative victory here. Another one there—-but nothing  like  the ultimate vision. And that is full equality for LGBTs across the land.

What stands in the way of this reality happening anytime soon is the lack of a unifying driving force that propels a community of people to surge forward together fearless and empowered with a single vision.

LGBT affirming Culver City-based Agape International Spiritual Center's Rev. Michael Beckwith and his wife Rickie

We read a rather enlightening Huff Post essay recently that was written by Dr. Emilie Townes, an African American clergywoman and the Associate Dean at the Divinity School at Yale University. The name of Dr. Townes’ essay is titled The Selma Marchers Weren’t Just Activists — They Were Believers. It’s a powerful testament on how a collective faith and belief in a power greater than one’s self can become a cataclysmic force that ultimately renders the believers unstoppable. We’ve provided the link to the essay at the end of this post. Do check it out. And be sure to read comments following it as well. There’s some interesting responses to the essay ranging from borderline racist (we don’t quite get how race  gets into play) to some really enlightened statements.

But before you read the essay we decided that maybe not enough information has been disseminated about gay affirming churches and spiritual congregations throughout California. So we’re providing the databases we’ve come across .

Reverend Deborah Johnson speaks on Transcendence: Forgiveness is the Path To Freedom Pt. 1

While we’re posting these databases to support African American LGBTs in locating a friendly congregation or spiritual center,  by no means are these lists exclusively African American churches and only for African Americans. Most of the congregations listed are multi-cultural so please everyone take advantage of this information. Unless of course if you’d prefer to attend a primarily black church. You can rock it like that, too.

We’re pretty sure we’ve missed some names. If you know of any churches or spiritual centers and places of worship you’d like to recommend please enter it in the comment section of this post. We’d greatly appreciate it.

Love@Work's Rev. Alfreda Lanoix takin' it to the streets

Here’s the links:

Dr. Emelie Towns Huff Post Essay: The Selma Marchers Weren’t Just Activists — They Were Believers.

Database of churches and independent links

Welcoming Gay Friendly Churches in California – CA

Operation Rebirth (Most churches listed have strong African American LGBT congregations)

The UCC Coalition of LGBT Concerns (provides national church listings including Los Angeles)

Love@Work…the Exchange! with Reverend Alfreda Lanoix
Sundays, 11:30am –  Spirituality at it’s Best at Catch One Disco (1st Floor)

4067 West Pico Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA 90019

Agape International Spiritual Center Web site: http://www.agapelive.com/