The Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples Alliance (GLAD) will emphasize widening the welcome among all racial and ethnic groups of Disciples during its Pre-Assembly Event, Banquet, and Aftersessions at the General Assembly in Fort Worth, TX.
GLAD brings Jesus Diner to the General Assembly, a place which proclaims "All God’s Children Served." At Jesus' Diner, GLAD challenges its members to participate in the inclusive Gospel and to embody Jesus' extravagant welcome to all persons; At Jesus' Diner GLAD seeks to model that extravagant welcome to the whole church.
GLAD’s Assembly activities include presentations by Rev. Jessica Vazquez, community organizer in Chicago, and anti-racism trainer for Disciples, and Dr. Sylvia Rhue, Director of Religious Affairs and Constituency Development with the National Black Justice Coalition. GLAD will also host Jesus Diner in the Assembly Exhibit Hall and Aftersessions for Open & Affirming Congregations and for youth and young adults.
“We preach a gospel of extravagant welcome that embraces the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community,” said Moderator Patricia Case. “Yet, like a lot of other mainline church institutions, GLAD has a disproportionately white membership. We have to ask ourselves what that is about, and how we can more faithfully witness to the rest of the church the call for unity in diversity,” she said.
Rev. Vazquez, who once served as staff in the Disciples Reconciliation Ministry, will lead the GLAD Alliance Pre-Assembly event to be held at the University Christian Church in Ft. Worth on Saturday July 21. She will introduce the organization to the Disciples anti-racism, pro-reconciliation movement.
Dr. Rhue will speak at the GLAD Alliance Banquet on Tuesday July 24 at the Renaissance Worthington Hotel in Ft. Worth.
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| Rev. Jessica Vazquez |
Rev. Jessica Vazquez Torres is an ordained minister with the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). From 1999 until the Spring of 2006 she served as General Staff in the Office of the General Minister and President. A graduate from the University of Central Florida in Orlando, FL, and Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, IN, she currently serves as National Religious Outreach Coordinator with Interfaith Worker Justice in Chicago, IL. She is also an Anti-Racism Core-Organizer/Trainer with the Disciples of Christ in Indianapolis, IN, and Crossroads in Chicago, IL. A “1.5 generation” Latina of Puerto Rican descent, Rev. Vazquez Torres is an older daughter, older sister, someone’s beloved and aunt to the most beautiful girl in the world. When asked why she dedicates her ministry to the transformation of social institutions she says: “So that my niece can experience a church community where her identity as a young Latina woman of Puerto Rican and Mexican descent are affirmed and nurtured.”
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| Dr. Sylvia Rhue |
Dr. Rhue is the Director of Religious Affairs and Constituency Development with the National Black Justice Coalition. Previously, she was employed as the California Freedom to Marry Coalition Manager, the Director of Equal Partners in Faith, and she worked with the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Rights. A native Californian, she graduated from UCLA with a Masters Degree in Social Work and received a Doctorate in Human Sexuality from the Institute for the Advanced Study of Human Sexuality in San Francisco. Dr. Rhue is the co-producer of the award-winning film "All God's Children," an African-American response to homophobia. The film looks at the relationship of lesbian and gay African Americans to their churches, and includes strong statements of support from prominent African-American religious, intellectual and political leaders, including Jesse Jackson and Cornel West.
Tickets for both events are on sale until June 15 for a discount price of $50 at www.jesusdiner.org. Separate tickets are also available at a discount until July 15.
| GLAD Alliance Inc. P.O. Box 44400 Indianapolis, IN 46244-0400 |
glad@gladalliance.org | return to www.gladalliance.org |