Date: Wed, 4 Aug 99 11:10:36 -0500 From: National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Subject: [NGLTF PRESS] Natl Network of Religious Leaders to Meet in Colorado Springs ************************************************ NATIONAL GAY AND LESBIAN TASK FORCE PRESS RELEASE CONTACT: David Elliot, Communications Director delliot@ngltf.org TEL 202/332-6483 x3303, PAGER 800/757-6476 1700 Kalorama Road NW, Washington, DC 20009 http://www.ngltf.org ************************************************ NATIONAL NETWORK OF PRO-GLBT RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO MEET IN COLORADO SPRINGS Public forum with prominent national religious leaders will examine "Spirituality and Sexuality: In the Image of God" Aug. 4, 1999‹The National Religious Leadership Roundtable, the unique national network which links national leaders of faith, spiritual and religious organizations who affirm gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) equality, will meet on August 23-24, 1999 in Colorado Springs. Co-sponsored by the Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) and Equal Partners In Faith (EPF), the National Religious Leadership Roundtable brings together leaders of faith organizations, national churches and denominations individual and institutional members (see attached summaries). A public forum scheduled for 7-10 p.m. Monday, Aug. 23 in the Heritage Ballroom at the Antler's Adams Mark Hotel, 4 South Cascade Avenue in Colorado Springs, CO, will challenge the religious rightıs narrow theology of exclusion and feature national leaders active in the effort to achieve equality for GLBT people. The forum, which is free and open to all, is entitled, "Spirituality and Sexuality: In the Image of God." It will feature Rev. Jimmy Creech, an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church who was put on trial for holding a covenant ceremony between two women; Rabbi Stephen Foster, from Denver who was active in the fight against Amendment 2 in Colorado; Rev. Carol Johnson, a prominent leader in faith communities and communities of color; Rev. Carlton W. Veazey, president and CEO of the Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice and founder of the Religious Coalition's Black Church Initiative; Rev. Bill Johnson, from the United Church of Christ office in Cleveland, OH; and Rabbi Sharon Kleinbaum of the GLBT-synagogue Congregation Simchat Torah based in New York City. The public forum will be held in conjunction with the semi-annual meeting of the National Religious Leadership Roundtable. The National Religious Leadership Roundtable is an interfaith network of leaders from pro-GLBT faith, spiritual and religious organizations working in partnership with other justice-seeking groups to amplify the voice of pro-GLBT faith organizations in public discourse; promote understanding of and respect for GLBT people within society and in communities of faith; promote understanding and respect within GLBT communities for a variety of faith paths and for religious liberty; and achieve commonly held goals which promote equality, spirituality, and justice. "We are bringing our witness to Colorado Springs to demonstrate that GLBT people of faith play an essential role in the life and ministry of our religious communities," said Elder Marco Grimaldo of More Light Presbyterians, a Steering Committee member of the National Religious Leadership Roundtable. "In recent years, people of faith have been the front line against homophobia, and have paid severe consequences for their support of GLBT equality," observed Urvashi Vaid, Director of the Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. "From Reverend Jimmy Creech to Sister Jeanine Gramick to Father Bob Nugent to the 70 ministers facing trial in the United Methodist Church for holding marriage ceremonies, the civil rights movement and the faith movement are intimately linked. But the truth and the light of the vigorous pro-GLBT faith based movement that exists across this country cannot be suppressed." Vaid noted that at the Public Forum on August 23, several stoles will be displayed from gay and lesbian pastors who have resigned or have been removed from their roles in the Lutheran Church because they refused to never be in a relationship or to end their committed relationships. This powerful display is part of the Stoles Project, and visually demonstrates that there are GLBT people of faith at all levels of religious participation. The National Religious Leadership Roundtable includes more than 30 national representatives from a wide array of faith traditions, including Unitarian Universalist Association of America, Al-Fatiha (Muslims), American Friends Service Committee, U.S. Urban Rural Mission, World Council of Churches, Dignity/USA (Catholics), World Congress of Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Jewish Organizations, United Methodist Covenant Relationships Network, The Interfaith Working Group, Reconciling Congregations Program, Disciples Justice Action Network, Methodist Federation for Social Action, The Interfaith Alliance, Soulforce, Inc., Unity Fellowship Church, New Ways Ministry, Integrity (Episcopalian), Affirmation (United Methodist), The Brethren/Mennonite Council, Gay, Lesbian and Affirming Disciples Alliance, Inc., Lutherans Concerned, More Light Presbyterians, Metropolitan Community Church, AIDS National Interfaith Network and more. "We are coming to the religious rightıs front porch in Colorado Springs to tell the world that they do speak for all people of faith," said Laura Montgomery-Rutt, national organizer for Equal Partners in Faith. "Across the country millions of spiritual Americans now embrace the simple truth that their faith does not conflict with support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people." Equal Partners in Faith is a multi-racial, multi-faith national network of religious leaders and people of faith committed to equality and diversity. Our diverse faith traditions and shared religious values lead us to affirm and defend the equality of all people, regardless of religion, race, gender or sexual orientation. As people of faith, we actively oppose the manipulation of religion to promote exclusion and inequality. The Policy Institute of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force is a think-tank dedicated to research, policy analysis, strategy development and coalition building to advance the equality and understanding of GLBT people. --30-- _____________________________________________________________________ Founded in 1973, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force works to eliminate prejudice, violence and injustice against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people at the local, state and national level. As part of a broader social justice movement for freedom, justice and equality, NGLTF is creating a world that respects and celebrates the diversity of human expression and identity where all people may fully participate in society. _________________________________________ This message was issued by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Media Department. If you have a question regarding this post, please direct it to the contact at the top of this message. 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