Date: Thu, 15 Jun 2000 14:11:26 -0700 From: EC San Diego Subject: 200 Gay Christians to Meet in Tacoma, WA, July 20 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ECWR Press Release Tuesday, June 15, 2000 200 Gay Christians to Meet in Tacoma, WA, July 20 Seattle (June 15, 2000) - Over 200 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered evangelical Christians will meet in Tacoma, WA for a four-day conference and retreat July 20-23. ConnECtion 2000 is a four-day retreat experience with pro-gay Christians that begins with dinner on Thursday, July 20 and ends after lunch on Sunday, July 23. A women's retreat will precede the main conference, beginning Wednesday evening, July 19, and continuing to Thursday afternoon, July 20 (when ConnECtion starts). In addition to keynote addresses from well-known speakers, attendees will participate in workshops, in song and worship, in family groups made of small numbers of men and women, and nightly fellowship. Time to play, meet new friends and reflect on the experience will be scheduled. Conference theme for this year is "You are the light of the world" (Matthew 5:14-16). Jesus' call to us to be light bearers in the world confirms that God is love. As children of God, we are personal expressions of that light, including our sexual orientations. At ConnECtion 2000, attendees will explore ways of growing in and sharing God's light and love. The founder of Evangelicals Concerned and director of the Homosexual Community Counseling Center in New York, Dr. Ralph Blair, will speak about how religious conservatives violate each of the Ten Commandments in their holy war against gay men and lesbians. Other keynote speakers will offer addresses dealing with spreading the word to our communities and sharing hope in a darkened world. Workshop titles include: Essentials of Gay and Lesbian Dating The Ten Commandments and the Religious Right Worship as a Subversive Activity Musical Reflections of Our Faith Biblical Shalom as a Framework for Affirmation and Ethics Living in Christ's Light HIV/AIDS: An Opportunity for Mission Finding Our Way And Enjoying the Trip! Bombs, Bores and Bonanzas: How to Pick a Partner Preventing Premature Paralysis (and Other Partnership Problems) Sexual Integrity: A Continuing Conversation Not Seeing the Trees for the Forest: The Bible and Homosexuality Light to Our Evangelical Communities God's Grace in the Passages of Life Take a Journey in Soulforce Living in an Open Closet Whether you are new or historical as a Christian, and regardless of where you are on your journey of faith, and accepting your orientation, the 21st national conference of Evangelicals Concerned will be a rich and rewarding weekend for you. To obtain a conference brochure, contact our regional office at (206) 621-8960 or email our office manager at ecwr@ecwr.org. Complete information is available online at http://www.ecwr.org/connection/index.html. You may also write to Evangelicals Concerned Western Region, PO Box 19734, Seattle WA 98109-6734.