There's been a lot of recent discussion on the many black gay men who remain in anti-gay black churches and either lead a schizophrenic identity or hope to "pray the gay away." But what about the black churches that are LGBT inclusive? ColorLines publishes a great profile of Rod 2.0 friend Rev. Kendal Brown and his "radically inclusive" LGBT affirming City of Refuge Church - Washington DC.
Each Sunday, in the desolate town of Lanham, Maryland, north of Washington, Brown preaches the controversial doctrine of Radical Inclusion, an emerging trans-denominational philosophy that aims to provide safe, affirming space for those wounded by “oppressive,” traditional religion. His church, the City of Refuge, reconciles this concept of GLBT-focused, "affirming" worship with Pentecostalism, a branch of Christianity known for a conservative doctrine as well as intense worship styles, like speaking in tongues.
On a typical Sunday, the turnout reflects the church's targeted base: the poor, same-gender-loving and transgender people, people living with HIV and AIDS, recovering drug users, and the formerly incarcerated. Many members arrived in Lanham only after years of painful searching for a place that fit.
"Most affirming churches... don’t offer the celebrated forms of worship that are grounded in the African-American tradition," says Brown, referring to the hand-clapping, foot-stomping, and gospel-singing that define Sunday services at the City of Refuge. Brown believes that many same-gender-loving Black Christians would feel out of step without “participatory” worship. "Affirming churches that lack traditional African-American worship,” he says, "set up yet another dynamic where [Black] GLBT persons have to leave another part of them at the door."
Brown tells Rod 2.0: "When we launched the ministry in January 2007, it was our hope that City of Refuge DC would become a diverse congregation where all persons are welcome.... I am grateful that it has become just that [and] celebrate the fact that all across this nation, affirming churches are becoming viable options for persons seeking inclusive and justice-oriented congregations."
The City of Refuge Ministry was founded by San Francisco-based Bishop Yvette Flunder. Refuge and Unity Fellowship Church—Rev. Kevin Taylor is an Elder at the New Brunswick, NJ church—are growing coast to coast. There are also mainline black churches such as Chicago's Trinity United Church and Atlanta's Tabernacle Baptist that welcome LGBTs. Question: With these growing numbers of black LGBT inclusive churches, why do some many of us choose to remain in abusive relationships with homophobic black churches?
