FAITH BASED OUTREACH COMMITTEE:

increasing understanding in a safe, open and educational environment


PFLAG is non-sectarian, non-denominational and is not affiliated with any religious institution. see policies.

See special announcement below:
Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church

by Dr. Jack Rogers
EDUCATION

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FAITH BASED OUTREACH

The Faith Based Outreach committee is a collaborative effort between PFLAG/Mid-Missouri – Columbia, and our larger, local “umbrella” organization, the Mid-Missouri LGBT Coalition.  This committee exists to promote dialog and discussion on the issue of homosexuality within the local religious community, for the purpose of increasing understanding in a safe, open and educational environment.  It was started in the Fall of 2004 by a number of local activists and concerned individuals who agreed that religious-based opposition to LGBT equality was (and is) the major obstacle for human and civil rights advancement for LGBT American citizens.

For this reason, several members of PFLAG and the LGBT Coalition came together to form Faith Based Outreach, with the purpose of reaching out to various faith based organizations.  The committee has created a powerful slide presentation using Power Point technology that may be taken into churches, schools and community organizations, for the purpose of generating dialog, and hopefully in the process, to open hearts and minds.  The title of this Power Point program is A Call to Come Out, which refers to the hope of calling on Mid-Missouri faith groups to speak up and to ally themselves with the LGBT community in its struggle for equal rights and protections under the law. 

Faith Based Outreach committee members and volunteers hope to encourage members of local progressive congregations to begin countering the hate, bigotry and intolerance that we see coming from so many conservative faith based organizations, and to demonstrate in practice, through courage and education, that the intolerance and hate coming from some on the religious right do not reflect the will or the teachings of Jesus Christ. 

Faith Based Outreach Committee

Faith Based Outreach committee members include Jason Ksepka, Audrey Mortensen, Linda and Clayton Hayes, and Steve Clayton.
see:  Freedom to Serve Partnership below


*The following is a PSA for Dr Jack Rogers' presentation, please see schedule and locations below.  These functions are not at PFLAG's usual meeting place.

Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church

by Dr. Jack Rogers

"This is an extraordinary book, arguably the best to appear in the long, drawn-out debates within the churches over homosexuality.  It is a gift to all of us."

––J. Philip Wogaman, former senior minister at Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, D.C
 
In a powerful new book, evangelical theologian and former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), Jack Rogers, makes a biblical case for equal rights in the church and in society for people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.  Jesus, the Bible, and Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church describes Dr. Rogers' own change of mind and heart on the issue; charts the church's well-documented history of using biblical passages to oppress marginalized groups; argues for a Christ-centered reading of Scripture; debunks often repeated stereotypes about gays and lesbians; and concludes with ideas for how the church can heal itself and move forward again.

Dr. Jack Rogers
Dr.Jack Rogers, former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
 
Come hear Dr. Rogers speak in Columbia
Wednesday, October 10 - 2 events
 
Trinity Presbyterian Church
1600 West Rollins Road, Columbia, MO 65203
Luncheon & Program - 12 noon
For reservations, call 573-636-2149
 
University of Missouri at Columbia
Neff Auditorium, Room 204
Program - 7:00 p.m.
 
Midwest Tour: September 26 - October 1; October 9 - 14
Des Moines - Cedar Rapids - Omaha - Lincoln - Kansas City - Lawrence - Columbia - Springfield - St. Louis - Decatur
 
For more information on the tour, go to www.drjackrogers.com or www.covenantnetwork.org
or e-mail kturney55@hotmail.com




Diversity

THE FREEDOM TO SERVE PARTNERSHIP

The members of the Freedom to Serve Partnership meet every fourth Tuesday of the month, with the exception of November and December, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 1600 W. Rollins Street, Columbia, MO, at 3:00 p.m. Meetings generally last one hour.   

MISSION STATEMENT

The Freedom to Serve Partnership is a group in Missouri Union Presbytery open to ministers and lay people who wish to engage in study, prayer, and dialogue on matters of human sexuality as they relate to Christian faith and practice. Our purposes are:
  •     Gather educational materials for Missouri Union Presbytery.

  •     Provide opportunities for sharing information and feelings.

  •     Create safe spaces for discussion of sexual orientation.

  •     Encourage the adoption of inclusive policies that promote full and equal access to all levels of participation for all members of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION 

Contact person and email Co-convener Pam Sebastian (PastorPam@socket.net)  or any of our members who are:

  
Rev. A. John Anderson (retired)
Mrs. Dorothy Angell
Rev. James Blanton (founder, retired)
Rev. Brian Butler
Mr. Rolf Christen
Dr. James Craigmile
Kathleen Edwards
Barbara Garrison    
Mary S. Harris
Brooks Heaton
Rev. Charlene Heaton (former convener)
Rev. David Henry
Rev. Jay Ketchie (retired)
Rev. Timothy Kiser
Ms. Kathryn Knipschild
Dr. Wallis D. Landrum
Brevard Law
Rev. James Long (co-convener)
Rev. George McCall (former convener, retired)
Rev. Raymond Massey
Rev. Ichiro Matsuda (retired)
Rev. Carolyn Pratt (deceased)
Rev. Ronald Roberts (semi-retired)
Rev. Pam Sebastian (co-convener)
Dr. Milo & Norma Spurgeon
Rev. John Swisher
Rev. Mary Ellen Waychoff    
Barbara Weir
Dr. William Young

We respect the request of any of our members to particpate anonymously.



Photos from the May 2006 Faith Based Outreach Spring Conference
with
Michael Adee


Don Dressel, Michael Adee, Linda Hayes at the Pasta Factory


Rev. Jack Barden, Steve Clayton, Michael Adee, Linda Hayes and Don
Dressel


Rev. Maureen Dickmann and Michael Adee at Rock Bridge Christian
Church


Michael Adee and Patrick Sammon of the Liberty Education Forum (our
sponsor) at the all-day workshop held on May 6th on the MU campus.

Tribune article featuring Linda and Clayton Hayes:
Open doors, open hearts
Church members discuss struggles of gay Christians
Published Saturday, April 29, 2006


ARCHIVE of Past Events


The mission of the Faith Based Outreach Committee is to promote dialog and discussion on the issue of homosexuality in the religious community with the purpose of increasing understanding in a safe, open and educational environment. The committee meets on the first Saturday of the month at 10:00am at Columbia Public Library. All are welcome to come.


HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
contact Linda Hayes
573-864-1431