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7/24/2019 LGBT Evangelism 101 Webinar
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ANDY LANG
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ONA EVANGELISM 101
openandaffirmong.org/evangelism
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IS YOUR CHURCH 100% ONA?
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RECLAIMING EVANGELISM
What do you think when you hear the word evangelism?
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RECLAIMING EVANGELISM
What do you think when you hear the word evangelism?Spiritual coercion?
Moral arrogance?
ORSharing Good News?
Living with integrity and authenticity?
Choosing to be out spiritually?
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RECLAIMING EVANGELISM
Evangelism = Coming Out
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REACHING MILLENNIALS
BUT, ANDY, WONT WEBECOME A GAY CHURCH?
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REACHING MILLENNIALS
For most new ONAcongregations, young
heterosexual adults whoidentify with the values ONArepresents are the growing
edge (especially couples withchildren).
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REACHING MILLENNIALS
51
58
72
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
Most Millennials support marriage equality
Evangelicals
Republicans
All Millennials
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REACHING MILLENNIALS
One-third of millennials say
they left churches becauseof homophobic practices
and teachings.(Source: Public Religion Research Institute, 2014)
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ONA CHURCHES CAN GROW
172
232
0
50
100
150
200
250
ONA churches 34% more members than non-ONA
Non-ONA
ONA
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ONA EVANGELISM DEFINED
Open and Affirming evangelism means being:Present
Personal
Persistent
Public
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PRESENCE
Become a dependable presence in the LGBTQ community.Use opportunities for daily engagement.
Visit the local LGBTQ community center:
1. Volunteer.
2. Offer financial support.
3. Ask about suicide prevention.
4. Ask about support groups for LGBTQ youth.
5. Ask about care for LGBTQ seniors.
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PRESENCE
Become a dependable presence in the LGBTQ community.Use opportunities for daily engagement.
Connect with LGBTQ student alliances and the
ecumenical chaplaincy at local colleges. Make sure they
know youre an Open and Affirming church.Offer your church as a meeting place for LGBTQ
community organizations: PFLAG, AA, other recovery
groups.
If youre near a military base, visit the base commanderand chaplain. LGBTQ service men and women should
know there are churches where they are welcome.
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PRESENCE: MILITARY BASES
Source: United States Navy
USS New Mexico returns to home port: New London, Conn.
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PRESENCE: MILITARY BASES
Dana Jensen/The Day, New London, Conn.
The Bergeron family greet their father and husband.
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PRESENCE: MILITARY BASES
Dana Jensen/The Day, New London, Conn.
Molly Malone, now 8 months, gets reacquainted after her dads 6-month absence.
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PRESENCE: MILITARY BASES
Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Kristina Young /U.S. Navy Photo
And a returning sailor, Jerrel, is surprised by Dylans marriage proposal.
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PRESENCE: MILITARY BASES
This is the new normal!
(Where will this couplemarry? Do LGBT military
personnel in your community
know about you?)
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PRESENCE: OPPORTUNITIES
Transgender welcomeSafe space for LGBTQ youth
Care and advocacy for LGBTQ seniors
Care and advocacy for LGBTQ asylum-seekers
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PRESENCE: TRANSGENDER
Many Open and Affirming churches do not identifytransgender people in their covenant!
Initiate a serious study of transgender issues.
Publicize your welcome to the transgender community.
Observe Transgender Day of Remembrance Nov. 20.
Resources: www.openandaffirming.org/transgender
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PRESENCE: YOUTH
Hold public and charter schools accountable to Federalpolicies protecting LGBTQ youth from bullying.
With other welcoming churches, meet with your
superintendent of schools.
Post an It Gets Better video on YouTube, your homepage.
Ask a suicide-prevention expert to speak at your church.
Resources: www.openandaffirming.org/bullying.
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PRESENCE: LGBTQ SENIORS
With support from the LGBTQ community center, meetwith LGBTQ seniors and learn about their needs.
Work with other welcoming churches to demand
appropriate care and safety from public and private
institutions.Organize a weekly social event and frequent outings for
LGBTQ seniors.
This can be a strong ministry for youth and seniors in
your congregation.
Resources: www.openandaffirming.org/seniors.
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PRESENCE: LGBT ASYLUM SEEKERS
In at least 75 countries, homosexual behavior ispunishable by long prison terms or other penalties, and
authorities often refuse to protect their LGBTQ citizens
from physical assault and murder.
But LGBTQ asylum seekers usually find no support inimmigrant communities from their own country.
Churches can partner with local organizations to adopt
and shelter refugees.
Resources: www.openandaffirming.org/international.
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PRESENCE: ADVOCACY
Weve won marriage
equality, so theres nothing
left to advocate for, right?
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PRESENCE: ADVOCACY
Source: ACLU
Gray states (28): no statewide protection against LGBT discrimination
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PRESENCE: ADVOCACY
Job and housing discrimination
Hate crimes
Bullying
LGBTQ seniors
LGBTQ asylum-seekers
Religious exemption laws: Plan B for the movement
against marriage equality. Where these laws succeed,private business owners and public officials can claim a
right to discriminate based on religious belief.
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PRESENCE: IN A CRISIS
PRESENCE ALSO MEANS
YOUR CHURCH IS PREPAREDFOR RAPID RESPONSE WHEN
THERES A CRISIS!
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POWER OF PERSONAL EVANGELISM
You have a story to tell!
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POWER OF PERSONAL EVANGELISM
Teachable moments:
1. When you hear a homophobic remark.
2. When a conversation affords opportunity for
witness.
Wear a rainbow comma pin! Its a great conversation-
starter!
Carry a business card or postcard wherever you go with
your churchs street address, website and Facebook
page, phone number, service schedule, welcome
messageand a rainbow comma!
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POWER OF PERSONAL EVANGELISM
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PERSISTENCE AND PUBLICITY
Your Open and Affirming
covenant is the startingpoint, not the endpoint, for
your outreach to theLGBTQ community.
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PERSISTENCE AND PUBLICITY
Keep the momentum going!Design an eye-catching brochure that proclaims your
welcome. Share it with visitors and distribute it at LGBTQ
events. Keep it in stock at the LGBTQ community center,
public libraries, coffee shops, college campuses.Post a rainbow comma on your home page.
Display a rainbow comma on your church sign; display a
rainbow flag at the entrance of your church.
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PERSISTENCE AND PUBLICITY
Keep the momentum going!Show up at the annual Pride Parade and carry a big sign.
Observe Pride Sunday with a renewal of your Open and
Affirming covenant, and publicize the event in
newspapers, community bulletin boards, LGBTQ media.
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PERSISTENCE AND PUBLICITY
Weddings, Weddings!!!
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PERSISTENCE AND PUBLICITY
Many LGBTQ couples arentjust looking for a pretty
church for a wedding: theyrealso returning to church after
an absence of years. Will yoube their new church home?
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PERSISTENCE AND PUBLICITY
Lesbian and gay couples wont know your church welcomessame-sex weddings if you dont publicize
on your website and Facebook page.
in local newspapers and news websites.
in local LGBTQ media.
in the LGBTQ community center (brochures).
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OTHER RESOURCES
The Coalition website, Facebook page, email newsletter
UCC Office for Health and Wholeness Advocacy
Institute for Welcoming Resources
openandaffirming.org/evangelism
facebook.com/ucc.coalition
ucc.org/lgbt
welcomingresources.org
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OTHER RESOURCES
YOU, AND OTHER
MEMBERS OF YOURCONGREGATION!
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