LGBT Evangelism 101 Webinar

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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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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Evangelism = Coming Out


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REACHING MILLENNIALS

BUT, ANDY, WONT WEBECOME A GAY CHURCH?


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For most new ONAcongregations, young

heterosexual adults whoidentify with the values ONArepresents are the growing

edge (especially couples withchildren).


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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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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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Dana Jensen/The Day, New London, Conn.

The Bergeron family greet their father and husband.


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Dana Jensen/The Day, New London, Conn.

Molly Malone, now 8 months, gets reacquainted after her dads 6-month absence.


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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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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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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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PERSISTENCE AND PUBLICITY

Your Open and Affirming

covenant is the startingpoint, not the endpoint, for

your outreach to theLGBTQ community.


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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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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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Weddings, Weddings!!!


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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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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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Documents

LGBT Evangelism 101 Webinar