Church Within A Church News Release: Coming Out, Speaking Out; It Matters

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
CONTACT: Cathy Knight, Executive Director, Church Within A Church Movement
Call: 773.348.2679 x 227
Fax: 773.348.2521
Email: cknight72@aol.com
Website: www.cwac.us

Coming Out, Speaking Out; It Matters

Chicago, Illinois, February 15, 2005 – An Associated Press article published Tuesday, February 15, 2005 reported that the daughter of Black conservative Republican Alan Keyes referred to herself Monday as a "liberal queer" and urged support for gay and lesbian young people who have been deserted by their families. Maya Marcel-Keyes, 19, addressed a rally saying she was “motivated to speak out because of her rocky relationship with her parents and the recent death of a friend who had fallen ill after being thrown out of the house by his family.”

“Why is it that in far too many families, the presence of a person or persons who identify themselves as Gay, Lesbian, Bi-Sexual or Transgender cause denial, dis-owning and demeaning of them by parents and some other family members?” asks retired African American United Methodist pastor Gil Caldwell, a member of the leadership of Church Within A Church.

Rev. Caldwell continues, “Ms. Keyes has a story to be told that ought to be embarrassing to a father who has been so vocal and vehement in his commitment to "Christian values". Why is there such a disconnect between persons who are self-righteous about their value system yet do not "walk their talk" on those things that are essential to family: love, acceptance, affirmation and reconciliation?”

“The power of affirming the dignity and sacred value of ALL persons necessitates valuing the gift of healthy relationships to which all have a right,” states Rev. Gregory Dell, a member of the leadership of Church Within A Church. Rev. Dell goes on to say, “The rejection of gay marriage is another facet of the rejection of gay persons and follows in the pattern of rejecting marriage for persons because of their racial identity.”

Monday, February 14th, fifty-six New York clergy from dozens of faith backgrounds, issued a letter to the people of New York letting them know they support same-gender couples having access to the government institution of marriage and the legal rights and protections that come with it.

Signers of the letter said that marriage for same-gender couples as a religious rite was a decision for denominations to make on their own, but were clear in stating their belief that government should not be withholding the legal rights and protections of marriage from same-gender couples that it provides to other families.

United Methodist pastors, Rev. Steve Clunn of First United Methodist Church of Schenectady and Rev. Thomas A. Clemow of First United Methodist Church Oneonta are signers of the letter that can be found at http://www.prideagenda.org/pdfs/Pulpit%20Marriage%

The Church Within A Church Movement in the United Methodist Church appreciates and supports all the signers especially our denominational colleagues, Rev’s. Clunn and Clemow. Church Within A Church Executive Director, Cathy Knight states, “It is precisely this argument that needs to be lifted up; that regardless of their religious views on same-gender marriage, all faith traditions can support equal states rights and governmental benefits for same-gender couples.”

These issues are related because the fact this country is tilting right means that individual rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are being squelched by a rising tide of intolerance. Denying the validity of same-gender relationships and denying the validity of credible personal identity are aligned with the past sins of our forbearers toward women and ethnic and racial minorities.

So we call on pastors and community leaders across the nation, to speak out against the voices of intolerance. Coming Out, Speaking Out; It Matters!


Organized in February of 2002, Church Within A Church is a grass roots response to actions of the United Methodist Church General Conference. Refusing to commit itself to remaining within the United Methodist denomination or leaving it, the progressive movement declares its mission: “To BE Church in a fully inclusive way.” A ten-member coordinating team, which meets twice a year, guides the group.

Contact Information: Cathy Knight, Executive Director, Church Within A Church. 3344 N. Broadway Chicago, IL 60657. Phone: 773.348.2679 Email: cknight72@aol.com. Website: www.cwac.us