You are Loved,
You are Welcomed,
You are Celebrated!
Chicago Coalition of
Welcoming Churches
60+ ministries celebrating
LGBTQ lives
We celebrate Christ's love as a special gift to be shared.
Together,
we are a visible witness to the Good News
he announced -
God's love and acceptance
is the source of any repentance that is truly Divine.
When religion motivates
discrimination, second-class citizenship or bullying,
it does not speak for the God of New Creation.
Living the Great Commandment*
is a joy, not a burden.
When we truly "love our neighbor as ourselves,"
we are guided to work for their flourishing
in opportunity, respect and freedom.
*When Jesus was asked what the most important commandment was, he said, "The first is... 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." (Mark 12:29-31)
CLASP: Chicago Shelters LGBT Refugees
By Anne Marie Gerhardt
Northern Illinois Conference of the United Methodist Church
The offering taken at our 2014 Ecumenical Pride Service went to Chicago's LGBT Asylum Support Program (CLASP).
CLASP is an outgrowth of a nationwide group called LGBT Faith & Asylum Network (LGBT-FAN) which is dedicated to helping people who are seeking safety in the U.S. because of persecution based on sexual orientation or gender identity in their home countries. CLASP organizers hope to set an example in Chicago and be a model for other cities wanting to help this community.
When the Rev. Lois Parr at Broadway UMC read about what was happening to LGBT people in countries like Nigeria and Uganda, she wished there was something she could do. When I got the call from LGBT-Faith and Asylum Network, I knew this is how I could be part of helping," she said. "I hope someone who is afraid for her life in Uganda hears that there are people here in Chicago who will welcome you and reinforce that message from God: you are of value, you belong, your life is important to God and to the world."
CLASP is asking for help:
- Identifying apartments or rooms in homes that can be used for a minimum of 6 months.
- Providing volunteer jobs while asylum seekers wait to receive asylum.
- Making tax-deductible gifts of money, food and clothing for asylum seekers who may have fled with nothing.
Donations can be made in care of Broadway United Methodist Church
Marriage Equality Doubloons
The Coalition has commissioned a commemorative doubloon to celebrate the passage of marriage equality in Illinois in 2014. Many were distributed along the 2014 Pride Parade route on June 29th. If you or your congregation would like to purchase and distribute some of these doubloons to celebrate this milestone, please email Brent Holman-Gomez. We're selling them to our partner congregations and others for $1.00 each or $100.00 for 130 doubloons.
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