GCM adherents
Gay Christian Movement adherents at a glance
The gay christian movement is, at once, both individually autonomous and universally singleminded. It keeps no “membership” statistics nor has any central leadership therefore, its actual numerical strength is unknown. The exception may be one gcm leader’s unverifiable claim that there are “millions” of “ex-ex-gays.” This page contains a synopsis of 12 of the presumably prominent homosexual religious groups we currently map (monitor, analyze, publish). While there is loose association between the groups, the main unifier seems to be the proliferation of homosexual rights within the Christian church.
Beyondexgay (BEG) is a reactionary group begun by several ex-ex-gays in protest to the policies and claims of Exodus North America. Since, its founding earlier this year, Beyondexgay has launched parodied versions of Exodus conferences for individuals who desire to return to homosexuality as gay christians.
Yvette Flunder, a lesbian pastor, founded the Fellowship in 2000 while being proclaimed a bishop. Flunder, the granddaughter of a COGIC bishop, folded her pentecostal sensitivities and musical talent (as a member of the Walter Hawkins singers) into black gay christian activism. The Fellowship appeals to an African American religious mindset while rejecting traditional biblical sexual morality. More about Yvette Flunder and Fellowship2000 here and here.
Soulforce was forged as a thorn in the side movement to the late Christian conservative leader Rev. Jerry Farwell. Soulforce founder, James (Mel) White divorced his wife in the mid 80s after revealing his attraction to men and began living with a male partner. White formerly worked for Farwell and other conservative leaders, but in 1993 because of his failure to overcome homosexuality, he declared his homosexuality a “gift from God.” Soulforce adopted an odd ideological mix, borrowing teachings from Ghandi, Martin Luther King and selected Christian teachings, but maintaining a mostly Christian veneer which we termed “political religion.”
Whosoever Magazine is an online gay christian movement collection of writings, essays and theological templates advocating the belief that gays can be true Christians while maintaining a homosexual lifestyle. With a premise rooted in John 3:16, Whosoever claims gays are “already justified by their faith and sanctified by grace alone.”
Evangelicals Concerned (east and west regions)
EC is a Christian oriented organization comprised of homosexuals and their religious allies. Founded in 1975 by a psychotherapist Ralph Blair, EC (with reconciliation) purports to help individuals “integrate their faith and sexual orientation.”
A gay christian movement social networking site.
Unity Fellowship of Christ aka Unity Fellowship Church of Christ
The UFC is an association of about a dozen predominately gay African American churches mostly situated in east and west coast urban areas. Founded in 1982 by Bishop Carl Bean, the church espouses standard gay theology with a pentecostal twist. Simular to Bishop Yvette Flunder, Bean was formerly involved in the black gospel music ministry, most notably with the Alex Bradford Singers. Bradford [1927-1978] was known for his “flamboyant stage presence.” UFC’s mission statement does not mention the gospel or even Christ but “focusing on empowering those who have been oppressed and made to feel shame.”
Exgaywatch is an self described online watchdog group which claims to hold exgay ministries accountable. While not overtly Christian, XGW frequently employs the writings of individuals within the gay christian movement to buttress its religious arguments. Exgaywatch practices political religion i.e. religion is valid only through the prism of gay rights advances.
CLGS Pacific School of Religion
The CLGS is a function of the liberal Pacific School of Religion. According to its website, the CLGS was established to “advance the well-being of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people and to transform faith communities and the wider society by taking a leading role in shaping a new public discourse on religion and sexuality through education, research, community building and advocacy.” In simpler terms, the Center produces spokesmen for the gay christian movement.
Metropolitan Community Churches
Arguably the “mother” of the gay christian movement, the MCC is the work of Troy Perry, a former Church of God minister, who after refusing to repent for his homosexuality, started the gcm’s most organized aggregation of gay christians. Perry’s life set the tone for future gay christian movement male (and some female) leaders who (1) committed homosexual adultery while married (2) abandoned their husbands/wives for female/male sexual partners and (3) consequently declared their actions “ok” with God.
After 15 years in a “conservative Christian denomination” CL founder Anita Cadonau had a revelation: she was a lesbian. This came to her (she alleged) without any prior thoughts or inclinations towards homosexuality. It occured after what Cadonau relates was an intense dissatisfaction with her life, which she attempted to resolve through prayer. Her post-prayer conclusion was that God told her she was a lesbian and thus her unhappiness completely alleviated. This isolated experience formed the backdrop for the online social networking site she set up and consequently the basis of the doctrine she now espouses.
The politcal gay community’s stance towards “exgays” runs from smoldering disdain to outright hatred. Nevertheless, founder Marc Adams co-opted the term for his website. Like most gcm adherents, such sites and groups are a reflection of the founder’s personal belief system. Therefore; if the individual is flawed, he or she tends to possess a flawed view of Christianity. Adams’ view of Christianity appears to be comprised of how one is raised, a parent’s spiritual status and even what type of school one attends.
United Progressive Pentecostal Church (UPPC)
A mostly African American homosexual religious organization started by a Oliver Clay Allen, a former Seventh Day Adventist member from Los Angeles. Like many who formulate such organizations, Allen initially sought “deliverance” from his homosexuality but sources say the death of his younger sister played a part in abandoning his quest to overcome his homosexual lifestyle. Allen’s “husband” is the organization’s Director of Leadership Development. The UPPC copies apostolic/pentecostal doctrine and expression but rejects biblical truth about homosexuality.
