Black church ‘dissing’ gays, workshop says

Black church ‘dissing’ gays, workshop says

By VAN GOWER
Friday, May 06, 2005

African-American clergy join black gays May 14 for a program discussing how African-American churches can better reach out to disenfranchised constituencies.

Dubbed “Whosoever Will Come: Opening the Doors of the Black Church to Same Gender Loving Men & Women,” the event features a workshop on “Sexuality and the Bible” led by Randall C. Bailey, professor of the Hebrew Bible at the Interdenominational Theological Center, where the program is being held.

Bailey is expected to address how interpretations of scripture have contributed to gays’ estrangement from the church, according to Mark Cunningham, creator of “Whosoever Will Come.”

“I wanted for those people to get a sense of inclusiveness, empowerment and to begin some healing around the fact that the all-powerful black church was dissing you,” Cunningham said.

http://www.sovo.com/2005/5-6/news/localnews/blackchurch.cfm