Inclusive church offers congregants Safe Harbor

http://www.clarionledger.com/article/20111024/NEWS/110240315/Inclusive-church-offers-congregants-Safe-Harbor

During a Sunday night service at a Flowood church, the choir is finishing its worship hymn before the congregants hear the sermon. Worshippers turn to one another, taking a quick break to share hugs, smiles and words of encouragement.

It's a typical Sunday in Mississippi, one of the strongest loops in the Bible Belt. Yet, the members of Safe Harbor Family Church specifically sought out this place as a sanctuary from the judgment and persecution they say chased them from other churches.

With the majority of the congregation identifying as gay or lesbian, Safe Harbor has been a saving grace for many, even if it meant at one time staying under the radar in the heart of the South.