… what we're all looking for
“Every conference, it’s the most common complaint – too many choices among the breakout sessions! And it’s true. We’ve tried every time to stop – to reduce the number of offerings for breakout sessions – but it’s impossible! Too many topics warrant our attention, and we want to address the needs of our attendees as much as we possibly can…”
“What my parents needed most was someone who could help them understand that these things they’d been taught to believe were not true – that being gay isn’t a choice and that they hadn’t caused me to be gay.
My parents needed someone who would listen to their feelings and help them navigate what was a very new and frightening territory for them.”
“This passage from Luke’s gospel presents a core tenet of Jesus’s life and teachings – welcoming people who were on the margins, typically excluded by religious folk. Jesus didn’t stop with a simple welcome, radical as that might have been in his day. He didn’t just “allow” outsiders to be in his presence – he fully embraced them and extended the invitation to work right alongside him.”
“At the height of the AIDS crisis when so many of our sons and brothers were dying, having been kicked out of families and ostracized from churches – this church was different.
…Because their preacher was different.”
“Because it’s about a baby and his imperfect family, it’s a story we can relate to. But it’s more – it’s about a God who chose to become … one of us.”
“It occurred to me driving on the ice that it would be so easy to just veer off the road, go through the guard rails and down into the ravine, hoping the car would just roll over and over and that I wouldn’t survive that tumble. Then I would never have to acknowledge that I was attracted to women. Never have to hurt and embarrass my family. Never have to experience the deep shame – deeper than I had already felt for years – of coming out to friends.”
“I knew for the first time that Mama had those same expectations that most every parent I’ve ever encountered has had – that someday she’d have a grandbaby to love on. But she never voiced that expectation to me.”
“And sometimes, when you haven’t heard the words, “I’m proud of you,” just for being you – from the ones you’re supposed to hear it from the most – it takes a whole month of parades and people around the world recognizing you to even begin to make up for the loss.”
I had such high hopes for 2020. CenterPeace’s e3 Conference, traditionally held every other year, was scheduled for October of 2020. This conference was going to be extra special, not…
I had such high hopes for 2020. CenterPeace’s e3 Conference, traditionally held every other year, was scheduled for October of 2020. This conference was going to be extra special, not…
In our ongoing series of reasons why you should come to #e32020… What?! Did I hear you correctly?…Two feature-length documentaries are included when you register for e3?! No way… Yes,…
In case you’re still wondering why you should sign up for CenterPeace’s e3 Conference, here are ten excellent reasons we hope you’ll consider. For the next eight weeks I’ll post…
We are long overdue in this conversation and we have much to learn. Carve out some time this week to listen and learn from worship leader and advocate for justice,…
“I have gay friends and then I have Christian friends. I don’t have many friends who are Christian who are also gay. Now I do, so this is great!” Those…
They came from all over this past weekend, to a spiritual formation retreat for LGBTQ+ college students. Some identify as lesbian, some as gay, bisexual, trans. Some are still questioning,…
Sitting in a movie theatre and watching myself on the big screen this past week was surreal. I traveled to Austin for the theatrical release of CenterPeace’s latest documentary at…
When I was growing up we listened to Paul Harvey’s radio show while riding in the car. He was famous for telling stories about people and events that were fairly…
Some amazing things happened over this past weekend. For the first time in my life I baptized someone in front of the entire congregation on a Sunday morning. I’d been…
Today’s post is from the heart of my friend, Danny Sims. Danny and I went to college together, so I’ve been learning from him for a long time. Enjoy. …
When I came out nearly 22 years ago, the concept of “same-sex attraction” was very new to me. The only words I knew to describe the feelings I had been…
“I believe in the power of story. “Story is where we came from. Story is where we’re going. Story is what connects us and binds us to each other. It is…
Happy New Year from CenterPeace! We’re looking forward to sharing more stories, new insights, and addressing questions from readers in 2018. If you have a question you’d like for us…
A friend invited me to go to the kids’ Christmas musical at her church over the weekend. It was a hoot. And adorable, as any children’s musical program is and…
*I promise we’ll get back to our language series, but it’s a holiday week, you know, and there are things to be said about holidays…. So last week I went…
*Taking a short break from our series on language to address a recent episode of “The Story of Us” hosted by Morgan Freeman. We’ll get back to language next week.…
I was in the fifth grade when I first heard the word ‘homosexual.’ One day at school I was sitting around with a group of my friends at the lunch…
*First post in a series on language, so please be patient and know there’s much more to be said about LGBTQ language. We’ll take the conversation one step at a…
Here’s the first person I ever came out to, on December 16, 1996. I wish everyone was greeted with the reception I had that day. Love and acceptance that made…
This afternoon I’ll be speaking at my alma mater, in the auditorium where I took my first Bible class, a course in the New Testament, for college credit. Our professor…
I’m wondering this morning if the Nashville Statement issued last week has more potential to draw people to Christ, back to a local church, deeper into relationship with God, or…
Today sons and daughters will come out to their parents. For the very first time they’ll tell their moms and dad about feelings they’ve most likely had for a long…
For the last few months we’ve heard from parents of LGBTQ children and it’s been powerful. Their stories have opened conversations in churches and families that wouldn’t have happened otherwise.…
Our last post of the summer series with parents comes from my pastor, Pat Bills, from the Highland Oaks Church in Dallas. Pat truly cares for the LGBTQ community…
Every parent who’s shared a portion of his or her journey in this summer series knows that it’s just that – a portion. A very small portion. So many feelings…
I remember where I was standing the first time I talked to the dad who wrote this week’s post. I loved his heart then, and I love it even more…
Here’s another beautiful story of the humility of a parent, willing to listen and learn from God, and from her daughter. I grew up in the church. My father was…
The next contribution to our parent series this summer comes from one of my church leaders at the Highland Oaks Church of Christ in Dallas, or as we call them,…
I was unprepared for the emotional whiplash I experienced when my son first told us he was “gay.” I had no idea how scared he was and how much courage it took…
Thankful for the heart of another mom who loves her children fiercely. All of them. Here’s a new post from my friend, Dawn Domasig. Questions swirled in my head. Where…
Thank you to my friend, Keith Brenton, for the wonderful idea of “Fridays with Family” as a way of allowing family members to share their experiences with LGBTQ siblings, grandchildren,…
Another beautiful account of the power of a mother’s love, from my friend, Darla. As you read, which thoughts or feelings expressed by this mom stand out to you? Junior…
When we began this summer series with parents, I asked some of the moms and dad who have attended a CenterPeace PeacePrint Retreat for their help. It takes a lot…
WHY? Why did this happen? How did this happen? Why God? Why us? These were some of the many questions I anguished with when I found out in 2012 that…
Start your week off right, with a reminder of God’s unconditional, unchanging love for us, through this mom’s fierce love for her son. Here’s a word from my friend, Gail…
The families I’ve encountered over the last eleven years of ministry who have navigated these waters most healthily are the ones who have opened themselves up to learn about something…
Welcome to our summer series on the CenterPeace blog, featuring stories from moms of LGBTQ sons and daughters! Our first contribution from a mom comes from my friend, Liz Moore.…
Continuing with our guest series from fathers of LGBTQ daughters and sons on Fridays, here’s a post from my friend, Paul Mathis. Sometimes, I say the dumbest things. (According to…
For the rest of the summer we’ll be posting stories from parents of LGBTQ daughters and sons. On Mondays we’ll hear from moms and on Fridays, from fathers. Perhaps the…
Today marks a year since the massacre at Pulse, a nightclub in Orlando. The first anniversary of the death of someone you love is a milestone. One of those markers…
I’m having a hard time balancing the need to tell the hard stories – stories of pain still being experienced by my LGBTQ brothers and sisters who are turned away…
The Missing Peace 