High Hopes
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…
High Hopes
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…
REASON #9: The Documentaries
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,…
Reasons to Attend #e32020: “Virtual” Benefits
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…
An Introduction to the Intersection of Racial & LGBTQ Identity
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,…
Zoom Connection, Lifelong Discipling
“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…
Will Our LGBTQ+ Youth Hold Onto Faith?
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,…
“Loves God, Likes Girls” – the Documentary
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…
The Rest of the Story – Part 2 of 2
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…
Tough Questions – Part 1 of 2
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…
Just As They Were, Billy Graham and my Dad
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. …
Coming to Terms…
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…
Let Me Show You A Story…
“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…
Jesus & the Black-Eyed Pea
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…
What Will Your Kids Learn From Church?
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…
Being Estranged From Family on Holidays & Other Things That Should Never Be
*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…
Losing Granddaughters
*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.…
The “H” Word
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…
Learning the Language
*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…
December 16, 1996: My Coming Out Day
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…
Waiting ’til College
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…
Why – And Who – the Nashville Statement Hurts
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…
Please Keep Talking
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…
PeacePrints: Building Community for Parents of LGBTQ Children
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.…
Fridays With Fathers
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…
Mondays with Moms
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…
Fridays with Fathers
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…
Mondays with Moms
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…
Fridays with Fathers
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,…
Mondays With Moms
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…
Mondays With Moms
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…
Fridays With Family
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,…
Mondays With Moms
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…
Mondays with Moms
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…
Fridays with Fathers
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…
Mondays With Moms
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…
Fridays with Fathers
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…
Mondays with Moms
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.…
Fridays With Fathers
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…
Fridays With Fathers
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…
Remembering Orlando
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…
Loving Parents
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…
Fifth reason to attend “e3”: “Perfect Love Expels Fear”
I remember how scared I was the first time I told someone I was gay. That was almost twenty years ago. If you’d told me then that someday I’d be…
A Schedule Designed to Answer All Your Questions About Faith & Sexuality…(Reasons #7 & #6 to come to the “e3” Conference!)
Well, maybe not…. The truth is, you’ll probably leave the “e3” conference with even more questions! That’s what happens when we begin studying something new – when we really start…
Resources for Parents Who Feel Isolated & Alone – Reason #8 to Come to the CenterPeace “e3” Conference
The “e3” Conference is for parents who love a child who experiences same-sex attraction, to provide resources for equipping, encouraging, and empowering them to love their children unconditionally. Most importantly,…
A Short Course on Faith & Sexuality
Ever wish you could take a short course on Faith & Sexuality? Well, now’s your chance. But it’s better than that. Because this course won’t be taught by just one…
Why You Don’t Want To Miss the “e3” Conference: Reason #10
We’re only ten weeks away from CenterPeace’s “e3” Conference! If you’re still wondering whether or not you should come, here’s the first of the top ten reasons you need to…
A Picture’s Worth…
Here’s another inspiring post from Tyler Sparks, CenterPeace intern for the fall. Tyler is a graduate student in ministry from Abilene Christian University. “How do you picture God?” I can’t…
Welcoming…
This semester we’re privileged to have Tyler Sparks, a graduate ministry student from Abilene Christian University, serving as our CenterPeace intern. Tyler moved to Dallas in August and has been…
Providing Safe Places for Parents
One by one they started opening up to each other. Their stories had similarities. Yet each one was different. As the parents who had gathered in this living room began…
“Church Isn’t Easy for a Kid Who’s Secretly Gay”
The Story I Never Wanted to Tell* AUGUST 26, 2020MATTHEWCSMITH08 “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” –- Maya Angelou If you know me, you know…
