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Reverend, Neil G. Thomas - February 18, 2009 / 7:30 p.m.
UNWELCOME IN GOD’S HOUSE? Healing the wounds religions inflict.
Reverend Neil G. Thomas, Senior Pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church, Los Angeles – the founding church of the MCC Movement.
Out of the closet, out of the church. For LGBT persons and their families, acceptance of sexual orientation or gender identity often causes a crisis of faith. How many of us have sat in our seats, listening with anguish to sermons that ignore, trivialize, criticize, vilify, or demonize our experience. From “don’t ask, don’t tell” policies to outright hate many religious denominations—Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Hindu and others—make full inclusion in community life difficult or impossible.
Reverend Neil G. Thomas, senior pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church Los Angeles, believes that the “good news” of spirituality is our birthright. He will be talking about healing past wounds caused by religious rejection, reclaiming our places as children of God, and actively working to bring about justice and inclusion for all.
Raised as a Mormon, Reverend Thomas has been a part of the Metropolitan Community Churches for 26 years, serving in numerous positions including Chair, Board of Ordained Ministries (European District), Member, Elder’s Task Force on Education, Member, European District Committee, Member, Board of Samaritan College in Europe, Supervising Pastor, and Ecumenical Officer.
Well known for his social activism he has been instrumental in feeding programs for the homeless, night and day shelters, safer sex initiatives, establishing relations with police and LGBTQ communities, Over the Rainbow, (a drop in center offering counseling, support and information), LGBTQ youth services, as well as challenging laws that continue discrimination and intolerance.
Reverend Thomas currently serves as President of California Faith for Equality, an interfaith coalition that is building a strong voice in bringing about Marriage Equality in California, President of the Los Angeles LGBTQI Clergy Council and serves Metropolitan Community Churches on the California Council of Churches.
For more information on Metropolitan Community Church, Los Angeles go to www.mccla.org
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