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In This
Kit: |
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1. Introduction
2. Sample News Release
3. Liturgical Resources
4. Facts on Homophobia
5. Web Links
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The Rev. Dr. Troy Perry, Moderator
of Metropolitan Community Churches
"I'm
inviting your local congregation to join hands with faith
groups around the world to observe the "World Day of
Prayer for Healing Homophobia" on Sunday, May 29,
2005.
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INTRODUCTION:
A
Message From The Rev. Dr. Troy Perry, Moderator of
Metropolitan Community Churches
Dear Friend:
As Moderator of
Metropolitan Community Churches, I am inviting churches
around the globe to observe Sunday, May 29, 2005 as a
"World Day of Prayer for Healing
Homophobia."
I am inviting our MCC churches to
set aside some time during worship services that day to pray
for an end to homophobia in our world. I am also
extending an invitation to other faith communities to
join hands with MCC on Sunday, May 29 to observe the
"World Day of Prayer for Healing
Homophobia."
With all of the advancements we
have made in society over the past four decades, the reality
is that millions of people around the globe are impacted daily
by homophobia:
-- There are still countries around the
globe where LGBT people receive the death penalty simply for
being gay or lesbian.
-- Millions of LGBT people are
still closeted within faith communities that do not treat LGBT
people with value, respect and acceptance.
-- Every
year, LGBT-friendly churches are still the targets of
vandalism and hate crimes based on homophobia.
--
Homophobia contributes to higher rates of suicide in LGBT
teens, higher rates of LGBT homelessness, lower wages for
lesbians, and employment and housing difficulties for LGBT
people.
-- Homophobia distorts the spiritual message of
God's love for all people.
I have included some web
links, below, to provide more information and resources to
assist you, along with two liturgical resources, and a sample
news release which you can send to your local newspapers and
TV stations.
If your church will be participating in
the World Day of Prayer for Healing
Homophobia, would you send me an e-mail to RevTroyPerry@MCCchurch.org?
We want to document your participation in this first annual
event. And be sure to mark your future calendars -- we will
observe this event each year on the last Sunday of each
May.
On Sunday, May 29, let's join together to pray for
an end to homophobia in our world, and let us recommit
ourselves -- both individually and as faith communities -- to
work for peace and justice and
understanding.
/signed/
In Christ,
The
Reverend. Dr. Troy D. Perry
MCC Founder and
Moderator
P.S. As your congregation prays for an end to
homophobia, please pray also for an end to
transphobia. Every single year, there are
transgender brothers and sisters whose lives are taken by hate
crimes that are rooted in transphobia, and far too many trans
folks are subject to ostracism, rejection, and physical
violence, solely based on gender variation. |
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SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: {Insert Date
Here]
The members of {Insert Church Name Here] will
observe "World Day of Prayer for Healing
Homophobia" on Sunday, May 29,
according to Rev. [Insert Pastor's Name Here].
"This is
an opportunity to remind our community that both society and
too many faith communities still devalue and reject Gods' gay,
lesbian, bisexual and transgender children," said Rev. [Insert
Pastor's Last Name Here].
"Homophobia contributes to
higher rates of suicide in LGBT teens, higher rates of LGBT
homelessness, lower wages for lesbians, and employment and
housing difficulties for LGBT people," added Rev. [Insert
Pastor's Last Name Here]. "Homophobia distorts the message
that God loves and welcomes all people."
"World Day
of Prayer for Healing Homophobia" is sponsored by
Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC), a predominantly gay and
lesbian movement with 43,000 members and adherents in 23
countries. MCC is joining hands with many faith communities
and ecumenical groups to observe the "World Day of Prayer
for Healing Homophobia" on May 29.
[Insert Name of
Local Church Here] Metropolitan Community Church is located at
[Insert Worship Address Here]. Worship services are held each
Sunday at [Insert Worship Times Here].
For Additional
Information, Contact:
[Insert Pastor's Name
Church
Name
Street and City Address
and Phone Number
Here] |
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LITURGICAL RESOURCES
Litany: A Litany of
Healing
The following litany was authored by
Diann Neu, and appears in Courage To Love:
Liturgies for the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender
Community (copyright Pilgrim Press,
2002),
Leader: In the beginning...
All: In the
beginning
Leader: There was only denial and
humiliation
All: In the
beginning...
Leader: There was only frustration
and fury...
All: In the beginning...
Leader:
There was only loneliness and destruction...
All: In
the beginning...
Leader: What else was there? Tell us
and we will listen.
All: In the
beginning...
Leader: Gracious God of Justice
and Restoration, in the beginning there was all of this
and more. You know our hearts and our minds, our feelings and
our thoughts. Be with us as we mourn the pain of individuals
and the entire community in the face of betrayal and abuse.
Strengthen us as we break silence and confront evil, as we
support one another and cry out for justice. We ask this in
the name of all. Amen. Blessed be. Let it be so.
(Pause
for meditation and prayer)
Leader: In the
beginning...
All: In the
beginning...
Leader: There is the support of
community.
All: In the beginning...
Leader:
There is the courage to speak truth to power.
All: In
the beginning...
Leader: The is the compassion of
friendship.
All: In the beginning...
Leader:
There is the wisdom of love.
All: In the
beginning...
Leader: What else is there? Tell us and we
will support you
All: When times are tough -- and they
will be -- let us remember that this time we are not alone.
From this place, we are committed to working to create a world
where abuse is non-existent. Amen! Blessed be! Let it be
so!
Prayer: An Inclusive Church
The
following litany was authored by Eugene Turner, and
appears in Courage To Love: Liturgies for the Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community
(copyright Pilgrim Press, 2002),
God, who revealed to
Peter
both the
circumcised and the
uncircumcised
are welcome into your kingdom.
God, who promised your
spirit
will be an
advisor to the
faithful,
and a comforter to the hurting;
We pray your spirit will
lead the Church
toward
insights on how all your
people
can experience
the
welcome
that Peter, in your
Name,
offered to the uncircumcised
Gentiles,
especially
those whom the Church
rejects
due to race,
sex and sexual orientation.
God, whose grace knows no
boundaries,
teach us
to avoid erecting
boundaries
to human
experiences
that cannot be found in
your dominion.
Prayer: Deliverance
The
following litany was authored by Chris Glaser, and
appears in Courage To Love: Liturgies for the Lesbian,
Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community
(copyright Pilgrim Press, 2002),
May the Church receive
insight
into the
mystery of Christ
which was not made
known
to the human
race
in other
generations
as it has not been revealed
to Christ's holy
apostles and prophets
by the Spirit;
that is how lesbians and gays are joint
heirs
members of the
same body,
and
partakers of the promise in Christ
Jesus
through the gospel. |
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FACTS ON HOMOPHOBIA
-- Students who describe
themselves as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered are five
times more likely to miss school because of feeling unsafe.
28% are forced to drop out. --National Gay
and Lesbian Task Force, "Anti-Gay/Lesbian
Victimization," New York, 1984.
-- The vast majority
of victims of anti-lesbian/gay violence - possibly more than
80% - never report the incident, often due to fear of being
"outed." --New York Gay and Lesbian
Anti-Violence Project Annual Report, 1996.
- 85% of teachers oppose integrating lesbian, gay and
bisexual themes in their curricula. -- Making Schools Safe for
Gay and Lesbian Youth: Report of the Massachusetts Governor's
Commission on Gay and Lesbian Youth," 1993.
-- Due to sexual orientation
discrimination, lesbians earn up to 14% less than their
heterosexual female peers with similar jobs, education, age
and residence, according to a study by the University of
Maryland. --Badgett, M.V. Lee, "The Wage Effects of Sexual
Orientation Discrimination," Industrial and Labor Relations
Review, July 1995.
-- 42% of homeless youth identify
as lesbian, gay or bisexual. --Orion Center, Survey of Street
Youth, Seattle, WA: Orion Center, 1986.
-- More than
84% of Americans oppose employment discrimination on the basis
of sexual orientation. --Survey Conducted by Newsweek,
January 1997.
-- 75% of people committing hate crimes
are under age 30 - one in three are under 18 - and some of the
most pervasive anti-gay violence occurs in schools. --New York
Gay and Lesbian Anti-Violence Report, 1996.
--
Lesbian, gay and bisexual youth are at a four times higher
risk for suicide than their straight peers. --Gibson P., LCSW,
"Gay Male and Lesbian Youth Suicide," Report of the
Secretary's Task Force on Youth Suicide, U.S. Department of
Health and Human Services, 1989.
-- A survey of 191
employers revealed that 18% would fire, 27% would refuse to
hire and 26% would refuse to promote a person they perceived
to be lesbian, gay or bisexual. -- Schatz and O'Hanlan,
"Anti-Gay Discrimination in Medicine: Results of a National
Survey of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Physicians," San
Francisco, 1994. National Organization for Women, 733 15th
Street NW, Washington, D.C. 20005, (202) 628-8669
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