The African-American Roundtable Project of The Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies ( CLGS ) in Religion and Ministry at the Pacific School of Religion will hold its second Souls 'a Fire Conference June 23-25 at The Chicago Theological Seminary, 5757 S. University.
According to a press release, Souls 'a Fire presents a rare opportunity to hear African-American LGBT people of faith from around the country - along with their straight allies - speak publicly about some of the most controversial issues in the church today, including those that center around race, faith, gender, class, and sexuality.
The events scheduled for the conference include:
— Opening Worship and Reception - 'How We Got Over May Not 'Necessarily' be How We'll Get Through,' with Reverend Lynice Pinkard ( at the University Church United Church of Christ )
— 'Wrapped Up, Tied Up, and Tangled Up: The Politics of Aesthetic Maleness, Masculinity, and Charisma in Black Religious Culture,' with a panel of African-American men across academic disciplines and religious denominations
— 'Unholy Ghosts: Decolonizing the Churches of our Youth,' with a panel of pastors, ministers, and leaders who will discuss the danger of replicating systems of oppression in the name of liberation
— 'Don't Leave it to Beaver: Gender Construction, Misogyny, and Homo-Negativity in the Church's Version of the Family'
— 'Reclaiming Stonewall: Issues at the Intersection of Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality'
Panelists will include a wide variety of scholars, artists, and community leaders. Participants will include Johari Jabir of the University of California-Santa Barbara; Rev. Lynice Pinkard of the First Congregational Church UCC in Oakland, Cal.; Michael Brown of Emory University; and Vickie Sides of the Chicago YWCA.
General admission is $25 until May 31; after that date, it is $35. For more information, visit www.clgs.org/3/conference_souls_a_fire2.html, call CLGS at ( 800 ) 999-0528, or e-mail clgs@clgs.org .