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  Hartford Pride 2002

 

Good Morning.

I am Jack Hartwein-Sanchez. I’m here today as a member of Presbyterian Promise, a group dedicated to outreach and education within the Presbytery of Southern New England and that is trying to change the policy of the Presbyterian Church USA.
Jack Hartwein-Sanchez
Blackford 

We are affiliated with two similar national organizations: More Light Presbyterians which consists of over 100 churches and thousands of individuals that have openly declared their opposition to the ban on ordination, and That All May Freely Serve, the Evangelical and Outreach organization headed by the ‘Out Lesbian Evangelical Minister’ the Rev. Janie Spahr.  Presbyterian Promise is partially sponsored by three churches, one – First Presbyterian here in Hartford is right over there next door to the Bushnell Auditorium; the other two are First Presbyterian in New Haven and the Wilton Presbyterian Church in Wilton, CT. There are also many Presbyterian congregations here in Southern New England that I know will welcome gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender individuals and couples in worship and into their church families.
  

Presbyterian Promise Booth
Hartwein-Sanchez
I am here today because I have pride in who I am:  A Christian who happens to be gay.  Like many of you, I have come out to my friends, my co-workers, my family and my church.  I thought that coming out to my church would be hard, but I found that the folks in my congregation didn’t mind at all.  What surprised me was how hard it has been to come out in the GLBT community as a Christian.  Believe me, I understand the distrust that so many have of the Christian community.  I used to be one.  But in rediscovering my faith, in part inspired by the Rev. Janie Spahr’s impassioned commitment and wonderful words, I found that there is a large and growing community of Christians who want to welcome GLBT individuals and couples, into their churches and who are standing up to declare that the church must change.  Today you can find congregations or support organizations within all the major Christian denominations.  You will even find them in synagogues, temples, and mosques of the other major faiths.

I have pride in who I am.  For the past nine years I have stood up and witnessed to my faith and my sexuality.  I know the power of witnessing.  If the Rev. Janie Spahr hadn’t done it, I wouldn’t be here.  If I hadn’t done it, many people I know personally in the Presbyterian Church here in Southern New England would not have changed their minds.  Having pride in my faith, in who I am, has allowed me to speak honestly with others.  Every time that I have spoken at a religious forum, whither in a church, or at a meeting of a governing body, I know that I have changed minds.

Today because of the work of those who came before me and that which I, and others, are doing today, the doors of churches, synagogues and temples across this country are coming open to you.  I encourage you to seek out a spiritual home.  Yes, I would love it if you came to a Presbyterian Church, but I really want you seek the spiritual home that you are most comfortable in.  Seeking and practicing a life of faith is a wonderful, fulfilling, joy-filled experience – one that enhances the pride that you have in yourself, and in your place in this world.  I encourage each and everyone one of you to do so and invite you to visit the Presbyterian Promise booth.