GRACE is a diverse, growing, member-led faith sharing group.
In partnership with others, we create safe and confidential spaces for gay and questioning Asian and Pacific Islander Christians, allies, and supporters -- joining together in community, social support, worship, prayer and spiritual sharing.

GAY ASIAN CHRISTIANS & ALLIES

GRACE works to create confidential, safe and supportive gatherings of queer spiritual Asians, their significant others, allies and friends. As a faith sharing group we share experiences and struggles relating to each person's identity, spirituality and faith community.

We offer personal testimony, counter inappropriate homophobic interpretations of scripture, host speakers who are agents of change, provide information/education on wider LGBTQ issues, and provide resources and referrals. We have also served on roundtables, told our stories in film, in workshops and on panels in the LGBTQ community and within Asian churches to reduce the isolation of and bring visibility and openness to Queer Asian Christians.

UPCOMING & RECENT EVENTS OF INTEREST

Creating LGBT-affirming Asian Pacific Islander Ministries:
a Training Retreat for Asian Pacific Islander LGBTs and supporters
May 30 - June 1, 2008 - Mercy Center in Burlingame, CA
LGBT-Q Bible Study Schedule at Pine UMC (see below)
March 5, 19 / April 2, 16, 30 / May 14
San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade - video interviews of marchers in the NRJ-API-LGBT contingent

GRACE GATHERING WITH PINE UMC (SF)

We are grateful to join in partnership with Pine UMC in scripture exploration and faith sharing.

Asian & Pacific Islander gay (LGBTQ) Christians and supporters are invited to a monthly time of scripture exploration, spiritual sharing and fellowship at Pine Church (SF). Following the gathering folks often share a meal and continue fellowship at a nearby restaurant. Please invite your friends and other supporters to this gathering.

The API-LGBTQ Bible Study Group is a safe and supportive space of fellowship and spirituality that respects boundaries and confidentiality.

As a Reconciling Church, Pine is a part of the larger Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) which is a growing movement of United Methodist individuals, congregations, campus ministries, and other groups who are working toward the full participation of all people in the United Methodist Church regardless of sexual orientation. These gatherings are open to persons of all denominations and those of no denomination as well.

For more information contact:

Elizabeth Leung - eleung@psr.edu (510) 849-8937 (voicemail)
Pine Church (UMC) - http://www.pineumc.org or
GRACE - http://gayasianchristians.org
426 33rd Avenue
SF, CA. 94121

In God’s House: Asian American
Lesbian & Gay Families in the Church

Asian American lesbians and gays and their parents and allies have been largely invisible and silent in Christian churches. Some Asian American churches avoid the issue for fear of division and conflict. Other Asian American church leaders have condemned homosexuality and publicly protested against same-sex marriage. Yet there are many gay and lesbian Asian American Christians and their families, quiet and invisible, in churches across the country. Where are their stories? What are their experiences? This honest and thought-provoking film invites you to hear personal stories which have long been unheard. It tells a story that those in the church need to hear: that of Asian American Christian lesbian and gay people and their parents.

Filmmaker Lina Hoshino and the PANA Institute’s project on Civil Liberties and Faith present the premier showing of In God’s House: Asian American Lesbian & Gay Families in the Church. This short film highlights the spiritual journeys of four Asian American Christians who discover that lesbians and gays are not just "others," but loved ones in their own families.

For more information, please see: http://www.ingodshouse.com

JUSTICE FOR API LGBTS - NRJ

We are pleased to be actively involved with the Network on Religion & Justice for Asian-American and Pacific Islander Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Persons.

NRJ meetings have been exciting and "energizing." We are glad to be working together and hopeful about the possibilities of our straight allies and friends educating and advocating for us in our religious communities.

Participant organizations include:

GRACE - offering a safe and welcoming space for lesbian, gay and questioning Asian and Pacific Islander Christians, allies, and supporters.
PANA - Institute for Leadership Development and Study of Pacific and Asian North American Religion
CLGS - Center for Lesbian and Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry
API Family Pride - "In API Homes, All Children Are Welcome"
GAPA - Gay Asian Pacific Alliance: a San Francisco Bay Area organization for gay & bisexual Asian/Pacific Islander Men
API Equality - (formerly APACE) a national ad hoc coalition of API leaders and organizations opposing marriage discrimination

For more information on this developing network and meeting times, please contact Sharon Hwang Colligan (shcolligan@psr.edu or 510.849.8260 ), administrative assistant at the PANA Institute.

There is free parking for the meeting available in the PANA House driveway, for up to six cars. We hope you will be able to join us at the next meeting.

See the the network's new web page: http://www.netrj.org
For more information and to subscribe to the email list: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/NRJ-API-LGBT or
send an email to NRJ-API-LGBT-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

PRESS CONFERENCE: ASIAN FAITH LEADERS
SPEAK OUT IN SUPPORT OF LESBIAN AND GAY FAMILIES AND EQUALITY Announcement of Support is a Historic First

SAN FRANCISCO, THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2007 - Several prominent Asian American faith leaders in the Bay Area announce their public support of lesbian and gay families and equality at a press conference in San Francisco Chinatown on Thursday, May 31, 2007, from 10:30-11:30 am, at Chinese for Affirmative Action (17 Walter Lum Place, nearby Portsmouth Square), to coincide with end of API Heritage Month and the start of LGBT Pride Month. Confirmed speakers for the event include: Rev. Calvin Chinn, Rev. Jeffrey Kuan, Rev. John Oda, Rev. Deborah Lee, Rev. Michael Yoshii, Rev Elizabeth Leung. The event will mark the first time a coalition of Asian American faith leaders speaks out in support of lesbian and gay families and equality.

RESOURCES / ARTICLES / SPEECHES

Gays & Lesbians Are Persons Too! A Position Paper by Leomyr L. de Jesus, May 9, 2004.

Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Kuan's speech on Marriage Equality delivered at the Asians and Allies for Civil Marriage Rights Rally on Aug. 8th, 2004 at Larsen Park, San Francisco.

"Love has everything to do with it" by Karen P. Oliveto March 16, 2004

Gay Activism in Asian and Asian-American Churches by Kwok Pui-lan.

The Bible and Homosexuality - The Church's Dance in the 21st Century. John Shelby Spong. March 31, 2004.

The Bible and Same-Gender Marriage - Mary Tolbert. December, 2004.

Homosexuality and the Bible by Rev. Dr. Walter Wink, Professor of Biblical Interpretation at Auburn Theological Seminary in New York City. Fellowship Bookstore, Box 271, Nyack, NY.

Homosexuality and the Bible...Bad News or Good News? 1994 Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches. Revised by Nathan L. Meckley. Originally published as: 'Homosexuality: What the Bible Does and Does not Say'.

Homosexuality And The Bible: Good News? by Rev. L. Robert Arthur. Chinese translation by: Canaan Church, Kaohsiung, Taiwan. New version coming soon!

"Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, Transgender Youth Suicide" by By Warren J. Blumenfeld & Laurie Lindop.

Asian Pacific American Same-Sex Households: A Census Report on New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles by Asian American Federation of New York. Commissioned by the C.J. Huang Foundation.

"Jesus didn't turn people away.
Neither do we."

LGBTQ WELCOMING API CONGREGATIONS
IN THE SF BAY AREA

PINE UMC - the first Asian American church in the country to become a "reconciling church" publicly stating they are welcoming towards glbt individuals. Every year Pine Church celebrates the San Francisco Gay Pride Weekend with a service to remember the calling to keep our our doors open to all of God's children.

BUENA VISTA UMC - Rev. Michael Yoshii, Pastor. 2311 Buena Vista Avenue, Alameda, CA 94501. (510) 522-2688, bvumc@aol.com

PROGRESSIVE PAN ASIAN MINISTRY - An intentionally progressive, open and affirming, justice-oriented ministry which meets at the PANA house in Berkeley for worship, potluck, and reflection. For more information contact Burt Yin at 510.582.4368 or byin@sbcglobal.net.

http://www.netrj.org/resources/congregations_list.htm
Here's a larger list of welcoming and affirming groups beyond the SF Bay Area.

LGBTQ AFFIRMING ASIAN PACIFIC ISLANDER CLERGY

God loves API LGBTQ people. To help you connect supportive clergy, the Network on Religion and Justice is maintaining a growing list at: http://www.netrj.org/resources/clergy_list.htm

Clergy wishing to be included on the list please email lquock@psr.edu.

RELATED LINKS

HOTLINES

Gay and Lesbian National Hotline 1-888-THE-GLNH (1-888-843-4564)
Monday - Friday 4pm-midnight & Saturday noon-5pm EST.
Peer-counseling, information and referrals

Confidential SF Bay Area API Helpline for support, resources for API individuals and families in the coming out process. (510) 818-0887.

Suicide Hotline. You are not alone! If you (or someone you know) are having thoughts about suicide, call 1-800-SUICIDE (784-2433). Because of the horrific pressures they often face, gay teens are 3 times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers. Gay men are six times more likely to attempt suicide than their peers.

SCHOLARSHIPS FOR API YOUTH

Education Fund for Queer Asian & Pacific Islander Youth living the San Francisco Bay Area - Pride Scholarship Application, 2005-2006. Deadline May 31, 2005
GAPA's George Choy Scholarship application can be downloaded from:
http://www.gapa.org/Scholarship. There will be TWO $1000 scholarships given
out in 2005. The postmark deadline for this year's awards is August 1,
2005. Feel free to email hao@gapa.org if you have any questions.

THEOLOGICAL RESOURCES

Chai, Alice Yun. "The Struggle of Asian and Asian American Women Toward a Total Liberation: A Korean Methodist Woman's Vocational Journey." In Spirituality and Social Responsibility: Vocational Vision of Women in the United Methodist Tradition, ed. Rosemary Skinner Keller. Nashville: Abingdon, 1993.

Kim, Ai Ra. Women Struggling for a New Life: The Role of Religion in the Cultural Passage from Korea to America. Albany, NY: State University of New York Press, 1996.

Kim, Jung Ha. Bridge-Makers and Cross-Bearers: Korean American Women and the Church. Atlanta, GA: Scholars Press, 1997.

Lee, Jung Young. Marginality: The Key to Multicultural Theology. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1995.

Lewis, Nantawan Boonprasat. "Reclaiming Liberative Trends: Owning Asian American Women's History of Struggle." In Revolution of Spirit, ed. Nantawan Boonprasat Lewis. Grand Rapids: William B. Eerdmans, 1998.

Mapping a Pan-Pacific Feminist Theology." Special Issue of Journal of Women and Religion 13 (1995). Center for Women and Religion, Berkeley, CA.

Matsuoka, Fumitaka. Out of Silence: Emerging Themes in Asian American Churches. Cleveland, Ohio: United Church Press, 1995.

Nakashima Brock, Rita. "Interstitial Integrity: Reflections toward an Asian American Woman's Theology." In Introduction to Christian Theology, ed. Roger Badham, Louisville: Westminster John Knox, 1998.

Nakashima Brock, Rita and Naomi Southard. "The Other Half of the Basket: Asian American Women and the Search for a Theological Home." Journal of Feminist Studies in Religion, Vol. 3, No. 2 (Fall 1987): 135-150.

Ng, David, ed. People on the Way: Asian North Americans Discovering Christ, Culture, and Community. Valley Forge: Judson Press, 1996.

Russell, Letty, Kwok Pui-Lan, Ada Maria Isasi-Diaz, and Katie Geneva Cannon, eds. Inheriting Our Mother's Gardens: Feminist Theology in Third World Perspective. Louisville: Westminster, 1988.

Sung Park, Andrew. Racial Conflict and Healing: An Asian American Theological Perspective. Maryknoll, New York: Orbis Books, 1996.

“And I will walk among you, and will be your God, and you shall be my people. I am the Lord your God who brought you out [of the land of Egypt], to be their slaves no more; I have broken the bars of your yoke and made you walk erect.” (Leviticus 26:12-13)