wfn.org | UCC Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Coalition gives award to Rev.

[George Conklin <gconklin@wfn.org>]

Allen V. Harris

United Church of Christ
Office of Communication
700 Prospect Ave.
Cleveland, OH 44115
contact: Barbara Powell
phone: 216-736-2222
email: powellb@ucc.org
http://www.ucc.org

Disciples minister wins Coalition’s ecumenical award
by Hal Chorpenning
        

Providence - July 3, 1999 - Humor, spirit and music marked the General Synod
luncheon of the UCC Coalition for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender
Concerns. One of the centerpieces of the luncheon was an ecumenical award
presented by The Coalition to the Reverend Allen V. Harris. Before becoming
senior pastor and head of staff at the Park Avenue Christian Church in New York
City, Harris led the Open & Affirming efforts of the Disciples of Christ
(Christian Church).
        When asked what impact openness and affirmation have had on the church
universal, Harris said, “I believe in being leaven.” And when asked for his
vision of the church in the 21st century, Harris commented that it would be a
church in which “the only people who have to rationalize their existence are
those who are excluding others.” 
        The Rev. Mitzi Eilts, national coordinator for The Coaliton, implored
those present to avoid narrowing their scope. “We must continue to keep working
on the full range of issues and not be one-issue people,” she said. Eilts
quoted UCC President the Rev. Paul H. Sherry in saying that the inclusion
espoused by The Coalition is “not only doing church, it is transforming the
church.”
        Another highlight of the luncheon was the presentation of certificates
to the 76 churches that have adopted Open and Affirming resolutions in the
biennium since the last General Synod--the largest increase in any biennium. On
June 27, 1999, Shadow Rock Congregational Church, UCC, in Phoenix became the
300th United Church congregation to adopt an Open and Affirming resolution.