Douglass Minister and Congregation Committed to Fairness
Here is our press release for some upcoming special events:
12th Annual Matthew Shepard Sermon;
Service with Fairness Campaign the Following Week
On October 9, 2011 the Rev. Dr. Derek Penwell will deliver the 12th annual Matthew Shepard Memorial Sermon at Trinity Parish, an Episcopal church in downtown Seattle, Washington (www.trinityseattle.org).
“Every year since Matthew Shepard’s death, we have invited ministers to deliver a sermon to honor his life,” Nat Brown, a vestry member of Trinity Parish, “The sermon has been a wonderful way for Trinity to invite the GLBTQ community into our church, so aside from the purely internal benefit of the sermon, it has become a great opportunity for evangelism in the wider community. When we read of Douglass Boulevard Christian Church’s decision not to sign marriage certificates until LGBT people are allowed to marry, we were very moved; we are excited to hear from Rev. Penwell.”
“I am extremely humbled by the invitation to speak at Trinity Parish. It is an incredible opportunity,” said Rev. Penwell. “We received hundreds of calls, emails, and letters of support from around the nation this spring when Douglass Boulevard Christian Church announced our decision not to sign civil marriage licenses until we could sign them for GLBT people, as well. For too long, churches have sat on the sideline of the struggle for equal rights. I am excited to preach at Trinity Parish, another congregation that refuses to sit on the sidelines.”
Douglass Boulevard Christian Church will host an event at a later date to share the video of Rev. Penwell’s Matthew Shepherd Sermon with the Louisville community.
On October 16, 2011, the Fairness Campaign and Douglass Boulevard Christian Church will have a special worship service to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Fairness Campaign’s advocacy and organizing in the Commonwealth. Worship begins at 11:00 a.m.
“Fairness has been a leader in the fight for equal rights for the LGBTQ community for two decades; we are honored they are joining us on the 16th,” said Rev. Penwell. Chris Hartman, Executive Director of the Fairness Campaign, said, “DBCC is among a growing number of allies in faith communities. We are heartened by the recent courageous actions taken by churches around the Commonwealth to speak against the marginalization of LGBTQ Kentuckians.”
In 2008, Douglass Boulevard Christian Church voted to become an Open and Affirming Community of Faith.
On April 17, 2011, DBCC’s ministers announced their decision to perform only religious marriage ceremonies, foregoing performing the civil rites until they can confer identical civil benefits on homosexual and heterosexual couples.
Douglass Boulevard Christian Church is located at 2005 Douglass Boulevard in the Highlands at the Douglass Loop. Its website is http://www.douglassblvdcc.com.
For more information, contact Rev. Dr. Derek Penwell at dlpenw01@gmail.com or (502) 452-2629.
WHAT: 12th Annual Matthew Shepard Sermon
WHEN: Sunday, October 9th, 2011 8:00 and 10:30 a.m. (PST)
WHERE: Trinity Parish Episcopal Church, 609 8th Avenue, Seattle, WA
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WHAT: Special Worship Service to Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Fairness Campaign
WHEN: Sunday, October 16th, 2011 11:00 a.m. (EST)
WHERE: Douglass Boulevard Christian Church, 2005 Douglass Boulevard, Louisville, KY