PACTS - GRACE - Gay Asian Christians

MARCH 25, 2006

Our GRACE gathering was held at United Church of Hayward where we shared a potluck meal and fellowshipped together.

In addition to the program, we had a:

Report on Lunar New Year Parade
Upcoming video project on LGBT Asian Christians
Pine Church's bible study group for LGBTs
Our hopes and visions for GRACE

CREATING CHANGE CONFERENCE IN OAKLAND
November 9-13, 2005 Oakland Marriot, City Center

The National Lesbian and Gay Task Force sponsors and organizes this annual conference attracting 2,000 to 3,000 people. Creating Change is the nation's largest annual skills building and strategy conference of activists and organizers who work in the LGBT movements. The Creating Change Conference is for you if you are: an activist and organizer in your community, campus, or workplace; a board member, staff member or leader in a LGBT organization, community center or foundation; an elected or appointed official; an advocate for LGBT communities; a change agent for justice, freedom, and equality for all. Want to volunteer? Over 200 volunteers are needed to fill a variety of work shifts. In exchange for a four hour work shift, you will be able to attend the conference for the remainder of the day's program at no charge. Want to host a conference attendee? People in Oakland and the East BAy area who are graciously willing to open their homes to conference attendees over the course of the conference are being sought. For more information on the conference, to volunteer, to host, or to register, see their website. Early registration discount ends August 31!

Coming Out, Coming Home:
Family, Faith & Religion in Asian & Pacific Islander Communities
Saturday, July 23, 1:00pm-5:00pm (Free and Open to Public)

Buena Vista United Methodist Church, 2311 Buena Vista Ave, Alameda, CA
Wheelchair accessible. Street parking available.

API parents of lesbian and gay children, LGBT-affirming API pastors, church members, and an API seminary professor will speak about their journeys in coming out, love and justice. Dialogue and conversation will follow.

Topics will include:

"A Progressive API Reading of the Bible and Homosexuality" - Professor Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan
"A young woman's journey negotiating culture, sexuality and faith" - Oneida Chi
"A father and pastor's story of love and courage." - Rev. Nobu Hanaoka
"One Japanese American Church's Public Stance of Welcome" - Sachi Ishida, Toyoko Doi and Rev. John Oda of Pine United Methodist Church in San Francisco
"API parents share stories of how they came to acceptance and respect." - Belinda & John Dronkers-Laureta, Harold Kameya, and others

Interested persons will also be invited to participate in a group forming to work toward respect and justice for API LGBT persons in our religious communities. For more information contact pana@psr.edu, 510-849-8244.

Following the event please consider joining us at the Family Honor Roll Presentation Banquet hosted by API Family Pride.

Second Annual API Family Pride Presentation Banquet
5:00PM-9:00PM (Tickets Required, $35)

Celebrating and honoring individual API families who proudly support
their LGBT children, relatives, or friends in spide of the prejudice
they encounter. Keynote Speakers: Alexander & Jane Nakatani of Honor Thy
Children

If you know an API parent or family you would like to formally honor, or
for tickets or reservations to the banquet, please contact API Family
Pride: (510) 818-0887; www.apifamilypride.org; info@apifamilypride.org.

Download Event Information & Flyers:

Event co-sponsors:

GRACE - offering a 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"

GRACE GATHERING, June 4th, 2005
Our next GRACE gathering for lgbt asian christians and allies will be held on Saturday evening, June 4th. Following dinner, we'll meet at the Chinese Community Church in Oakland for the rest of the program. RSVP using the form below for more details.

ORDINATION OF DEBORAH LEE, May 29, 4:30 pm Service of worship, ordination & installation for Deborah Lee, program director of PANA and former director of PACTS. Sycamore Congregational UCC, 1111 Navellier Street, El Cerrito, CA 94530. Reception will follow.

API MARRIAGE EQUALITY ROUNDTABLE, May 17, 2005
Oneida Chi is participating in the API Marriage Equality Roundtable which first met May 17, 2005. The event was co-hosted by Asian Equality and the Chinese Progressive Association in San Francisco, and was held at CPA's office at 1042 Grant Avenue, 5th Floor.

GRACE POTLUCK GATHERING, Apr. 30th, 2005
A GRACE potluck gathering was held on Saturday, April 30th at Pine UMC - the first Asian American church in the country to publicly declare itself a "reconciling" / lgbt welcoming congregation! After potluck supper at 6 pm, we had fellowship Scripture exploration and informal worship. The church is located at 426 33rd Avenue (Clement) in San Francisco's Richmond District. Muni Bus - 38 Gear Bus to 33rd Avenue, #2 Clement Bus to 33rd Avenue. Click here for the scripture we talked about.

UNCHAINED CONFERENCE FOR LGBTQQ YOUTH, Sat. Apr. 23, 2005
One of our own, Oneida Chi, will be speaking at Unchained, a conference organized by LYRIC for LGBTQQ youth and their allies, on Saturday, April 23rd. Unchained is an opportunity for queer youth and their allies of all backgrounds to connect with their peers in an inclusive and safe space, to build relationships with other youth, and to gain skills/tools to affect positive change in oneself and one's community. This conference seeks to prioritize youth of color by developing content that reflects the experiences of their communities. Let's lift up in prayer these youth, Oneida and all the other adults sharing stories and engaging in dialogue with them.

MAKING TRACKS, Apr. 17, 2005
Several of us saw "Making Tracks" a cutting edge rock-music saga of Asian immigration to this country at the San Jose Repertory Theatre.

2/26/05 We met at United Church of Hayward, shared a meal and had a discussion with Deborah Lee of PANA about the needs of api Christians and the possibilities for an api lgbt conference this summer. We also watched a video by Soulforce.

Together with the Progressive Pan Asian Ministry and guests, over 30 of us met at Jan. 8, 2005 at United Church of Hayward (30540 Mission Blvd. 94544) for a potluck meal, the film "Coming Out, Coming Home - Asian & Pacific Islander Family Stories" and discussion. Belinda Dronkers-Laureta the Coordinator of API Family Pride Project presented the video.

12/5/2004 Some of us met with the Progressive Pan Asian Ministry (intentionally progressive, open and affirming, and justice-oriented) Sunday, Dec. 5, 5:30-9:30 at the PANA House in Berkeley for a potluck, worship and reflection. Contact Becky Wong (becky.wong@juno.com) or Jeffrey Kuan (kjkuan@psr.edu) for more information.

10/30/04 GRACE OUTing in Hayward at Korean BBQ. After dinner & conversation, for those interested, there's a Halloween Party at the Rainbow Room just next door.

9/30/2004 Asian-American & African-American Religious Leaders Speak Out for Civil Marriage and Civil Rights. Thurs, Sept. 30, 2004, 7:00-9:00 pm at the Bade Museum, Pacific School of Religion 1798 Scenic Ave., Berkeley, CA. Presented by Rev. Michael Yoshii & Rev. Phil Lawson. Moderated by Dr. Jeffrey Kuan.

9/25/2004 Beyond Acceptance Conference This conference worked to build connections and coalitions, generate inspiration, and create new ideas among church groups and community organizations working toward a more inclusive society.

8/22/2004 - NEW ASIAN LGBT WELCOMING MINISTRY BEGINS - GRACE was warmly welcomed to the home of our newfound friend, Rev. Dr. Jeffrey Kuan. This gathering is part of an effort to begin a new GLBT welcoming justice-oriented ministry among Asian Americans. Several from our group were able to participate and we were blessed to worship, reflect & share a potluck meal together. We look forward to participating in this new ministry.

8/8/2004 - Having recently joined "Asians and Allies for Marriage Equality" we participated in the Civil Marriage Rights Rally on Aug. 8th at Larsen Park in the Sunset District in San Francisco. The day began at Oneida's with breakfast (thanks Sunshine!). After arriving safely at the rally, we joined the silent prayer vigil with the Quakers. We were encouraged by the speakers and called to further action. Afterwards we were honored to share a wonderful lunch with one of the speakers, Prof. Jeffrey Kuan. Click here for the text of his speech.

7/19/2004 - AIDS WALK SF. Walked to raise much needed funds to fight the AIDS epidemic.

5/8/2004 - GRACE gathered at Mira Vista Church in El Cerrito and we shared a potluck, had some great conversation, Thai food, ice cream, and a Bible study of ACTS 10:44-11:17. Click here for a copy of the passage we studied and a prayer for an inclusive church.

3/27/2004 - GRACE gathered in San Jose. Chip in for pizza; drinks and salad provided. Early group formed at 2 PM to Santana Row for a little outing, shopping and socializing.

11/15/2003 - GRACE gathering in San Francisco. Bring a dish as we share a potluck meal, followed by a time for some games, fellowship and sharing. Our theme for reflection is "being thankful."

9/13/2003 GRACE Fellowship held a BBQ at Don Castro Regional Park. Group activity / games along with park activities such as biking, hiking, horseback riding, swimming, fishing, boating and "dog-playing".

7/19/2003 GRACE potluck & gathering in Fremont. Time for some games, fellowship and sharing. Our discussion topic will be "Dealing with those Pesky Bible Verses" We hope to see you and bring a friend.

5/10/2003 Everyone's invited to Oneida's in San Francisco. Potluck first and then fellowship time & games about 7:30 - followed by sharing. We'll break up around 9 p.m. Bring your calendars and any ideas for the rest of the year. Retreat discussion.

11/9/2002 - Gathering at the home of Karen and Van - San Jose

7/19/2002 - A weekend of discovering and sharing your spirituality thru meditation, group discussions, creative artistic expression and outdoor fun! Friday 6pm to Sunday 3pm. San Damiano Retreat House, Danville

4/27/2002 - GRACE will gathered in San Francisco (sunset area). Our theme for the evening was "Being Loved."

1/12/2002 "Loving our Bodies." Kyle Miura facilitated a session where we honored the gift of our bodies through the ancient Asian healing arts of shiatsu and acupressure. It was informative, fun, refreshing, and invigorating. Kyle's website is found at http://embodiedhealing.com

8/25/01 GRACE gathering this Saturday, August 25, from 6-9 pm. We'll fellowship with a potluck, devotion, prayer & singing (bring your instruments).

6/26/2001 - GRACE Potluck in El Cerrito. Fellowship & sharing food; devotion, prayer & singing (bring instruments).

4/21/2001 - Honor Thy Children. An evening with Al and Jane Nakatani presenting their new documentary; Bade Museum, Pacific School of Religion (PSR)

2/24/2001 - A Tea House Concert - "Opening the Gates of Heaven" An Interfaith Celebration & Affirmation of API LGBT People of Faith and their Allies presented by PACTS - GRACE. This ministry's goal is to further human rights and compassion in the Pacific and Asian American communities of faith and beyond.

10/19/2000 CLGS Lavender Lunch, "Queer and Asian" Kyle Miura, Director, PACTS (Pacific and Asian Center for Theologies and Strategies)

4/1/2000 - PACTS Gay/Lesbian API Working Group. Discussion on internal development as a group: