Listen to long-time Alliance members Allen Harris and María “Cuca” Pérez discuss the magic of relationship in doing this work.
It was at the 1977 General Assembly in Kansas City that the late Carol Blakley of Caldwell, Idaho, a Disciple mother of a gay son, broke silence and called all Disciples to name the reality that LGBTQ+ and affirming persons are our sons, daughters, brothers, sisters, parents, congregants, pastors and staff.
Sparked by that moment, a small group of gay and lesbian Disciples began to coalesce. The first—secret—meeting was held at the St. Louis, Missouri, General Assembly in 1979. The meeting was held away from the Assembly site and those who gathered only used first names. For eight years, meetings continued. At a pre-assembly event in October 1987, in Louisville, Kentucky, the organization was named: the Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples Alliance.
We acknowledge that language and identity are ever-evolving—and so is our ministry. The name GLAD Alliance was bold and daring in 1987, but less inclusive than the mission and ministry pursued. Then, the organization sought a title that intentionally named the four aspects of our community that have historically joined together: L, G, B, and T. But title that left room for growth. Leaders adopted “The Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance” in 2017 to represent an expansive community represented by a range of initialisms.
Q claims our pride in the face of oppression and Q includes those who do not claim the binaries or boxes of L, G, B, and T.
+ reminds us that there will always be yet another neighbor to include.
+ reminds us that we cannot do our ministry without affirming friends and allies.
+ reminds us that we cannot do our ministry without the individuals and groups who also find themselves in the margins.
AllianceQ is our moniker. We are a member-based organization and every body is invited to be part of our movement for wholeness. We are setting a place at the table for every body.
OUR RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH
While AllianceQ is not a general ministry of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), we covenant with the denomination to recognize the changing context of congregational life and ministry and seek a wider embrace of persons of all gender expressions and sexual identities. The 2013 General Assembly meeting in Orlando passed a resolution stating that the Church welcomes all, and for the first time, included sexual orientation as an identity that should not be denied the radical welcome of Christ and Christ’s church. The 2019 General Assembly meeting in Des Moines passed a resolution inviting the whole church to educate itself about transgender and gender-diverse persons.
The identity statement of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) says: “We are Disciples of Christ, a movement for wholeness in a fragmented world. As part of the one body of Christ, we welcome all to the Lord’s Table as God has welcomed us.” And so we celebrate our identity as Disciples.
1977
The General Assembly supported the civil rights of gay and lesbian people (GA-7747) and Carol Blakley gave her moving speech in support of her gay son, stirring the beginnings of affirmation
1979
General Assembly agreed that “The ordination of persons who engage in homosexual practices is not in accord with God’s will…”
The first (secret) meeting of gay and lesbian Disciples
1981
First Disciples ordinations of openly gay or lesbian persons Christine Leslie ordained by University Christian Church, Berkely, CA
Debra Peevey ordained by Lafayette Christian Church, Lafayette, CA
1985
Peace rally and march at Des Moines General Assembly
1986
Findlay Street Christian Church in Seattle became first congregation to openly affirm the membership and full participation of gays and lesbians
1987
First newsletter, Crossbeams, published in January, edited by Allen V. Harris.
Organization formed and named in October, GLAD: the Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples
1989
GLAD had a visible presence at the Indiana General Assembly with two booths in the exhibit hall, an interest group and after session, an informal dinner and ad hoc choir; a banner read, “The Body of Christ is Living with AIDS” and GLAD held an AIDS prayer service
First “rumblings” about permission given to GLAD to have booths in the exhibit hall and the use of the Disciples chalice on a logo
1990
Controversy grew as visibility grew
1991
Michael Kinnamon, a public ally, was not elected General Minister and President; the only time in the history of the DOC that a GMP nomination was not confirmed by the Assembly
Open + Affirming Ministries Program officially created by Laurie Rudel and Allen V. Harris as co-developers
Historic ordination and call of the first openly gay Disciples minister Rev. Allen V. Harris
1992
GLAD Alliance, Inc. incorporated in Indiana on March 18
1993
About 80 GLAD members participated in the March on Washington for Gay, Lesbian and Bi Equal Rights
Dr. Richard Hamm, public ally, was elected as General Minister and President
1997
Disciples Justice Action Network formed with Randy Palmer representing GLAD
The GA called for “Reflection on the Participation of Gay and Lesbian Persons in the Life of the Church” (GA-9719)
1998
40 ministries had declared themselves to be open to and affirming of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people
2005
The GA “denounces all forms of spiritual and physical violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons” (GA-0517)
2009
First edition of Building an Inclusive Church Toolkit formally published
2013
GA-1327, “Becoming a People of Grace and Welcome to All”
2014
19 ministries added to the Open + Affirming Ministry Program, including the first primarily African American congregation to join (Liberation Christian Church, St. Louis, MO) and the first Disciples seminary to join (Brite Divinity School, Ft. Worth, TX).
First Canadian congregation, Sugarbush Christian Church in Guelph, Ontario, joins the O+A movement
2015
GLAD doubles its membership at the General Assembly, 561 members, largest to date
2017
GLAD renamed The Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance with the moniker AllianceQ
2019
GA-1929, “An Invitation to Education for Welcoming and Receiving the Gifts of Transgender and Gender-Diverse People”
2020
Expanded programming with Colors of Hope podcast
Adapted BIC training to a virtual presentation during the COVID-19 pandemic
Hosted first annual virtual Pride worship service, RIOT: Turning Over Tables
Established the Salt and Light Endowment Fund with a major gift from Eugene Brink and his estate
2021
Designed a Virtual Pulpit Supply (VPS) program
Exceeded a $30,000 fundraiser goal honoring the 30th anniversary of the historic ordination and call of the first openly gay Disciples minister Rev. Allen V. Harris
Produced the Being Brave Together: Facing Brokenness video series with Disciples Justice Ministries
Revised the mission and vision and identified values and organizational priorities
2022
Published Colors of Hope: A Devotional Journal from LGBTQ+ Christians
Hosted the first annual Colors of Hope Retreat
2023
Launched Community Groups
Hosted first annual Transgender Day of Visibility Vigil with ecumenical partners
1977
The General Assembly supported the civil rights of gay and lesbian people (GA-7747) and Carol Blakley gave her moving speech in support of her gay son, stirring the beginnings of affirmation
1979
General Assembly agreed that “The ordination of persons who engage in homosexual practices is not in accord with God’s will…”
The first (secret) meeting of gay and lesbian Disciples
1981
First Disciples ordinations of openly gay or lesbian persons Christine Leslie ordained by University Christian Church, Berkely, CA
Debra Peevey ordained by Lafayette Christian Church, Lafayette, CA
1985
Peace rally and march at Des Moines General Assembly
1986
Findlay Street Christian Church in Seattle became first congregation to openly affirm the membership and full participation of gays and lesbians
1987
First newsletter, Crossbeams, published in January, edited by Allen V. Harris.
Organization formed and named in October, GLAD: the Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples
1989
GLAD had a visible presence at the Indiana General Assembly with two booths in the exhibit hall, an interest group and after session, an informal dinner and ad hoc choir; a banner read, “The Body of Christ is Living with AIDS” and GLAD held an AIDS prayer service
First “rumblings” about permission given to GLAD to have booths in the exhibit hall and the use of the Disciples chalice on a logo
1990
Controversy grew as visibility grew
1991
Michael Kinnamon, a public ally, was not elected General Minister and President; the only time in the history of the DOC that a GMP nomination was not confirmed by the Assembly
Open + Affirming Ministries Program officially created by Laurie Rudel and Allen V. Harris as co-developers
Historic ordination and call of the first openly gay Disciples minister Rev. Allen V. Harris
1992
GLAD Alliance, Inc. incorporated in Indiana on March 18
1993
About 80 GLAD members participated in the March on Washington for Gay, Lesbian and Bi Equal Rights
Dr. Richard Hamm, public ally, was elected as General Minister and President
1997
Disciples Justice Action Network formed with Randy Palmer representing GLAD
The GA called for “Reflection on the Participation of Gay and Lesbian Persons in the Life of the Church” (GA-9719)
1998
40 ministries had declared themselves to be open to and affirming of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people
2005
The GA “denounces all forms of spiritual and physical violence against gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons” (GA-0517)
2009
First edition of Building an Inclusive Church Toolkit formally published
2013
GA-1327, “Becoming a People of Grace and Welcome to All”
2014
19 ministries added to the Open + Affirming Ministry Program, including the first primarily African American congregation to join (Liberation Christian Church, St. Louis, MO) and the first Disciples seminary to join (Brite Divinity School, Ft. Worth, TX).
First Canadian congregation, Sugarbush Christian Church in Guelph, Ontario, joins the O+A movement
2015
GLAD doubles its membership at the General Assembly, 561 members, largest to date
2017
GLAD renamed The Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance with the moniker AllianceQ
2019
GA-1929, “An Invitation to Education for Welcoming and Receiving the Gifts of Transgender and Gender-Diverse People”
2020
Expanded programming with Colors of Hope podcast
Adapted BIC training to a virtual presentation during the COVID-19 pandemic
Hosted first annual virtual Pride worship service, RIOT: Turning Over Tables
Established the Salt and Light Endowment Fund with a major gift from Eugene Brink and his estate
2021
Designed a Virtual Pulpit Supply (VPS) program
Exceeded a $30,000 fundraiser goal honoring the 30th anniversary of the historic ordination and call of the first openly gay Disciples minister Rev. Allen V. Harris
Produced the Being Brave Together: Facing Brokenness video series with Disciples Justice Ministries
Revised the mission and vision and identified values and organizational priorities
2022
Published Colors of Hope: A Devotional Journal from LGBTQ+ Christians
Hosted the first annual Colors of Hope Retreat
2023
Launched Community Groups
Hosted first annual Transgender Day of Visibility Vigil with ecumenical partners