Birthday blessings: Allen Harris opts for birthday gifts to build up Open & Affirming Ministries Endowment Fund
Birthday gifts of $4,047 move us toward our big goal to make a big impact in the lives of those who are LGBTQ+ and our churches, our communities.
The Goal
The Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance seeks to raise $30,000 by May 19 for the Allen V. Harris Open & Affirming Ministries Endowment Fund to honor the 30th anniversary of Allen’s ordination.
May 19, 2021, marks the 30th anniversary of Allen’s ordination at Park Avenue Christian Church in Manhattan. May 19, 1991 was Pentecost Sunday. Guided by the Spirit, sustained by the Spirit, following the Spirit, Allen has and continues to breathe life into the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ).
Allen hosted a Facebook fundraiser for his January 30 birthday to build momentum for this campaign.
74 supporters donated a total of $4,047.78
The Allen V. Harris Open & Affirming Ministries Endowment Fund
The Allen V. Harris Open & Affirming Ministries Endowment Fund is invested through the Bostick Select Fund with the Christian Church Foundation, restricted and designated to benefit the ongoing work and operations of the Open & Affirming Ministries program.
Allen V. Harris
Allen V. Harris was not the “first” in the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) to be ordained openly LGBTQ, nor was he the “first” to be hired in a parish setting as openly LGBTQ; but he does appear to be the first to do both, and has been out as a fully-embodied queer man in all of his ministerial settings since graduating seminary. Allen’s journey to be ordained was one of both exquisite beauty and profound pain.
Allen has been dedicated to local, regional and general expressions of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). He became an early leader in the Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples Alliance; now the Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance – AllianceQ. He served on the Council for several terms and was founding co-editor of the Crossbeams newsletter with the Rev. Michael Schloff (later serving in that role with the Rev. Jon Lacey). Along with the Rev. Laurie Rudel of Seattle, Washington, Allen was one of the founding “Developers” of the Open & Affirming Ministries program of the Alliance.
You
Will you give generously to the Allen V. Harris Open & Affirming Ministries Endowment Fund so that Allen’s spirit, his passion and his prophetic witness will perpetually breathe life into the church and our world, a world that must openly affirm there is a place for all at God’s table?
Mail gifts to Disciples LGBTQ+ Alliance, Allen V. Harris Fund, P.O. Box 44400, Indianapolis, IN 46244 or give online. That secure link directs gifts to the Allen V. Harris Open & Affirming Ministries Endowment Fund.
Email Executive Director + Minister Rev. Melissa Guthrie Loy to communicate your intent for a gift. Your pledge will be honored at the celebration in May of 2021. Pledged gifts can be made throughout 2021-2022, in full or installments. We are glad to work with you and financial advisors to steward your giving. Rev. Guthrie Loy can be reached by phone at 317.721.5230.
The Allen V. Harris “30 for 30” interest form is another way to request more information and/or contribute words of affirmation and gifts to the fund.
Thank you for prayerfully considering the opportunity to honor Allen and enable the expansion, growth and deepening of open & affirming ministries.
Full details and unfolding stories and video here: https://disciplesallianceq.org/allenvharris/
