Archive for the ‘Uncategorized’ Category

Interview with Rev. Jeffrey Kuan

Jeffrey Kuan

Rev. Jeffrey Kuan

Rev. Dr. Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan was interviewed on the program Mosaic by Ron Swisher regarding the ordination of gays and lesbians. Rev. Kuan is Associate Professor of Old Testament at the Pacific School of Religion. Dr. Hugh Burroughs is the Executive Producer of the Mosaic program.

Rev. Dr. Kah-Jin Jeffrey Kuan
Associate Professor of Old Testament
Pacific School of Religion

Interview on Mosaic
Hosted by Ron Swisher
Dr. Hugh Burroughs, Executive Producer

Summer of Love – Civil Marriage Rights Rally

freedom1zeksoGRACE folks participated in the Civil Marriage Rights Rally on Aug. 8th, 2004 at Larsen Park in the Sunset District in San Francisco. We recently joined “Asians and Allies for Marriage Equality” and the day was our first public effort on the issue. 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.

Marriage Equality Speech by Rev. Jeffrey Kuan

Here’s the email from our archives:

GRACE invites you: Asian Christians and friends…we’ll gather for a light brunch this Sunday at Oneida’s. We’ll eat, hang out and get ready for the rally by making some banners. Then we’ll carpool to the marriage equality rally from there.

Rev. Jeffrey Kuan

Rev. Jeffrey Kuan Speaks at "Summer of Love"

**Marriage Equality Now!***

This Sunday you have the opportunity to make history as we participate in the first ever Asians & Allies FOR Marriage Equality Rally! It will be a day of celebration, information, entertainment, community building, and good cheer.

There are those organizing AGAINST civil marriage rights – against marriage equality for same gendered couples. This year in California alone, anti-marriage equality demonstrations were held with 7,000 people in San Francisco and 5,000 in Alhambra. We must do our part to organize FOR marriage equality. Bring friends on Sunday. Help us get 1,000 supporters to attend the August 8th rally to support marriage equality.

Speakers include:

MABEL TENG (City Assessor-General)
TOM AMMIANO (Board of Supervisors)
PROF. JEFFREY KUAN (Pacific School of Religion)
REV. PENNY NIXON (MCC)
REV. MYO DENIS LEAHY (Hartford Street Zen Center)
and more.

Join us on Sunday, August 8
for “Summer of Love 2004”
11:30 am to 1:30 pm
Larsen Park (19th Avenue & Wawona)
in San Francisco’s Sunset district

Cookout at Don Castro Park, Fall 2003

Fall 2003 Gathering
Barbeque event at Don Castro Park

Fall 2003 Grace Gathering at Don Castro Park

Fall 2003 Grace Gathering at Don Castro Park

 

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We Will Not Be Silent Forum @ Oakland Chinese Church

WE WILL NOT BE SILENT FORUM at Oakland Chinese Community Church (UMC).
Sunday, February 24th, 2002, 1 – 3 p.m.  CCUMC Annex, 321 8th Street, Oakland, CA  94607

The Chinese Community United Methodist Church in Oakland invites you to join them in reflecting on issues of homosexuality and faith.

In response to a United Methodist General Conference’s stricture against the practice of homosexuality (May 2000), the Western Jurisdiction of the UMC issued a declaration opposing the General Conference’s position entitled “We Will Not Be Silent.” The Chinese Community United Methodist Church is in the midst of considering how to respond to this declaration. Please join them in their reflection and discernment process by participating in a series of presentations that attempt to explore the many facets of this controversial issue.

Session 1 (1/13/02): Panel discussion including gay, lesbian, and transgendered persons (including Oneida Chi, member of GRACE).

Session 2 (2/24/02):  A Biblical Perspective from Dr. Jeffrey Kuan

For more information, please contact:
Burt Yin – 510.582.4368 or byin@ousd.k12.ca.us
Chinese Community UMC – 510.452.1020
UMC Western Jurisdiction’s Declaration

GRACE Gathering – Loving Our Bodies

Kyle Miura

Kyle Miura

 
Kyle Miura facilitated a gathering of the GRACE group in El Cerrito on January 12th where we  honored the gift of our bodies and learned about self-care through the ancient Asian healing arts of shiatsu and acupressure.  It was informative, fun, refreshing, and invigorating.

Learn more about Kyle’s work on his website:
http://embodiedhealing.com

Honor Thy Children

Honor Thy Children

Honor Thy Children by Molly Fumia

On the evening of April 21, 2001 Al and Jane Nakatani  presented a pre-release version of a film documenting their story to a large crowd at the Bade Museum, Pacific School of Religion. They shared their story of losing three sons — two to HIV disease. They spoke powerfully about the continuing need to erase stigma and eliminate the shame associated with HIV.

A reviewer of their book said, “Al and Jane Nakatani have turned their hearts inside out for the world to see…and Molly Fumia, as their story’s conduit, treats those hearts with the tenderest, utmost respect. I find it difficult to convey how deeply moved I am by the infinite losses this family has suffered, and by the love and blessings that they have chosen to offer the world out of their broken-open hearts. *Please* read this book, and follow its most courageous lead: Honour your children, whoever they may be! ”

Honor Thy Children, Inc.
P.O. Box 962
Wailuku, HI 96793-0962
            or,
215 Alu Road
Wailuku, HI 96793

Opening the Gates of Heaven Concert

On February 24, 2001 PACTS – GRACE presented a well-attended Tea House Concert and fundraiser entitled “Opening the Gates of Heaven: An interfaith Celebration & Affirmation of API LGBT People of Faith and their ALLIES.” One of the goals of these groups and this event was to further human rights and compassion in the Pacific and Asian American communities of faith and beyond.

Please contact us if you have video or pictures from this event!

PACTS archives thru 2002 are held in the collections of the GTU Library. Pacific and Asian American Center for Theology and Strategies Collection, 1972-2002: http://grace.gtu.edu/search/o?SEARCH=54936682

http://library.gtu.edu/links/pacts.pdf

Invitation to GRACE Faith Sharing Group

Natalie Tong
Tue 4/11/00
Hi everyone,

Are you interested in meeting with a group of Gay Asian Christians to share your faith experience?

There is a faith sharing group named GRACE which offers a safe space for GLBTQ Asian Christians and their allies to share, pray, and worship together.  GLBTQ Asian Christians are uniquely challenged by religious and cultual forces.  We hope to provide a nurturing environment for spiritual sharing and worship.

Our first gathering is on April 22, 2000 Saturday 6pm at Pacific School of Religion, 1798 Scenic Ave at Berkeley at Baruckham Chapel. We will meet at 6 p.m. for dinner and start the fellowship at 7 p.m. Please RSVP before April
19th.  You can also call (510) 849-**** if you have any questions.

Our first meeting will be a “spiritual potluck.”  If you wish, please bring a story/a hymn/a song/ a reading/ an object that reminds you of an important spiritual experience and share with us.

Come and see…

God bless,
GRACE

Gay/Lesbian API Working Group

A meeting of the PACTS Gay/Lesbian API Working Group held on on April 1, 2000. This is the group from which GRACE developed.

There was discussion on internal development as a group:

(1) Scripture exploration to counter inappropriate homophobic interpretations’
(2) Hosting speakers who were/are agents of change, i.e., sharing barriers they had to go through;
(3) Providing information/education on wider gay/lesbian issues,
(4) Building community within the group – with check in of personal struggles and experiences as they relate to each person’s faith community.

Pacific and Asian American Center for Theology and Strategies (PACTS)  began in 1972, one of the earliest Pan-Asian organizations to pursue the development of Asian American theology and build and support church involvement in civil and human rights struggles. PACTS worked with seminaries to include training in Asian American ministries as part of their programs, sponsored conferences, workshops, and other training, informational, and community-building events, and collected a resource library for research and dissemination of information.

For more information about PACTS, see : http://www.pactsnetwork.org

Opening the Gates of Heaven: Asian Pacific Gay and Lesbian Christians and Our Churches

Buena Vista Church, Alameda

Buena Vista Church, Alameda

API Gay & Lesbian Christians and Our Churches

Learn, listen and dialogue about the opening of Asian Pacific American congregations to Gay and Lesbian Christians. 

Join us for an all day workshop for individuals and congregations seeking to learn more and dialogue about the acceptance and understanding of gay and lesbian Christians in our Asian Pacific American congregations. The event will examine the cultural and biblical factors that often create barriers to acceptance, and culturally appropriate models of promoting understanding.

Saturday, October 30, 1999, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Buena Vista United Methodist Church, 2311 Buena Vista, Alameda, CA

Featuring Prof. Jeffrey Kuan, biblical studies professor at the Pacific School of Religion presenting on the Bible, Gays and Lesbians, and Asian Pacific Culture. Plus, video presentation, personal stories and sharing on family, culture and the church.

An event sponsored by the Pacific Asian Center for Theology and Strategies (PACTS). PACTS is an ecumenical and interfaith network that seeks to promote the dialogue and development of Pacific and Asian American religious reflection and societal action.

Event is open to all lay persons, clergy and youth. Don’t miss this unique opportunity to learn and talk about these issues from a faith and Asian Pacific cultural perspective! Please invite a friend!

1999 Gates of Heaven

Gates of Heaven 1999