Bishop Yvette Flunder

CLEVELAND, March 15, 2015–The Coalition’s Leadership Team has declared support for Bishop Yvette Flunder, pastor of City of Refuge UCC in Oakland, CA, and presiding bishop of the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries. A group of clergy has challenged Bishop Flunder’s invitation as a guest lecturer and worship leader this week during the Garnett-Nabrit Lecture Series this week at the American Baptist College in Nashville, TN. The protest against Bishop Flunder reads:

“For a Baptist college president to invite a lesbian bishop legally married to a woman, to be a guest speaker and worship leader on a Baptist college campus is irresponsible, scandalous, non-biblical, and certainly displeasing to God.”

The Fellowship is an association of more than 200 congregations and ministries with primarily African American membership. The Open and Affirming Coalition and the Fellowship are covenant partners, and Bishop Flunder is a former member of the Coalition’s Leadership Team. Her inspiring  ministry over many years has been a blessing to the cause of full inclusion and justice for the LGBT and same-gender-loving community in the United Church of Christ and beyond.

Here are two letters of support from Coalition President Phil Porter–one to the Fellowship and the other to Dr. Forrest Harris, president of American Baptist College.

To The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries

Dear Friends,

We have followed closely the controversy surrounding the challenge to the invitation to have your Bishop, Yvette Flunder, speak at American Baptist College as part of the Garnett-Nabrit Lecture Series.

We stand with you all in the face of the actions and language of those who oppose the invitation and understand the hurt that this may be causing Bishop Flunder and your community. We offer our prayers of support on your behalf.

We are also called to join you in speaking up against discrimination in any of its forms.

We are grateful that the leaders of the College seem to be standing by their original intention.

In a letter to the President of American Baptist College, Dr. Forrest Harris, we wrote, “We see Bishop Flunder’s ministry as inspired by God. She is a powerful witness to justice and inclusion for all of God’s children. Bishop Flunder is eloquent and visionary and each word she speaks is backed up by lifetime of action. She definitely ‘walks her talk.’ Your students will benefit greatly from having a chance to hear her speak.”

We are grateful to be in covenant with The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries. We are blessed by the leadership Bishop Flunder has provided to the Coalition and the entire United Church of Christ. May we continue to work together for inclusion, justice and equality for all people.

Sincerely,

Phil Porter
President
Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ
on behalf of the entire Leadership Team

Dr. Forrest Harris
American Baptist College
1800 Baptist World Center Dr.
Nashville, TN 37207

Dear Dr. Harris,

Thank you for your unwavering support of the invitation to have Bishop Yvette Flunder speak as part of the Garnett-Nabrit Lecture Series.

Bishop Flunder is our friend, colleague and a former member of the Leadership Team of the Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ. The Coalition is in covenant with the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries that Bishop Flunder has created and leads.

We see Bishop Flunder’s ministry as inspired by God. She is a powerful witness to justice and inclusion for all of God’s children. Bishop Flunder is eloquent and visionary and each word she speaks is backed up by lifetime of action. She definitely “walks her talk.” Your students will benefit greatly from having a chance to hear her speak.

We understand that taking this stand may come at some personal cost to you. We offer our own prayers and support on your behalf. That you have taken this position speaks not only to her but to the multitude of people who may feel unsure about their welcome in God’s house. They and we take heart from your action.

Sincerely,

Phil Porter
President
Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ
on behalf of the entire Leadership Team