A spiritual retreat to celebrate, affirm, sustain and renew those living and working at the intersections of Asian & Pacific Islanders ethnicities, sexuality, faith and activism.
Opening Celebration produced by Roke Noir.
Roke (Krishnakali) is originally from India and is deeply rooted to her eastern philosophies and culture. She specializes in helping people transform their intention, passion & vision into the life they live through spiritual coaching, art therapy and motivational speeches. She is the founder and director of Roke Noir Productions which brings inspiring, intentional, innovative and Interactive queer events in the bay area for 'a world without strangers'. An artist, performer, intention coach and facilitator of experiential groups and events, Roke works toward sustainable, balanced, passionate and joyous living.
For more information about Roke, please see http://www.rokenoirproductions.com
Plenary Speaker: Rev. Patrick S. Cheng
Patrick Cheng is a theologian, teacher, and ordained minister. He is the founder and coordinator of Queer Asian Spirit, an organization by and for LGBTQ Asians around the world, and their allies, who are interested in spiritual and religious issues. Patrick is working on his Ph.D. in systematic theology at Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and he is an ordained minister with the Metropolitan Community Church. For more information about Patrick, please see.http://www.patrickcheng.net
Workshops may include: Biblical Self-Defense, Let’s Talk About Sex, Believe Out Loud, Video Slam, Bakla as Cultural Resource for Queer spirituality and activism, Queer Chinese mythology.
NRJizers presented a panel titled Reorienting Queer Fidelity/ies at the 2009 Asian Pacific American Religions Research Initiative (APARRI) conference: "Lost in Transnationalism: Pacific Asian North American Religions in a Globalized World," in Claremont, CA, August 6-8, 2009.
Presentations include the following:
Queer Activism, Heteronormativity, and the Home Church:NRJizers confront Asian American Christendom, by Elizabeth Leung
Re-orienting Passion: Glocalization of LGBT Catholics in Hong Kong, by Yip Lai Shan
Performing Faith, Nation and Gender: Theological Traces within Martin Manalansan’sBaklaSantacruzan in New York City, by Michael Sepidoza Campos
NRJ also presented a workshop titled Confronting Homophobia in API Christian Communities at the National Queer API Alliance (www.nqapia.org) conference: TRANSGRESS, TRANSFORM, TRANSCEND in Seattle, WA, August 14-16, 2009.
Here is a description of the workshop
43% of API population in this country has identified themselves as Christians. Many API queer folks, including activists, have Christian backgrounds. API family sensibilities are not restricted to nuclear families, but include extended family and church family, the Network on Religion and Justice thus acknowledges that “all API families, and churches, are LGBT.” Many API queers suffer from the homophobic stance of Christian family members and voters. LGBT-affirming anti-homophobia work needs to happen in API churches, so that API queer folks are not torn from their families, in addition to dealing with racism in mainstream LGBT communities. This workshop will provide safe space to discuss our experiences with Christianity and churches, and share strategies for survival, resistance and transformation. API queer and allies interested in long-term transformation work in API faith communities are most welcomed.
Pine United Methodist Church Praise Night
Saturday, August 15th, 2009 @ 7pm
426- 33rd Avenue- (between Geary & Clement) in San Francisco
Do you find yourself singing old Christian songs but are too embarrassed to tell your friends you were once a Christian? Or are you a devout Christian who is too uncomfortable to be openly queer in a church community? Or maybe you don't believe in some aspects of Christianity anymore but you still find meaning in singing praise.
We seek to have an inclusive worship night in which one is not expected to hold the same conservative theology so commonly associated with Christian contemporary praise songs. We want to build an inclusive, queer-friendly space where all of God's people can sing uninhibitedly.
The Pine UMC band will keep things low-key, acoustic and simple.
Your anonymity will be respected.
Why I Chose to Get Arrested A letter from Rev. Deborah Lee
Rev. Deborah Lee and three other PSR staff people were arrested in act of civil disobedience on May 26, 2009, following the California Supreme Court's decision to uphold a constitutional amendment that denies the full equality of same-sex couples under the law. (Photos and other news reports online here.)
I wanted to thank so many people for your messages and for the encouragement and support over the civil disobedience last week. Now I know who to call, next time I’m in trouble or need to be bailed out! It was truly a humble privilege to stand there on behalf of so many of you who could not be arrested, but who shared my sentiment and convictions. I think of the many times when I wanted to, but couldn’t get arrested and of those who have stood on my behalf, in my lifetime and long before it.
Given all this, I’d like to say a little about why I chose to get arrested last week.
Before we marched down Market Street early that morning, there was a beautiful worship service held at St. Francis Lutheran Church in the Castro. Brother Lawrence, a dharma teacher in the Spirit Rock tradition, gave us an inspiring message in which he said “gay marriage is necessary, but insufficient,” meaning it is necessary to fight for the equality and full dignity of all people under the law as symbolized in this moment by marriage, AND that there is much, much more work of justice in this world we also must do. There are so many more situations where equal treatment and dignity evade us. Lives and communities in Richmond, California or among the poor sectors of the Philippines are not treated with equal justice, nor the full dignity that is afforded to others. The horrendous cuts being proposed in the new budget are not being shared equitably across the socio-economic strata of our society. Indigenous rights to land, acknowledging historical injustices & reparations, and an end to the state of permanent war spending so that we can have the funds to build and live the life we want for our friends, families and communities – based on access to healthcare, education, good jobs, transportation, culture and sustainability. These are just a few that ache my bones.
“It was necessary, but insufficient.” That’s my take on participating in the civil disobedience last Tuesday. As we were sitting in the holding pen, one of the other women asked out loud, “Why are we doing this again?" Yes, part of it is to create so much trouble, an administrative hassle for the City, to send a message to the courts, to the people, to be on record saying “No- that is not right. And we won’t stand for it.”
When the decision was rendered to uphold Prop.8, and I could see that there were hardly any Asian clergy there, I knew I needed to put my Asian face and Asian body on the line -- at least for the Asian folks I saw in the crowd, or those who might see a newspaper clipping, to the white folk and other people of color, to know that there are API people who stand with you and support you. I needed to put my Christian collar and robe on the line and under arrest, too – because for most people who are against same-gender marriage, their (mis)understanding of Christianity is a top reason or justification. As a Christian clergyperson, I felt that it was so important for the world to see that some Christian clergy believe that this court decision is wrong. It didn’t matter if it was one or one hundred and sixty. Somebody needs to stand there and get arrested as a symbol that this is not right, to educate others that what was done was serious.
I wasn’t planning to, but let’s say the moment and the Spirit overcame me. It’s not the first time I have been intentionally arrested for civil disobedience. But it is the first time since becoming a mother, and it does make the decision more difficult. Who will pick the kids up after school? Will I be in jail overnight? How will I explain this to them? How will I comfort them so they won’t be scared? (Many thanks to my partner Michael and friend Lauren for being my practical outside support.)
Still, we were treated 100% better than most people who break the law. I couldn’t help thinking about Oscar Grant with all those armed police around us -- and how he hadn’t even broken any law, just riding the BART train. We were certainly treated as a different (higher) class of prisoners/offenders. Not like those arrested for drug possession, selling, and a whole host of other crimes of poverty and this messed up economic/racialized system who don’t get treated the way we were, who languish for months upon months in jail without a court date, who are mostly poor and black or brown. How their parole terms are often so ridiculously impossible -- “must continue legal employment” (which is almost impossible to find once you have a record -- plus, in this economy?), “must not be outside after 8pm curfew” (including your own back or frontyard) for 5 years! Or you get sent back with a longer term.
In contrast, I was treated respectfully -- no food or water, but at least we were allowed to pee (thank God).
And, of course, it was nothing like the Philippines or in so many other countries. I couldn’t help but think about the pastors and activists in the Philippines who are being arrested without trial, disappeared and even ambushed and assassinated by the Philippines military (nearly 1000 in the past 5 years) funded by the US War on Terror. Or the folks in Burma who cannot organize or gather at all inside their country. The only place had been the Buddhist temples, but when the monks protested in 2007 (the "Saffron Revolution"), many monks were jailed and killed. The people still wonder, where are the monks? What has happened to them? Our context and this situation was nothing at all like that.
Don’t focus too much on me, or the protesters, or even this letter. Focus on the many people who are hurt by this Supreme Court decision and by the countless homophobic/heterosexist things that happen everyday. Focus on the issues that never even get a protest organized or someone willing to get arrested for it.
Keep struggling, making noise, connecting the dots, taking a stand.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009 -- 7-9pm
PANA House
2357 Le Conte Ave
Berkeley, CA
Come. Be present. Deepen the conversation.
Please RSVP to Lauren nrj.talking.circle@gmail.com so we make sure to have enough snacks for ya. For more information about the NRJ Talking Circle, click here.
One Big Family Photo Solidarity Project
On Sunday, May 3rd, 2009, at the 50th annual Buena Vista United Methodist Church Bazaar in Alameda, CA, the Network on Religion and Justice for API LGBTs (NRJ) launched the One Big Family photo solidarity project.
In partnership with Buena Vista UMC's Reconciling Ministry, NRJ hosted a booth at the Bazaar. Nestled between the hot tea tent and the chicken teriyaki ticket booth, we invited attendees to stand in solidarity with LGBTQ people by taking their picture holding a sign that read, "I am Christian and I stand in solidarity with LGBTQ people" or another solidarity message of their choice.
Buena Vista United Methodist Church voted to be a reconciling church in 2006. The BVUMC community was excited about the opportunity to show solidarity for LGBTQ people. See their pictures below:
We invite you to join the One Big Family photo solidarity project. If you'd like to be a part of the project, send your photo and written consent for us to use the photo to eleung@clgs.org.
new video!
NRJ with API Equality in the 2009 SF Chinese New Year Parade
API Clergy Affirm Same-Sex Marriage
Members of the Clergy Caucus of the Network on Religion and Justice for API LGBTs have written and signed a statement in support of same-sex marriage, API families, and love.
Click here to see English language version of the statement Click here to see Chinese language version of the statement
GRACE LGBTQ Bible Study
1st & 3rd Wednesdays, 7-9 pm
at Pine United Methodist Church
426- 33rd Ave. (at Geary), San Francisco
Series: Reclaiming the Book of Revelation
Facilitator: Rev. Elizabeth Leung
March 4, 2009 - A Vision (Rev. 1)
March 18, 2009 - Rapture Exposed (1 Thess. 4, Rev. 3-4)
April 1, 2009 - Behind the Veil (Rev. 4-5)
April 15, 2009 - No More Tears (Rev. 7)
May 6, 2009 - Transforming Presence (Rev. 21)
May 20, 2009 - River of Life (Rev. 22)
For more information, contact: eleung@clgs.org 510-849-8937 (vm)
Hong Kong's First Tongzhi Pride Parade!
On December 13, 2008, Hong Kong had it's first ever Pride Parade. Click here to see video with a song written especially for this parade
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Upcoming NRJ
Events & Activities
2009
January 22-24, 2010
NRJ Retreat
@ Mercy Center, Burlingame, CA
Still, we were treated 100% better than most people who break the law. I couldn’t help thinking about Oscar Grant with all those armed police around us -- and how he hadn’t even broken any law, just riding the BART train. We were certainly treated as a different (higher) class of prisoners/offenders. Not like those arrested for drug possession, selling, and a whole host of other crimes of poverty and this messed up economic/racialized system who don’t get treated the way we were, who languish for months upon months in jail without a court date, who are mostly poor and black or brown. How their parole terms are often so ridiculously impossible -- “must continue legal employment” (which is almost impossible to find once you have a record -- plus, in this economy?), “must not be outside after 8pm curfew” (including your own back or frontyard) for 5 years! Or you get sent back with a longer term. 
