Black History Month: Center for Community Engagement & Social Justice and Pride in the Pews to Host the S

The Event Brings Together Black Faith-Leaders and Academia to Bridge the Gap Between The LGBTQ+ Community and The Black Church, Through the Message "Progress & Change."

NEW YORK, Feb. 1, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In partnership with Union Theological Seminary Center for Community Engagement & Social Justice (CCESJ) Pride in the Pews will host The State of the Black Church: Reconciling Communities and Reimagining Inclusion 1-day, in-person symposium event on Friday, February 24, 2023, 9 am 5 pm Est; at The Union Theological Seminary of New York, 3041 Broadway, New York, NY, 10027.

850,000 Black LGBTQ+ people identify as religious. Yet, out of the eight historically Black Christian denominations, none of them are LGBTQ+ affirming. For this reason, CCESJ, and Pride in the Pews along with black faith leaders, activists, churchgoers, and academia, are gathering for this 1-day symposium to address this issue.

"We advocate for change within the Black Church for the Black Queer community," says Rev Karmen Smith, Executive Director of CCESJ and author of Holy Queer: The Coming Out of Christ. "Ultimately, our goal is to bridge the gap, and this event is a significant step in our journey during this annual Black History Month, a celebration of our triumphs, struggles, and civil rights."