ERNIE BROWN JR. Singer works for gays' acceptance in black church

T.J. Williams of Youngstown sees himself as a missionary to the black church.
He would like to educate faith communities, especially the black American church, on issues related to homosexuals, provide positive avenues to help those suffering with AIDS and HIV, and help reduce what he says is the church's long-standing practice of homophobia.
He would like to see the black church establish programs that "work with the gay and lesbian community through prayer, fasting and workshops."
Williams, 29, a son of the late Pentecostal evangelist Idella Cora Thomas, lives on Youngstown's East Side, but he is a member of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Columbus.
Because he is gay, he has not been accepted for membership in local churches.
Williams says after he helps establish HIV and AIDS programs in the church, he would then like to enter "into a real dialogue about gay folks in the church."
He says he knows many church members who are gay but are afraid to admit it publicly for fear of being ostracized.
Williams believes fear and secrecy about homosexuality "promotes death" because those who may suffer from HIV or AIDS will not come forward to seek the help they need.
'God's love'
"I would like to encourage church members to look at God's love. Jesus said that whosoever believes in him would have everlasting life," he says, adding that gays and lesbians are included in that invitation.
He believes the Scriptures have been misinterpreted for centuries by theologians and others concerning homosexuality. Traditional teaching says homosexuality is a sin, and he realizes most people agree with that assessment.
"We all do agree, however, on God's love, and the inclusiveness of that love," says Williams, who also is a contemporary Christian singer and composer.
He quotes from the apostle Paul in Romans 1:16-17 to show God's salvation extends to all his creation: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth; to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, the just shall live by faith."
Williams says the proclamations from pulpits against gays and lesbians have driven them out of the church. If gay people turn away from their relationships, the church will embrace them and give them value, Williams says.
If they don't, the church disregards the biblical message of self-value.
Chicago performance
Williams is scheduled to perform June 30 at Resurrection Metropolitan Community Church in Chicago during Chicago's Pride Sunday. June is Gay Pride Month.
The Rev. Shane Desautels of Resurrection Metropolitan, who offered Williams the invitation to perform, says the black church "must stop denying the obvious about AIDS and HIV." The disease is particularly affecting black women, and the church must step up to address the issue.
The Rev. Mr. Desautels says he has met a lot of black ministers in Chicago who are gay. "There is a real, heterosexual, macho stereotype in the black church. There is so much hypocrisy and also no help for gays and lesbians" in black churches, he adds.
Church event
An event Williams has coordinated the past two years in Youngstown is the Black Church Week of Prayer for the Healing of AIDS, which is affiliated with The Balm of Gilead.
The Balm of Gilead is a nonprofit national organization that establishes and develops educational and training programs specifically to meet the needs of black churches that "strive to become centers of AIDS ministry, education and compassion," its Web site says.
Pernessa C. Seele, the organization's founder and CEO, says in her welcome message on the Web site: "As we move forward in this fight against AIDS, let us be mindful that it is the silence, denial and stigma of AIDS that continues to cripple our [black] community's response to AIDS education, HIV testing and treatment. The involvement of all churches in this battle against AIDS is imperative if we are to conquer this epidemic here at home and through the global village."
William's second goal is to combine his music with HIV and AIDS education and prevention "to concentrate on the hope of life and the strength and safety of committed relationships."
ebrown@vindy.com