Will You Meet Me at CenterPeace?
Why a conference this October might be the very thing you need.
Six years ago, I had never heard of CenterPeace, a Christian nonprofit started nearly twenty years ago by Sally Gary. In 2018, when I discovered she was putting on conferences of 500 people on faith and sexuality, I was shocked. How had I not heard of CenterPeace? After all, I had been involved in related ministries and conversations since the late 1990s. I was familiar with the major figures and organzations in the Church engaging this topic.
In 2003, Sally Gary, a professor in the communication department at Abilene Christian University, stood up in chapel and came out to 5,000 students, faculty, and staff. It was a terrifying moment for the Church of Christ girl. She had barely come out to anyone at that point. But she was determined that no one else would suffer like she did—living with shame in the closet as a Christian attracted to the same-sex.
A few years later, in 2006, Sally launched the nonprofit CenterPeace, reaching out to other LGBT+ people, parents and families of LGBT+ loved ones, and speaking widely in Church of Christ congregations. The Church of Christ is a conservative branch of the Restoration Movement that sprouted in the 1800s. The congregations are found predominantly in the southern United States. An insular movement, they have largely kept to themselves, even shirking the evangelical world. To give you a sense of their independence, Billy Graham was viewed as misguided for not properly evangelizing (lack of emphasis on baptism).
And that’s why I had never heard of CenterPeace.
Sally was speaking to as many as 25 churches and colleges a year and hosting large conferences within her tribe of Church of Christ. A true pioneer willing to speak out when no one else would, she remains a lone voice to Churches of Christ exhorting her people to care for LGBT+ people and their families, even as her reach has expanded to the evangelical world and beyond.
What I love about CenterPeace is that it centers Christ. It brings together all the good of traditional Christianity, while affirming LGBT+ people. I needed that. Too often traditional spaces have viewed people like me with suspicion, while affirming spaces have gone too far in progressive directions to leave behind the things I love, like a high regard for Scripture and covenantal sexual ethics. CenterPeace is carving out a space for inclusive orthodoxy.
Next month, October 24-26th in Dallas, Texas, CenterPeace will host its 7th national conference. Already about 400 people have registered to attend in-person and more are expected. Here’s a sampling of the schedule:
Speakers and storytellers from the mainstage like pastors Zach Lambert of Restore Austin and Sean Palmer of Ecclesia Houston, executive director of CenterPeace, Sally Gary, Elva and Idalmis, Cuban immigrants who found each other, Aubin Petersen, an ally serving on the Board of Advocates for Baylor University Diana R. Garland School of Social Work, and many others.
Friendship and community through shared meals, affinity groups, and heartfelt conversation.
Vibrant worship from a variety of worship leaders.
A prayer room to receive prayer and access to on-call therapists.
More than 20 breakout sessions with tracks for ministry leaders, parents, LGBT+ folk, young adults, and allies, covering topics like:
Rethinking Evangelism and Missions in the LGBTQ+ Community
Soul Care for LGBTQ+ Coming Out and Leaning In
Practical Life Lessons from Parents of LGBTQ+ Loved Ones
What Is Marriage? (I am teaching this one)
Counting the Costs: Navigating the Negative Consequences of Becoming Affirming
Next-Gen LGBTQ+ Christianity
Precedent: How Jesus Teaches Us to Interpret Scripture
People of Faith in a Modern Scientific World
From Zero to Community: Building and Maintaining Authentic Friendships
Special events, including a Friday night dinner with Justin Lee, a documentary screening, and an interview with Dr. Richard Hays about his new book The Widening of God’s Mercy (I will be doing the interview with him).
Pre-conference workshop for pastors and ministry leaders, and a post-conference workshop for parents of LGBT+ children (adult or youth).
There’s no other gathering quite like CenterPeace. It’s more like a reunion of old friends and new than a formal conference, a place to encounter Christ, as well as to learn and grow as we seek to make a difference in the world together.
It’s going to be an amazing time. Come meet me at CenterPeace! And if you can’t come in-person, consider registering for the livestream.
Watch the conference trailer with clips from the 2022 conference.