My Roots: Reflections On Metropolitan Community Church’s PAD Conference

By pwsbuilder | May 7, 2014 |
Two baobab trees are silhouetted against the sun.

Whenever I think about my experiences over the years at the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) Conference for People of African Descent, Our Allies and Friends (PAD), I can’t help but think of the Tree of Life. Perhaps you’ve encountered this tree (pictured above) before and just didn’t know it. Remember Rafiki, the old and wise mandrill from The Lion King,…

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Rising From The Ashes

By pwsbuilder | May 1, 2014 |
A woman waving her hands in front of a church.

As I reflect on the last six months, I can only say it was the grace of God that has kept me and kept my mind. It was only God’s love that kept my wife and I covered. After disclosing my sexual orientation to the church where I was the senior pastor and sharing that I had…

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Praying For Our Enemies

By pwsbuilder | March 28, 2014
A group of people holding signs that say god is love.

I remember the first time I heard the name Fred Phelps. Five days before I turned sixteen, Matthew Shepard was brutally attacked in Laramie, Wyoming. One day after I turned sixteen, Matthew Shepard died.  Like many of you around the country, I was glued to the news reports. Enter: Fred Phelps. The first I heard of…

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Where Do I Go?

By pwsbuilder | March 26, 2014 |
A man with a beard sitting at a table in a restaurant.

I was sitting in Rev. Vance Rains’ office at the Florida State Wesley Foundation the first time I said the words “I’m gay” out loud to any other living human. I specify because of the countless memories I have of telling people in dreams, and also prayerfully informing my deceased grandmother, who I firmly believe…

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A Kiss Of Solidarity

By pwsbuilder | March 12, 2014 |
Two men in hats kissing in front of a sign.

A picture is worth a thousand words, they say. Recently, I learned just how true that is. I’ve written thousands of words over the past several years about how the Church has failed our gay and lesbian family members, friends, and neighbors, and why I, as a minister of the Gospel, seek to welcome and…

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Rev. Gil Caldwell Officiates His First Same-Sex Marriage

By pwsbuilder | February 3, 2014
Two men in suits shaking hands at a ceremony.

As a Civil Rights Movement “foot soldier”, I have used these words of Martin Luther King, Jr. to guide my activism, not just for people of African descent, but for all justice struggles; “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” I officiated my first same-sex marriage the Sunday of this year’s Martin Luther King weekend,…

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Standing Together To Protect LGBTQ Catholic Church Faculty

By pwsbuilder | January 29, 2014 |
A group of people standing in front of a sign that says keep mr 2013.

homeStand with Catholic high school students this Friday, January 31st for ‘Z-Day‘ to raise awareness for LGBTQ faculty being fired within the Catholic Church by wearing orange and spreading #ZDAY on social media. About a month ago, news broke out from a neighboring Catholic high school that their gay Vice Principal had been fired for marrying his…

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Tweet The Pope To Protect LGBTQ People Around The World

By pwsbuilder | January 24, 2014
Pope john paul ii waves to a crowd of people.

A world of humanity is mobilizing around the #PopeSpeakOut Twitter campaign to persuade Pope Francis to speak out against the growing tide of anti-LGBTQ laws around the globe. The campaign launched yesterday, and we encourage our supporters who use Twitter to participate. The campaign organizers are New Ways Ministry, The Fellowship, and a growing number of…

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