Conference Schedule
(All links on the top portion of this page lead to more information about each event, biographies of speakers and other information at the bottom of this page)
Meet Ray Boltz in person! Just register for an All Conference Pass, attend, and your entered into a drawing to meet Ray Boltz. Winners will be announced at the end of the conference on Saturday, October 25th, must be present at announcement to win. Bring your CDs for him to sign!
3 Ways to Purchase Tickets:
- Online: Securely 24/7, just click the Register button above
- In Person: Visit Second Presbyterian Church or Holy Trinity Community Church on Sunday
- Call: Phone Holy Trinity Community Church to place your order: 615-352-3898
**Please Note: Ticket prices will be higher at the door, so save money and register in advance!**
Wednesday, Oct 22 - Special Film Festival and Panel Discussions
5pm - De Colores – Latino families
6.30pm - All God’s Children – African-American families
8pm - Straight From the Heart – Heterosexual parents, family and friends
Thursday, Oct 23 - Ex-Gay Survivor’s Night
7pm – Theatre performance featuring Peterson Toscano, talk by Darlene Bogle, and story sharing exercise with Christine Bakke.
More information about the Ex-Gay Survivor's Night.
Friday, Oct 24 - God and Gays: Bridging the Gap
7pm - Movie screening, Q&A including Kim Clark, Luane Beck, Darlene Bogle, Mary Lou Wallner, Rev. Deborah Johnson, and Valerie Joi Fiddmont from the movie, plus a special “Meet the Speakers” reception with Dr. Jack Rogers.
Saturday, Oct 25 - Our Family Matters Event
10am – Speakers
Dr. Jack Rogers, Rev. Deborah L. Johnson, Mary Lou Wallner, Darlene Bogle, and Peterson Toscano
Breakout Group Topics:
- Healing the Sense of Separation
- Youth Focus (Ages 14 through College-age)
- The Bible and Homosexuality
- Ex-Gay Survivor Stories
- Straight Talk for Families
Breakout group details
7:30pm – Celebration Concert
Featuring Dove Award winner Ray Boltz, Valerie Joi Fiddmont and the Holy Trinity Choir
Sunday, Oct 26 – Worship Services
Event participants are warmly invited to attend any of our presenting church’s Sunday worship services.
Our Family Photos, Bios and Additional Information
Wednesday, Oct 22, 5pm - Special Film Festival Night
Straight From the Heart
Straight from the Heart explores parents' journeys to a new understanding of their lesbian and gay children by presenting simple stories about real people. Discussion lead by PFLAG leaders to follow.
www.womanvision.org/heart.htm
All God's Children
All God's Children vividly illustrates the human toll exacted upon society by the unspoken stigmatization and alienation of lesbians and gay men in the African-American population. Discussion lead by community leaders to follow.
www.womanvision.org/children.htm
De Colores
Through moving personal stories we learn about how families are breaking cultural barriers and how love always prevails in Latino-American families. Discussion lead by community leaders to follow.
www.unlearninghomophobia.com/decolores.htm
return to schedule
Thursday, Oct 23, 7pm - Ex-Gay Survivor’s Night
This night is dedicated to those persons who have physically, emotionally and spiritually attempted to change who they are, trying to fix what isn’t broke within themselves. Survivors convene for the first time on this side of the country to share their stories, heal intimacy trauma, freeing them to move on and become more of who they are as a unified person created whole and complete.
Featuring:
Peterson Toscano
Nationally known actor, Playwright and Co-founder of beyondexgay.com
As a gay man, Peterson's journey out of the closet has been long and complicated. After years of submitting to reparative therapy through counseling, ex-gay support groups, and even three exorcisms, Peterson enrolled in the ex-gay residential program, Love in Action. He graduated successfully from the program nearly two years later, but in January of 1999 he finally came OUT and fully accepted himself as a gay man.
Christine Bakke
Featured in Glamour magazine and on Good Morning America
Co-founder of beyondexgay.com
Christine Bakke is an ex-gay survivor who spent over four years trying to change her orientation. She moved to Denver in 1998 to become ex-gay and participated in an Exodus program, Living Waters, pastoral counseling, the “casting out of demons” and private reparative therapy. In 2003, she realized that while she had changed in many areas, her sexual orientation remained the same.
She found that telling her story and connecting with other ex-gay survivors to be cathartic, and healing. She has told her narrative in the pages of Glamour magazine, Good Morning America, and other media venues. Along with Peterson Toscano, she founded Beyond Ex-Gay, and is excited about journeying with other ex-gay survivors to find healing and true wholeness.
Darlene Bogle
Author, Former ex-gay leader
www.darlenebogle.com/
Darlene was a director of an Exodus Ministry for many years. Paraklete was an outreach of the Hayward, CA Foursquare church where she was the assistant pastor. She traveled nationally for Exodus, teaching and speaking at conferences, as well as appearing on such shows as Jerry Springer, Sally Jesse Raphael and CBS' 48 Hours. She appeared on other nationally televised programs and was interviewed by the 700 Club. She authored and contributed to 5 books promoting change from the “homosexual lifestyle”. In 1992 she found a Christian woman with whom she had a 12-year relationship, and was asked to leave all Christian organizations, while renouncing her ministerial involvement. Her partner passed away from breast cancer in February 2005.
Darlene's new book A Christian Lesbian Journey tells her story of ex gay recovery and love, fully reconciled. He has blessed her with a new relationship and she and Becky are actively involved in their church and in reaching out to the gay community with God's love and acceptance. Darlene is among the Exodus leaders who have issued a formal apology to those they “ministered” to in ex-gay programs.
Friday, Oct 24, 7pm - God and Gays: Bridging the Gap
God and Gays: Bridging the Gap
www.godandgaysthemovie.comGod and Gays: Bridging the Gap explores the religious struggle reconciling sexuality and spirituality. It gets into the head, heart and lives of the people who have found sexuality and their faith as self-defining work.
God and Gays puts the face and heartbeat of humanity into the emotionally-charged issue and answers:
- What is the "gay agenda"?
- Is being gay a choice?
- What does the Bible say?
- Is it possible to be gay AND religious or must we choose?
A movie for any age, hear for yourself what it’s like to be gay and Christian…and enjoy the humor as even with tough-to-hear stories, there’s always a smile even in the midst.
Kim Clark
Producer of God and Gays: Bridging the Gap
Luane Beck
Director of God and Gays: Bridging the Gap
Q&A with filmmakers and many people featured in the film follows the screening, followed by a “Meet the Speakers” reception.
Saturday, Oct 25, 10am – Our Family Matters Event
Dr. Jack Rogers
Theologian, Author, Professor
www.drjackrogers.com
Jack Rogers is Professor of Theology Emeritus at San Francisco Theological Seminary and Moderator of the 213th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). He also served as vice-president of San Francisco Theological Seminary and founded their Southern California campus. Earlier, he was Professor of Philosophical Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary for 17 years. He is the author of the book, Jesus, the Bible, And Homosexuality: Explode the Myths, Heal the Church and many others including Confessions of a Conservative Evangelical.
Mary Lou Wallner
Co-founder of TEACH Ministries (To Educate About the Consequences of Homophobia)
www.teach-ministries.org
Mary Lou Wallner lost her lesbian Christian daughter to suicide in February of 1997. Being raised in a fundamentalist, legalistic church environment, Mary Lou was taught the untruth that homosexuality is a sin. Her journey from “tragedy to transformation” is nothing short of amazing. She and her husband, Bob, are strong allies for Gays, Lesbians, Bisexual and Transgender people and are leaders in TEACH Ministry, To Educate About the Consequences of Homophobia. They have a sincere desire to see the church accept and welcome GLBT people just the way God made them. Mary Lou’s book, The Slow Miracle of Transformation, now in its third printing, details her journey over the past years.
Rev. Deborah L. Johnson
Founder of Inner Light Ministries, Author, Diversity Trainer and Motivational Speaker
www.deborahjohnson.org
Rev. Deborah L. Johnson is the founder and president of both The Motivational Institute, an organizational development consulting firm specializing in cultural diversity, and Inner Light Ministries, an outreach ministry dedicated to teaching the practical application of Universal Spiritual Principles. A dynamic public speaker, she is known for her ability to inspire and to bring clarity to complex and emotionally charged issues. She travels the nation teaching, training, consulting, and facilitating for groups large and small. She is also the author of the very popular The Sacred Yes and Your Deepest Intent, both published by SoundsTrue.
She has been a voice for compassion, justice, and reconciliation. She joins her mentor, Rev. Dr. Michael Beckwith from The Secret in holding a vision of Oneness, beyond creed and doctrine, and strives to heal the sense of separation between those adhering to conservative and progressive ideologies. A primary focus has been on coalition building, conflict resolution, public policy development, and cultural sensitivity awareness.
Breakout Group Topics and Leaders:
Healing the Sense of Separation: Rev. Deborah L. Johnson, Valerie Joi Fiddmont, Kim Clark, Luane Beck, Rev. Dr. Ted Smith (Vanderbilt)
Youth Focus (Ages 14 through College-age): Okey Landers, Holy Trinity youth ministers, Monique Moultrie
The Bible and Homosexuality: Dr. Jack Rogers, Rev. Cynthia Andrews-Looper, Rev. Jim Kitchens, Dr. Herb Marbury (Vanderbilt), Dr. Ken Stone (Chicago Theological Seminary)
Ex-Gay Survivor Stories: Darlene Bogle, Peterson Toscano, Christine Bakke
Straight Talk for Families: Mary Lou Wallner, Susan Wiltshire (Tennesse Equality Project), Dr. John Blevins (Emory), PFLAG Nashville (Parents, Family and Friends of Lesbians and Gays)
Saturday, Oct 25, 7:30pm – Our Family Matters Celebration Concert
Three-time Dove Award Winner Ray Boltz
Ray Boltz has dedicated over fifteen years to music and ministry. Through these years he has captured the attention of the CCM industry by garnering three Dove Awards, two gold albums, a gold video, and twelve number one singles. He has also sold more than four million units of product. Through all this time and these accomplishments Ray's vision for his ministry still remains the same…to produce and perform music that allows listeners and audiences to see Jesus. Ray thanks everyone who has continued to show Christ's love during his coming out announcement and looks forward to his return to Nashville to perform at Our Family Matters, the one event that brings all of God's diversity together in faith, hope, joy and love.
Meet Ray Boltz in person! Just register for an All Conference Pass, attend, and your entered into a drawing to meet Ray Boltz. Winners will be announced at the end of the conference on Saturday, October 25th, must be present at announcement to win. Bring your CDs for him to sign!
Valerie Joi Fiddmont
R&B/Gospel Recording Artist
www.valeriejoi.com
Valerie Joi’s song delivery is as fluid and focused as her life. She is a music minister extraordinaire and her message of unconditional love and acceptance is clear, strong and uncompromising. Listening to her sing, play or direct is an artistic and healing journey in itself.
Valerie Joi has studied classical piano and jazz voice privately and at the collegiate level, while she has pursued her undergraduate and graduate degrees. In addition, she has been able to utilize both her skills, singing and playing the piano with numerous recording and production artists as a background vocalist, vocal coach, composer, arranger and producer, and as a member of various mass gospel choirs. Her classical, jazz and gospel influences are apparent in her CD release Rise Above and her new release Singing the Sacred Yes, which accompanies her partner Rev. Deborah L. Johnson's book The Sacred Yes. Valerie Joi has appeared on stage several times at the world reknown Monterey Jazz Festival.
Holy Trinity Choir
www.holytrinitycommunitychurch.com/fellowship.html
Directed by Stephen Nix, members of the Holy Trinity Choir share their talents by rejoicing in harmony as they reach out to the community through expressive music. With a Christ-centered heart, this diverse choir offers hope, love and grace to uplift the soul.
Special Guest Performers:
Michael Popham
Reaching a milestone in 2008 of over 1,000,000 units published and sold during his 26-year Christian music ministry, Michael Popham has not only enjoyed many years as a mega-church Music Minister, but also an accomplished and celebrated songwriter, worship leader, keyboardist, and arranger.
His songs such as "Here in This House" have been recorded by many Christian music artists and choirs including Christ Church Choir, Vicky Yohe, the Talley Trio, and many others. And his praise and worship songs, including "At Your Feet", and "God Is My Refuge and Strength" have reached #1 spots among CCLI's recorded charts and been sung by numerous churches and worshippers all around the world.
Michael's journey toward an honest and reconciled existence has been freeing and, at times, tumultuous. Holding out hope for a reconciliation between his children and himself, Michael knows the daily reality of persevering with a strong faith. Michael and his partner, television celebrity Josh "Sparkle Josh" Johnson, enjoy a rich and fulfilling life together and both call Holy Trinity Community Church their church home. Michael is one of the worship leaders at Holy Trinity Community Church in Nashville.
Rusti Rae
Rusti Rae has been performing since the age of 12. She started out as a singer/songwriter. She then moved on to theatre at age 14 landing the lead role in her high school musical Bye Bye Birdie. She went on to be the youngest actor ever hired for the ongoing musical Beach Blanket Babylon in San Francisco. She has performed for the Queen of England, Jimmy Stewart and Robin Williams to name a few. She was in the touring company of Always Patsy Cline and the National tour of American Jukebox. She always dedicates her performances to her mother. She is currently appearing in Dearly Departed alongside Joyce DeWitt from Three's Company. Rusti is honored to be a part of Our Family Matters this year and will be performing an amazing tribute to Matthew Shepard, who's death was ten years ago.
Kenya Walker
www.myspace.com/kenyawalkersongs
Since arriving in Nashville, Kenya has been a staff writer for Maypop Music, Hayes Street Music, BMG Music, and Big Yellow Dog/Sony Music. Several major label country artists have covered her songs. Kenya’s dynamic performance style and masterful writing quickly made her a favorite among the Nashville Songwriting community. She attracted the attention of Don Henry, (Grammy Award winning songwriter/producer/artist) who approached her about embarking on a solo recording career of her own. The end result of this collaboration is the 12-song CD entitled Alligator Purse.
The Alligator Purse CD led to a special invitation to contribute material for Aaron Spelling’s Any Day Now, on Lifetime Network by producer and music supervisor request. Kenya co-wrote, co-produced and performed special feature spots in select episodes of this series in 1998 through 2000 seasons.
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