From: OAMinistry@aol.com Date: Mon, 4 Nov 1996 23:57:54 -0500 Subject: All God's Children video review Dear friends, Please post this in the Religion section of your directory. Thank you, Allen Harris Review of "All God's Children" written by the Rev. Allen V. Harris A video produced by Woman Vision, The National Black Gay and Lesbian Lead= ership Forum, and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Producers/Directors: Dr. Dee Mosbacher, Francis Reid, Dr. Sylvia Rhue Running Time: 25:40, Copyright 1996 =0D All God's Children, a new video produced this past summer and direct= ed by award-winning filmmaker Dee Mosbacher, is set to transform the discussion regarding homosexuality= and the Church. Interspersed with music by Lavender Light, The Black and People of All Colors Lesbian and G= ay Gospel Choir, are compelling personal testimonies. Here, in this timely video, are gathered some of t= he most important figures in American politics, religion, and society including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, Senator= Carol Mosely Braun, Congresswoman Maxine Waters, the Rev. James Forbes, and Linda Villarosa, executive edit= or at Essence magazine. Their voices, as well known as they might be, become stronger and more vibrant = because they are also woven together with stories of lesser known folks who are simply mothers, fathers, siste= rs, friends, and lovers. Why all of these persons have allowed their images and their words t= o be brought together is obviously of great importance to them, for their passion and their clarity conveys = much. They have come to answer the question, "How can one be Black and Christian and also celebrate the live= s and loves of lesbian, gay, and bisexual persons?" Their confident answers offer enormous hope for many = who yearn to have their sexual orientation, their spirituality, as well as their ethnic identity interco= nnected as a whole. The Rev. Dr. Cecil L. Murray, Senior Minister of the First AME Churc= h of Los Angeles sets the tone for the film. "If you can reason with people, reason with them. If you = can love it into them, love it into them. = If you can rhapsodize it into them, rhapsodize it into them. But you hav= e got to get it into them: We have no option. The Church exists for all God's children." Again and again this= message of certainty pervades the language of all those who offer their witness to the anticipated wholenes= s of the Church. "Quite frankly, I came out because of the lessons that I learned in = that Black Church, about truth, about honesty, about being sincere." Phill Wilson, founder of the National Bla= ck Gay And Lesbian Leadership Forum, puts the onus of the burden of inclusivity right back on the commu= nity of faith which imbued him with such values. It is delightful to watch Phill celebrate his openness abou= t both his faith and his sexuality with his parents, Ina and Tebo Wilson, who also share their perspectives in the vi= deo. There is no mistaking the message of those who have been gathered in= this unique presentation. "God loves me just as I am, because that is how God made me. God made me Afri= can American. God made me 5'10 and three-quarters. God made me a lesbian." Thus proclaims Dr. Mar= jorie Hill. Dr. Hill is on the national board of Unity Fellowship Church, a predominantly lesbian and gay African= -American Christian denomination. Even though a deep faith is the overwhelming foundation for these fo= lks, there are other points of reference which compel an openness to the fuller inclusion of lesbians an= d gay men. In particular, several speakers remind us that there are political realities which need to be ad= dressed. Congresswoman Maxine Waters admits, "The idea that you will be fired from a job because one discovers= one is gay or lesbian is outrageous and ridiculous. I do think that government has a responsibility to outlaw di= scrimination of gay and lesbians." All God's Children should quickly become an essential part of most p= resentations about the Church and homosexuality. Its professional quality and concise focus make it an= excellent resource for individuals and congregations who wish to address issues of homophobia, heterosexism, and= racism. The video's low price will allow it to be seen by many more people. For this new offering to the Ch= urch's continuing dialogue, we offer our thanksgiving. =0D The Rev. Allen V. Harris is a Pastor at Park Avenue Christian Church (Dis= ciples of Christ) in New York City. He also serves as the Developer of the Open & Affirming Ministries= Program of the Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples Alliance.