wikipedia articles on SoulForce and the RCJC branch of Mormonism

Soulforce

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For other uses, see Soulforce (disambiguation).



 A Soulforce sit-in at the Armed Forces Recruitment Center in Times Square, part of the Right To Serve Campaign
Soulforce is an American social justice and civil rights organization that supports acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) people through dialogue and creative forms of nonviolent direct action. Soulforce is inspired by the principles of relentless nonviolent resistance as taught and practiced by Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.
It was founded in 1998 by Mel White, who was a ghostwriter for Jerry Falwell, Billy Graham, Pat Robertson, and others until he came out as a gay man.[1][2] The organization's Executive Director is Rev. Cindi Love.[3]

Contents
  [hide] 1 Equality Ride
2 Right to Serve Campaign
3 See also
4 References
5 External links
Equality Ride[edit]
Main article: Equality Ride
Since 2006, Soulforce has supported a project called the Equality Ride. Led by young adults, it targets Christian colleges.[4] In 2007 it was divided into two different trips (eastern and western), each leg visiting 15-20 different colleges. Other rides were launched in 2008 and 2010. A fifth Equality Ride is planned for the spring of 2012.
Right to Serve Campaign[edit]
In 2006 Soulforce organized the Right to Serve Campaign, the first nationally organized youth effort to bring attention to the "Don't ask, don't tell" policy of the United States Armed Forces. Youth in 30 cities across the country were recruited to organize events in which openly lesbian, gay and bisexual youth attempted to enlist in the United States Armed Forces while stating their sexual orientation. Headed by Jacob Reitan and Haven Harrin, it took place in 30 cities from late summer and fall of 2006.[5] It attracted coverage in both local and national media. Reitan said: "The don't ask don't tell policy couldn't be any more clearly government-sanctioned discrimination. The Right to Serve Campaign is a way for us to show to the American people how this discrimination works."[5]
In May, in Roseville, a suburb of Minneapolis, two men and a woman tried to enlist in the Minnesota National Guard. One application was rejected immediately and the others put on hold.[6] On August 30, in Madison, Wisconsin, an Army recruiter turned away three men, one a college graduate and the others college students.[7] One of them said: "We're not here as a publicity stunt. I want to serve alongside my fellow Americans. That's why we're here."[8] Two men turned away by recruiters in Chicago on September 12, 2006, returned the next day and staged a sit-in. They were briefly arrested but not charged.[7] A University of Maryland sophomore was turned away when she tried to enlist on September 26.[9] Other events, some including arrests, occurred in New York; Austin, Texas; and Greensboro, North Carolina.[10] In New York City, the recruitment center was closed, but the Right To Serve protesters staged a 7-hour sit-in that resulted in no arrests.[5]
The Campaign was endorsed by the Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), which stated: "We applaud the young men and women from Right To Serve who seek to join the proud tradition of military service. The Right To Serve campaign challenges the federal government to end its prohibition on open and honest service by gay Americans, at a time when America can ill afford to turn away even one bright, capable recruit in the fight against terrorism."[11] In December 2006, SLDN also named the Campaign as number five on its list of the Top-Ten "Don't Ask Don't Tell" stories of 2006.[12]
Elaine Donnelly, president of the Center for Military Readiness, stated in September 2006: "I think the people involved here do not have the best interests of the military at heart. They never have. They are promoting an agenda to normalize homosexuality in America using the military as a battering ram to promote that broader agenda." She said that "pro-homosexual activists...are creating media events all over the country and even internationally."[13]


See also[edit]

Portal icon LGBT portal
Portal icon Christianity portal
LGBT-welcoming church programs
References[edit]
1.Jump up ^ NPR: Steve Inskeep, "Religion, Politics a Potent Mix for Jerry Falwell," June 30, 2006, accessed February 29, 2012
2.Jump up ^ Charisma Now: Michelle Van Loon, "'Equality Ride' Targets Christian Colleges," May 31, 2006, accessed March 9, 2012
3.Jump up ^ Huffington Post: Cindi Love, "Teach Your Children Well," March 9, 2012, accessed March 10, 2012
4.Jump up ^ http://www.soulforce.org/equalityride
5.^ Jump up to: a b c MTV News: "Equality Ride: The Right To Serve", accessed March 9, 2012
6.Jump up ^ Washington Post: "Testing the Policy on Gays," June 11, 2006, accessed March 9, 2012
7.^ Jump up to: a b New York Times: Lizette Alvarez, "Gay Groups Renew Drive Against 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'," September 14, 2006, accessed March 9, 2012
8.Jump up ^ ABC News: Eric Hornig, "'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Ripe for Change?," August 31, 2006, accessed March 9, 2012
9.Jump up ^ CNN: "Paula Zahn Now," September 26, 200-6, accessed March 9, 2012
10.Jump up ^ North Carolina Public Radio: WUNC and National Public Radio, Greensboro, NC (.mp3 audio news file), accessed March 9, 2012
11.Jump up ^ Right to Serve Official Website
12.Jump up ^ The Frontlines: SLDN Blog: "#5 The Right to Serve", December 11, 2006, accessed March 9, 2012
13.Jump up ^ ChristiansUnite.com: Chad Groening , "'Coordinated' Campaign Targets Military Ban on Homosexuals," September 21, 2006, accessed February 25, 2012
External links[edit]
Soulforce — official website
 

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Equality Ride

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  (Redirected from Soulforce Equality Ride)
Jump to: navigation, search



 The first Equality Ride bus showing part of its slogan, "Learn from History: End Religion-Based Oppression."


 Soulforce Equality Riders with Rev. Phil Lawson and Congressman John Lewis


 Equality Riders rally outside Regent University


 In Cleveland, TN "Fags-Mobile" was spray-painted onto the bus.
The Equality Ride is a periodic LGBT rights bus tour made young adults and sponsored by Soulforce, a national LGBT nonprofit organization. They seeks to debate LGBT issues with students at conservative Christian colleges and military academies and secular universities.[1]

Contents
  [hide] 1 Early Rides
2 2006 Ride 2.1 Documentary
3 2007 Ride
4 Later Rides
5 See also
6 References
7 External links
Early Rides[edit]
Jacob Reitan, a 23-year-old Christian activist from Minnesota and director of youth programs for Soulforce, initiated the rides. In 2005, he conducted trial runs at Liberty University in the spring and at the U.S. Naval Academy in the fall. At Liberty University he spoke informally students. According to organizers, they tried without success to donate books about homosexuality to the library. Reitan said they asked the University to designate some place on campus where students could talk about being gay without fear of being expelled or having their parents informed. They were also unable to turn over to Jerry Falwell, the university's founder and chancellor, anonymous letters written, they said, by gay Liberty students. When asked about the school's policies toward gay students, a spokesman said "we follow Scripture."[2]
2006 Ride[edit]
From March 10 to and April 26, 2006, a group of about 35 people all under the age of 26, half of whom were Christian,[3] went on the first Equality Ride bus tour. Inspired by the Freedom Rides of the 1960s, the Riders traveled to 19 colleges and universities, including sixteen faith-based institutions in the Christian tradition, two military academies, and one secular university with an ROTC program. Equality Ride contacted the schools in advance and, if they were unable to agree on a format for dialogue, planned to hold a demonstration.[1] Before leaving, they met with Congressman John Lewis, a participant in the original 1961 Freedom Ride and a leader of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC). He told them: "My mother told me growing up, 'don't get in the way; don't get in trouble.' I'm so glad I got in the way and got in trouble." He urged the Equality Riders to "make good trouble."[4] Some 35 Riders also met with officials of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in Washington, D.C., who said they took the arrival of the Riders as a chance, according to one report, "to replace the stereotype of the intolerant conservative Christian with a more compassionate 'Christ-centered' response–albeit a response that still views homosexuality as a sin."[3]
Azusa Pacific University organized a program for the Riders that included a breakfast, a chapel service, and a panel discussion. In advance of their arrival, the dean of students said: "The conversation is coming into the open. We don't need to go into a holy huddle."[3] An official said: "We believe it is our responsibility as Christ-followers to demonstrate loving, scriptural treatment of our guests while maintaining an unwavering commitment to our policy statement, which prohibits homosexual activity at the university."[1] At Liberty University, Riders attempted to cross into campus property after being warned not to. Some 24 were arrested for trespass.[5] Its president Fallwell said that following the group's visit in 2005 "Several of the Soulforce delegation later professed faith in Christ and abandoned the homosexual lifestyle. However, it is now our firm belief that Soulforce is ... simply trying to use such encounters on Christian college campuses as a media attraction and for their ultimate purpose of fundraising."[1]
The Equality Riders also rallied outside a conference of the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities in Dallas on March 31.[1] The ex-gay ministry Exodus International, an ex-gay ministry sent teams to some of the colleges in anticipation of the Equality Riders' visit. Its president, Alan Chambers, said Christians needed to prepare for greater activism on the part of homosexual activists, educate themselves, and then "go out in the public square and begin countering the lies ... with the truth."[1] At California Baptist University in early April, Riders and students challenged each other with Bible verses and their personal histories,[6]
On April 10, Brigham Young University allowed the Equality Riders to come onto campus property and speak to students individually, but prohibited public forums or displays on campus property. The University stated that this was general procedure for any group visiting the campus.[7] At one point the Riders were asked to leave campus for holding what was deemed a public forum and several were later arrested for holding a protest on campus property and refusing to leave.[citation needed]
On April 14, Riders were admitted to the grounds of the United States Air Force Academy as members of the general public, allowed to access public areas, but not private housing or secured cadet areas. Lawful demonstrators were allowed to protest, while 10 who violated the rules by handing out literature or speaking with a portable sound system were arrested for disorderly conduct.[8] On April 26, 21 were arrested in similar circumstances at the U.S. Military Academy.[8]
Reitan said he had bigger plans for the next year's Ride: "We're going to bring it to rural Alabama and Gary, Indiana, and Mankato, Minnesota, to Small Town, USA. And we're going to humanize and localize this issue for the American people."[9]
Documentary[edit]
A film crew documented the 2006 Equality Ride. Their feature-length film, Equality U, follows 34 Soulforce members and their meetings with and presentations to college groups.[10] One review described the participants as "like a gaggle of Real World stars," said the film "focuses on a handful of the riders, showing their ups and downs on the road," and found it "hard to imagine being ... on a bus for two months" with Reitan "bringing a little too much enthusiasm to the plan".[11] Another noted its focus on how "disagreements about strategy cleave the Riders almost from the start" and added: "Yet train a camera on humans long enough — especially in such hothouse conditions — and they will surprise even a viewer who has seen scores of documentaries about gay culture."[12]
2007 Ride[edit]
The 2007 Equality Ride lasted from March 1 to April 30. Two buses visited 33 schools. One toured the eastern United States, visiting 18 schools, and the other toured the western, visiting 15 schools.
Dordt College in Sioux Center, Iowa, invited Equality Riders on campus for two days of classroom presentations, dialogue, meals with students, Bible study, and community meetings. Equality Riders gave a presentation on "Loving Like Jesus" and passed out informational pamphlets titled "What the Bible Says and Doesn't Say About Homosexuality." The Equality Riders' bus was vandalized with graffiti and the school denounced the activity and washed the graffiti off of the bus.[13]
Later in March 2007, a Baylor University official e-mailed faculty and students the day before the Riders' arrival, stating that the university would not allow a dialogue to take place on campus.[14] Six Equality Riders were arrested by university police on charges of criminal trespass when they refused to stop chalking sidewalks with what they called "messages of love and hope". Baylor administrators said they were in violation of university policy that allows only school-affiliated organizations to write messages on sidewalks after completing an online application.[15]
In early April 2007, Bruce Voyles, Dean of Students at Covenant College, expressed disappointment that the Riders did not accept his college's guidelines for a visit. He told newspaper reporters: "You have to wonder if they were really interested in dialogue or were just making some sort of statement." Twenty-six Riders arrived at the campus entrance and were warned by college administrators that they would be arrested if they set foot on school property. For nearly three hours, dozens of Covenant students prayed and read the Bible with the Riders and gave them boxed lunches and water. Four Equality Riders entered school property and read a statement to "encourage Covenant College to become an environment that reflects the wideness of God's grace and diversity of the body of Christ." Dade County police arrested them on charges of criminal trespass.[16]
On April 16, 2007, the Equality Riders visited Brigham Young University-Idaho. They had been told not trespass on the school's property. Marc Stevens, a spokesman for BYU-Idaho, explained that "BYU-Idaho is a private university that can't be used by any outside group to advocate its position." Eight Riders were peacefully arrested after attempting to enter university grounds.[17] At an earlier visit to BYU, Riders had made an issue of the school's honor code, which condemned homosexuality in general terms, including advocacy and "any behaviors that indicate homosexual conduct, including those not sexual in nature". Following the Riders' 2007 visit, the school amended the code to more clearly ban those who engaged in homosexual acts rather than those with an LGBT sexual orientation. Officials said the change was under consideration before the Riders' 2007 visit.[7][18]
At Calvin College, administrators cited Christian Reformed Church instructions to create a better understanding of homosexuality. Vice President for student life Shirley Hoogstra said: "We have conversations about human sexuality on campus and the Equality Ride would fit into that series of conversations. Also a hallmark of a Calvin education is that we are willing to listen to other points of view, even those with which we are in disagreement, and we also appreciate opportunities to share our points of view." The school held several events in advance of the Riders' April 24 visit. Her assessment afterwards was: "Equality Ride reminded us that silence on issues of injustice cannot be tolerated. We stand with them on that issue. But there were also significant places where we had vigorous debate."[19]
The Riders also visited and were denied access to Central Bible College, Oklahoma Baptist University,[15] and Colorado Christian University.[20]
Later Rides[edit]
The 2008 Ride included stops at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Dallas Baptist University, where a lunch and discussion were scheduled, and a dozen more.[21][22]
Baylor was anticipating the arrival of another Equality Ride in April 2010. The university granted the Riders access to the student union and campus food court, and the Riders planned not to chalk as they had on a previous visit. Vice president of student life Kevin Jackson: "Our desire is that our campus will show the care and compassion of our Christian faith. And in doing so, what we would hope is that individuals on campus would not feel compelled to protest." The stop was part of a 16-college tour that included Hardin–Simmons University and Abilene Christian University.[23]
The 2012 Ride was scheduled to leave from Philadelphia on March 3 and visit 12 cities.[4]
See also[edit]

Portal icon LGBT portal
LGBT-welcoming church programs
Right to Serve Campaign, a Soulforce campaign that grew out of the Equality Ride
References[edit]
1.^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Charisma Now: Michelle Van Loon, "'Equality Ride' Targets Christian Colleges," May 31, 2006, accessed March 9, 2012
2.Jump up ^ Jaschik, Scott (April 26, 2005). "Gay Freedom Riders". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2007-01-04.
3.^ Jump up to: a b c Washington Post: Michelle Boorstein, "A Drive for Understanding," March 11, 2006, accessed March 9, 2012
4.^ Jump up to: a b Wisconsin Gazette: "LGBT Equality Ride begins in Philly," February 28, 2012, accessed March 10, 2012
5.Jump up ^ "Gay Rights Activists Arrested at Liberty University". FoxNews. March 10, 2006. Retrieved 2007-11-13.
6.Jump up ^ Los Angeles Times: Arin Gencer, "Being Christian and Gay Aren't at Odds, Group Says," April 5, 2006, accessed March 10, 2012
7.^ Jump up to: a b BYU Universe: John Hyde, "Gay Rights Group "Soulforce" to Visit BYU to Protest," March 24, 2006, accessed March 10, 2012. The BYU Honor Code read: Advocacy of a homosexual lifestyle (whether implied or explicit) or any behaviors that indicate homosexual conduct, including those not sexual in nature, are inappropriate and violate the Honor Code."
8.^ Jump up to: a b PrideSource: Dawn Wolfe Gutterman, "Grandy arrested during Equality Ride stop at Military Academy," May 4, 2006, accessed March 9, 2012
9.Jump up ^ Tampa Bay Times: Waveney Ann Moore, "They ask, and tell," June 25, 2006, accessed March 10, 2012
10.Jump up ^ Internet Movie Database: Equality U (2008), accessed March 9, 2012
11.Jump up ^ MetroWeekly: "Equality U", 2009, accessed March 10, 2012
12.Jump up ^ Austin360.com: Michael Barnes, "AGLIFF Review 1: Equality U.," August 23, 2008, accessed March 10, 2012
13.Jump up ^ Minnesota Independent: Andy Birkey, "Less Than 24 Hours Later: Soulforce Equality Ride Vandalized," March 8, 2007, accessed March 9, 2012; EdgeBoston: "Dordt College officials apologize to harassed gay activists," March 10, 2007, accessed March 9, 2012
14.Jump up ^ St. Amant, Claire; Limmer, Melissa (March 21, 2007). "Soulforce members arrested on campus". The Baylor Lariat. Baylor University. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
15.^ Jump up to: a b St. Amant, Claire (20 March 2007). "Equality ride preaches open dialogue". The Baylor Lariat. Baylor University. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
16.Jump up ^ Herrington, Angie (April 2, 2007). "Equality Ride stops at Covenant". Chattanooga Times Free Press. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
17.Jump up ^ The Post Register (Idaho Falls): Paul Menser, "Gay-rights group members arrested," April 4, 2007
18.Jump up ^ Deseret News: Tad Walch, "BYU clarifies Honor Code about gay orientation," April 18, 2007, accessed March 10, 2012. The revised Honor Code read: "Brigham Young University will respond to homosexual behavior rather than to feelings or orientation and welcomes as full members of the university community all whose behavior meets university standards."
19.Jump up ^ The Calvin Spark: "Equality Ride visits Calvin," Summer 2007, accessed March 10, 2012
20.Jump up ^ Colorado Christian University denies access request to gay activism group
21.Jump up ^ Baptist Standard: Vicki Browen, "Gay-rights group targets Baptist colleges, including DBU," October 1, 2008, accessed March 10, 2012
22.Jump up ^ Edge Boston: Scott Stiffler, "Soulforce Rides into Dallas to promote Equality," October 17, 2008, March 10, 2012
23.Jump up ^ Baylor Lariat: Laura Remson, "Soulforce to visit campus on Tuesday," April 1, 2010, accessed March 10, 2012
External links[edit]
Equality Ride
SoulForce
St. Petersburg Times Media Report 2006
 

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Restoration Church of Jesus Christ

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 This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (November 2009) 
Restoration Church of Jesus Christ
Restoration Church of Jesus Christ Logo.jpg
Classification
Restorationist
Orientation
Latter Day Saint movement
Scripture
Bible
Book of Mormon (LDS Church)
Pearl of Great Price
Doctrine and Covenants (LDS Church)
Doctrine and Covenants (Community of Christ)
Hidden Treasures and Promises
Leader
Robert A. McIntier, president
Founder
Antonio A. Feliz and others (see article)
Origin
August 23, 1985
Los Angeles, California, United States
Separated from
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Congregations
1 (known as "families" in RCJC)
Members
500 (on rolls)
 25 (active)
Missionaries
see article
Temples
none
Primary schools
home teaching
Secondary schools
home teaching
Official website
rcjc.org
The Restoration Church of Jesus Christ (RCJC), based in Salt Lake City, Utah, was a church in the Latter Day Saint movement that catered primarily to the spiritual needs of Latter Day Saints who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered (LGBT). The church was dissolved in 2010.
The RCJC was sometimes informally called the "Gay Mormon Church" because of its overwhelmingly homosexual membership, although people of any sexual orientation could join.

Contents
  [hide] 1 History
2 Scripture 2.1 The Hidden Treasures and Promises
3 Beliefs and practices
4 Homosexual polygamy
5 Position on reincarnation
6 Membership
7 See also
8 References
9 Further reading
10 External links 10.1 Resources
10.2 News and articles

History[edit]
Founded by Antonio A. Feliz, Lamar Hamilton, John Crane, Pamela J. Calkins and other members of the Los Angeles Chapter of Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons on August 23, 1985, in Los Angeles, California.
Feliz is a former bishop of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), who had been excommunicated for homosexual acts.[1] Feliz had also served as the Director of Church Welfare for what was then called the Andean Region (now called the South America West Area) of the LDS Church during the 1970s.
Feliz originally named the church the "Church of Jesus Christ of All Latter Day Saints", but when the LDS Church informed him of their intent to sue, he changed the name to the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ.[citation needed]
The RCJC had rotating general officers. At a church conference in Sacramento, California, in May 1987, Feliz resigned as president. He was succeeded by Robert McIntier, who served as president of the church since 1987 through at least 2009, except for a period from 1997 to 1999 when Douglas B. Madrid served as president.
The church was dissolved by the vote of the members of the board of the Corporation in November 2010.[2] Later, two new groups were formed: the Reformation Community of Christ,[3] and the Church of Christ – Community of Christ (based in Uruguay).[4]
Scripture[edit]
The scriptures of the church are the Bible (officially the King James Version, but others are accepted), the Book of Mormon (LDS Church edition), the Doctrine and Covenants (both the LDS Church and the Community of Christ versions, since the RCJC accepts that God can speak to different denominations), the Pearl of Great Price, and The Hidden Treasures and Promises, a book which members say consists of revelations given through the president of the church and other leaders.
The Hidden Treasures and Promises[edit]
The Hidden Treasures and Promises begins with a compilation of the Articles of Faith with insertions for inclusion of women (i.e., "2. We believe that men [and women] will be punished for their own sins, and not for Adam's transgression....5. We believe that a man [or woman] must be called of God, by prophecy, and by the laying on of hands of those who are in authority, to preach the Gospel and administer in the ordinances thereof.") and hymns composed by RCJC member John Crane. The second section of the work (attributed to Antonio Feliz) criticizes The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for refusing to "send the Restored Gospel to our people - to the gay and lesbian communities of the world." The section calls for the furtherance of the Restored Gospel to the LGBT populace through the "work of ordaining, calling, and setting-apart of missionaries". Altogether, the work consists of 58 sections of messages.
Beliefs and practices[edit]
Unlike in the LDS Church, RCJC women could hold the priesthood. The Heavenly Mother was regarded as an equal member of the Godhead along with the Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Ghost. Thus, the church believed in a quadriune Godhead. The Heavenly Parents (i.e., the Heavenly Father and the Heavenly Mother) were worshiped in prayers given in the name of Jesus Christ.
The priesthood leaders of the church were called "general officers" as in the Community of Christ, not general authorities as in the LDS Church. Church conferences were held periodically.
Rebaptism was not required for anyone who has been previously baptized in a Latter Day Saint church that can trace its authority back to Joseph Smith, Jr. New members who had never previously been a member of a Latter Day Saint church, and those who chose to be rebaptized upon joining the RCJC, were baptized by immersion in the name of The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.
When passing the sacrament, either water or grape juice was used.
The Word of Wisdom was regarded as good advice, but not as an absolute requirement. The church counseled that it is best to consume meat in moderation; however, use of alcohol or tobacco by the church membership was discouraged. As in the LDS Church (called the "Orthodox Mormon Church" by the RCJC), it was popular to serve Jell-O, cake, and milk (or fruit punch and cookies) at church gatherings.
Members were encouraged to store a one-year supply of food. Home teaching was practiced.
The church practiced endowments, the law of adoption, and celestial marriage. In addition to heterosexual marriage, the church also practiced same-sex marriage. The church believed in the practice of baptism for the dead but did not practice it.
Homosexual polygamy[edit]
In an 1986 interview with Sunstone magazine, Feliz stated he believed that it was good to practice The Principle (as polygamy is known by modern Mormon fundamentalists) and that he would be open to performing homosexual polygamous marriages if requested by any members.[1]
Pamela J. Calkins, of Sacramento, was the first woman to be ordained to the priesthood in the RCJC.[1] Later, she entered into a polygamous homosexual betrothal sealing in advance of a celestial marriage with three female partners, thus becoming the first women in Mormondom to do so. Calkins and Lynn R. LaMaster were the first lesbian couple to be sealed for time and eternity (celestial marriage). Later that same evening, Leanna R Anderson and Carole L. Dee were also sealed for time and eternity to each other and to Calkins. No other polygamous homosexual celestial marriages were performed for any other members of the church.
In theory it was conceivable that a heterosexual member of the church (someone who joined the church primarily because of its liberal principles, not primarily because of its compatibility with LGBT people) could ask to be sealed in a regular heterosexual marriage, but this did not happen.
Position on reincarnation[edit]
In the summer of 1986, Feliz gave a lecture at the Metropolitan Community Church in The Castro, a predominantly gay neighborhood in San Francisco, California, "Joseph Smith and the Concept of Multiple Lifetimes". In the lecture, he said that there was evidence that some early Mormons may have believed in reincarnation. In the question and answer period after the lecture, he stated that although reincarnation is not an official doctrine of the RCJC, individual members of the church may believe in the doctrine if they wish.
Membership[edit]
During the period 2000-2010 the total membership of the church was about 500 on the rolls (of which approximately 25 were active members who attended services at the meetinghouse in Salt Lake City, Utah). The church had one congregation (known as a "family" in the RCJC) in Salt Lake City. There were members on the rolls in many U.S. states (mostly Utah and California), as well as several foreign countries. There was also an online "Internet Sunday School" in which members discussed gospel topics, shared ideas, and offered support to one another.
See also[edit]

Portal icon LGBT portal
Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons
GALA (Gay and Lesbian Acceptance)
David and Jonathan
Homosexuality and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
John the Beloved
LGBT-affirming churches
Queer theology
Secret Gospel of Mark
Thealogy
United Order Family of Christ
References[edit]
1.^ Jump up to: a b c Sunstone magazine. March 1986. Interview with Antonio A. Feliz. pp. 43-44.
2.Jump up ^ ldsmovement.pbworks.com.[better source needed]
3.Jump up ^ See ldsmovement.pbworks.com[better source needed]
4.Jump up ^ See ldsmovement.pbworks.com[better source needed] and iglesiadecristo-sud (official website).
Further reading[edit]
Feliz, Antonio A. (1988). Out of the Bishop's Closet — A Call to Heal Ourselves, Each Other, and Our World; A True Story. Aurora Press (San Francisco, California). ISBN 978-0-929582-00-9.
Quinn, Michael D. (1996). Same-Sex Dynamics among Nineteenth-Century Americans — A Mormon Example. University of Illinois Press (Urbana, Illinois). ISBN 978-0-252-02205-0.
External links[edit]
Restoration Church of Jesus Christ, official website
Blog in Spanish of the RCJC
Christ's Church A Reformation Community - one continuing pro-gay LDS church
Community Church of Christ (in Spanish)
Resources[edit]
Hidden Treasures and Promises (1990 Edition) (in PDF)
News and articles[edit]
Memoirs of a Utah gay activist 1986 (posted Dec. 23, 2006)—-details early proselytizing efforts of the Restoration Church of Jesus Christ:
Unto All Peoples (Official RCJC Publication) Christmas Issue--December 1997:
"Same Sex Temple Sealings: Did the Early LDS Church Embrace Homosexual Relationships?". Salt Lake Metro. September 2004.
History of “Homosexuality and Mormonism 1840-1980” (1994) by Connell O’Donovan:
"Private Pain, Public Purges: A History of Homosexuality at Brigham Young University (1940-1992)"—Address given by Connell O'Donovan on April 28, 1997 at UC Santa Cruz:
"Prologue—An Examination of the Mormon Attitude Towards Homosexuality" by Cloy Jenkins et al—1977 Pamphlet which led to the founding of "Affirmation—Gay & Lesbian Mormons":
"Restoration Church of Jesus Christ", written by JoSelle Vanderhooft for Salt Lake Metro
"Gay Mormons find acceptance in Restoration Church", Rosemary Winters, Salt Lake Tribune

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The Latter Day Saint movement



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Sects in the Latter Day Saint movement
Left-of-center LDS-derived sects











































































 
 
 































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Categories: Christian denominations established in the 20th century
Defunct Latter Day Saint denominations
Latter Day Saint movement in California
Latter Day Saint movement in Utah
LGBT churches in the United States
LGBT in Utah
LGBT Latter Day Saint organizations
Liberal Mormon sects in the Latter Day Saint movement
Mormonism and polygamy
Nontrinitarian denominations
Organizations based in Salt Lake City, Utah
Organizations disestablished in 2010
Religious organizations established in 1985





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