Gilead Sabbath ›› About the Gilead Sabbath ›› Gilead Sabbath Initiative Statement & Endorsers
The Gilead Sabbath Initiative began in 2014 as an effort to raise awareness about persecution of LGBTQ people globally and to provide ways for congregations to stand specifically with LGBTQ activists in African countries. At the time, sixty national religious leaders endorsed this statement encouraging communities of faith to work for global LGBTQ justice and to observe Gilead Sabbath:
As faith leaders, we are called today to see, hear, and respond to the violence and discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people in African countries. Together, we must end this persecution that is too often perpetrated in the name of faith. We encourage faith communities to respond by participating in the Gilead Sabbath Initiative.
Imam Daayiee Abdullah, MECCA Institute
Dr. Michael J. Adee, Director, Global Faith and Justice Project
Marie Alford-Harkey, Deputy Director, Religious Institute
Karen Barr, Moderator, The GLAD Alliance, Inc.
Rev. Geoffrey A. Black, General Minister and President, United Church of Christ
Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Executive Director, Global Justice Institute
Rev. Steven Clunn, The Love Your Neighbor Coalition
Ann Craig, Director of Administration & Development, The Fellowship Global
Dr. Miguel De La Torre, Professor of Social Ethics and Latino/a Studies, Iliff School of Theology
Mr. Francis DeBernardo, Executive Director, New Ways Ministry
Rev. Ronald Degges, President, Disciples Home Missions, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)
Marriane Duddy-Burke, Executive Director, Dignity USA
Rev. Brian Ellison, Executive Director, Covenant Network of Presbyterians
Rev. Dr. Marvin M. Ellison, Former Willard S. Bass Professor of Christian Ethics, Bangor Theological Seminary
Bishop Yvette Flunder, The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries
Rev. Dr. Robert Franklin, Chautauqua Institution, Emory University
The Rev. Wil Gafney, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Hebrew Bible, Brite Divinity School
Rev. Dr. Larry Greenfield, Executive Minister, American Baptist Churches of Metro Chicago
Rev. Debra Haffner, President and CEO, Religious Institute
Rev. Cedric A. Harmon, Co-Director, Many Voices
Rev. Dr. Katharine Henderson, President, Auburn Seminary
Mary E. Hunt Ph.D., Co-Director, Women’s Alliance for Theology, Ethics and Ritual (WATER)
Rev. Dr., Mark C. Johnston, Ph.D., Executive Director, Open & Affirming Ministries, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples Alliance
Rev. Dr. Serene Jones, President, Union Theological Seminary in the City of New York
Rev. Dr. Kapya Kaoma, Political Research Associates/The Episcopal Parish of Christ Church/ISJ, Hyde Park, MA
Idit Klein, Executive Director, Keshet
Sharon Kleinbaum, Senior Rabbi, Congregation Beit Simchat Torah
Bruce Knotts, Director, UUA United Nations Office
Rev. Harry Knox, President and CEO, Religious Coalition for Reproductive Choice
Rabbi Debra Kolodny, Executive Director, Nehirim
Joel L. Kushner, Psy.D., Director, Institute for Judaism, Sexual Orientation and Gender, Hebrew Union College
Andrew Lang, Open and Affirming Coalition, United Church of Christ
Rabbi Michael Lerner, Chair, Network of Spiritual Progressives
Rabbi Joshua Lesser, Congregation Bet Haverim, SOJOURN
Dr. Pamela R. Lightsey, Associate Dean, Boston University School of Theology
Rev. Dr. Cindi Love, Chair, Uncommon Tribe
Rev. Robin R. Lunn, Executive Director, Association of Welcoming & Affirming Baptists
Rev. Dr. James L. McDonald, President and Professor of Faith and Public Life, San Francisco Theological Seminary
Alex Patchin McNeill, Executive Director, More Light Presbyterians
Ruth Messinger, President, American Jewish World Service
Min. Louis J., Mitchell, South Congregational Church, Springfield, MA
Mr. Mark Miller, Associate Professor of Church Music, Drew University Theological School
Rev. Peter Morales, President, Unitarian Universalist Association
Rev. Darlene Nipper, Deputy Executive Director, National LGBTQ Task Force
Ms. Marilyn Paarlberg, Executive Director, Room for All, Inc.
Rev. Dr. Cameron Partridge, TransEpiscopal
Mr. Chett Pritchett, Executive Director, Methodist Federation for Social Action
Bishop Tonyia M. Rawls, Sacred Souls Community Church, Charlotte, NC
Rev. Michael Schuenemeyer, Executive for Health and Wholeness Advocacy , United Church of Christ
The Right Rev. Dr. Disani Christopher Senyonjo, Emeritus Bishop of West Buganda, Anglican Church of Uganda
Rabbi Mychal B. Springer, Director, Center for Pastoral Education at The Jewish Theological Seminary
Vivian Taylor, Executive Director, Integrity USA
Rabbi David Teutsch, Wiener Professor of Contemporary Jewish Civilization, Director of Levin-Lieber Program in Jewish Ethics, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College
Rev. Sara Thompson Tweedy, Chair, Methodists In New Directions (MIND)
Ms. Aubrey Thonvold, Interim Executive Director, ReconcilingWorks: Lutherans for Full Participation
Pastor Joseph W. Tolton, Director of Operations & Strategy, The Fellowship Global
Rev. Dr. Emilie Townes, Dean/E. Rhodes & Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Womanist Ethics and Society, Vanderbilt Divinity School
Rev. Dr. Traci West, Professor of Ethics and African American Studies, Drew University Theological School
Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Moderator, Metropolitan Community Churches
Carol Wise, Executive Director, Brethren Mennonite Council for LGBT Interests