During the 2001 inaugural conference that launched CLGS we were pleased to acknowledge and honor a number of outstanding individuals with the Center’s Leading Voice award. For all of us in attendance that day, it was a powerful moment of realizing anew that none of us undertakes the work of justice and inclusion alone. We are indeed “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses,” as the biblical writer put it, many of them pioneering the work CLGS undertakes today.
Many more people than any of us will ever know by name contribute to the Center’s mission. Throughout the Center’s programs CLGS staff members encounter many such individuals and communities working hard every day to advance the well-being of LGBT people and to transform faith communities for justice. Many of these will likely never receive an award for their efforts – though they certainly deserve one.
This portion of the CLGS website is devoted to those Leading Voices, all those we wish especially to acknowledge and publicly thank and honor for their outstanding witness and support for LGBT people. Some of these have given generously of their time or their money or both. Others have offered their witness at a price that has no dollar amount attached – with vocations denied, families split, or even physical safety threatened. These Leading Voices will soon appear here in this space and with our heartfelt gratitude.
CLGS Leading Voice Honorees
The CLGS Leading Voice Award honors those who lead us into the work of social justice and into broader visions of welcoming faith communities. We honor these voices as a way to lift up such courageous and inspiring witness in a religious and secular culture where such voices are far too often overlooked or unheard.
Upcoming Leading Voice Award Events:
None Currently
Previous Honorees:
Rev. John Auer
Pastor,
First United Methodist Church
San Rafael, CA
Rev. Mary Elyn Bahlert
Lake Merritt United Methodist Church
Oakland, CA
Rev. Frank Baldwin
Senior Pastor, Orinda Community Church
Orinda, CA
Ms. Jeanne Barnett and Ms. Ellie Charlton
Folsom, CA 95630
Ms. Selisse Berry
Executive Director, Out & Equal Workplace Advocates
San Francisco, CA
Rev. Gerry Brague
Mr. Jimmy Creech
Rev. Robert W. Cromey
Rector (retired), Trinity Episcopal Church
San Francisco, CA
Rev. Pat DeJong
First Congregational Church of Berkeley
Rev. Renae Extrum-Fernandez
Pastor, United Methodist Church
Walnut Creek, CA
Rev. Don Fado
St Mark’s United Methodist Church
Sacramento, CA
Professor Eliyahou Farajajé
Starr King School for the Ministry
Berkeley, CA
Bishop Yvette Flunder
Ark of Refuge United Church of Christ
San Francisco, CA
Rev. Ruth Frost
St Francis Lutheran Church
San Francisco, CA
Sister Bernie Galvin
San Francisco, CA
Mr. William Glenn
Mr. Scott Hafner
Hafner Vineyards
Rev. Nobuaki Hanaoka
Japanese United Methodist Church
Sacramento, CA 95823-1872
Rev. Esther Hargis
First Baptist Church of Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
Mr. Edwin Hawkins
Love Center Ministries
Oakland, CA 94603
Mrs. Mitzi Henderson
Menlo Park, CA
Rev. Glenda Hope
San Francisco Network Ministries
Rev. H. James Hopkins
Lakeshore Avenue Baptist Church
Oakland, CA
Rev. Jeff V Johnson
St Francis Lutheran Church
San Francisco, CA 94114
Professor Joel Kahn
The Center for Jewish Studies
Graduate Theological Union
Berkeley, CA 94709
Mr. Jim Lowder
Executive Director
Habitat for Humanity
Ms. Phyllis Lyon
San Francisco, CA
Ms. Del Martin
San Francisco, CA
Rabbi Sydney Mintz
Congregation Emanu El
San Francisco, CA
Ms. Janice Mirikitani
Poet Laureate, City of San Francisco
Glide Memorial United Methodist Church
Rev. Elder Jim Mitulski
New Spirit Community Church
Berkeley, CA
Rev. Dr. Randle R. Mixon
Oakland, CA 94602
Rev. Dr. Penny Nixon
Former Senior Pastor,
Metropolitan Community Church of San Francisco
Rev. Elder Dr. Troy D. Perry
Founder and Former Moderator
Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches
Rev. Lynice Pinkard
Pastor and activist
Mr. Phil Porter
Body Wisdom, Inc.
Oakland, CA 94612
Rev. Roger Ridgway
St. John’s United Church of Christ
San Francisco, CA 94127
Rev. Jim Schexnayder
Oakland, CA
Rev. Bradley E. Schmeling
Atlanta, GA
Father Zachary Shore
Most Holy Redeemer Church
San Francisco, CA
The Rt. Rev. Christopher Senyonjo
Retired Anglican Bishop of West Buganda, Uganda
Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith
Senior Pastor,
Allen Temple Baptist Church
Oakland, CA
The Rt. Rev. John Shelby and Christine M. Spong
Retired Episcopal Bishop of Newark, author, and activist
Ms. Sharon Stone
The Rt. Rev. William Swing
Episcopal Bishop of California (retired)
Lisa Thomas and Sue Swanson
Rev. Fran Tornquist
Grace Cathedral
San Francisco, CA
Rev. Cecil Williams
Pastor Emeritus
Glide Memorial United Methodist Church
San Francisco, CA 94102