MOUNT RAINIER, Maryland—The head of a national Catholic ministry which promotes equality and justice for lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender (LGBT) people will be traveling to London, England to take part in meetings and conferences as part of the 2012 World Pride celebration happening there between June 23rd and July 8th.
New Ways Ministry's Executive Director, Francis DeBernardo, will be a panelist at the "Mind the Gap: Conference: Faith and LGBT Rights, " a multi-faith, multi-national event, on Thursday, July 5th, 12 noon-5:00 pm, at Friends Meeting House, 52 St. Martin's, Lane, London WC2N 4EA. (For information, contact: cuttingedgeconsortium1@googlemail.com, or go to www.cuttingedgeconsortium.co.uk.)
While visiting England, he will also conduct a daylong workshop entitled "Next Steps: Developing LGBT Ministry and Spirituality," on Saturday, June 23rd, St. Anne's Church, 55 Dean Street, Soho, London W1D 6AF. (For registration details: info@sohomasses.com, or + 44 208 986 0807.)
"I'm excited at this opportunity to connect with LGBT advocates from all over, particularly those from the faith community," said DeBernardo, who was the keynote speaker at the conference on religion and homosexuality at the first World Pride celebration in Rome, Italy, in 2000. "We have so much to learn from one another, and this is a great opportunity to show one another support."
While in London, he will be meeting with leaders from several Catholic LGBT groups, including Quest, the Soho Masses, and the Roman Catholic Caucus of the Lesbian & Gay Christian Movement, as well as members of the European Network for Catholic church reform.
DeBernardo has served as Executive Director of New Ways Ministry since 1996. He is the author of Marriage Equality: A Positive Catholic Approach, and has conducted educational programs on LGBT issues around the United States. He is the editor and principal author of Bondings 2.0, an influential blog on Catholic LGBT issues, which can be found at www.NewWaysMinistryBlog.wordpress.com .
For more information on DeBernardo and New Ways Ministry, visit www.NewWaysMinistry.org or call (301) 277-5674. DeBernardo will be leaving for the U.K. on June 17th; after that date, he will be available via email at director@NewWaysMinistry.org .