People of Faith for Equality in Virginia

It is now time to say out loud here what has been talked about in Richmond for some time.

I have ceased serving as Pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Richmond to take on full-time duties leading People of Faith for Equality in Virginia.

There are some things to be worked out with the Board of Directors, and I won’t take up my new responsibilities full-time until June, but things are moving already.

For one thing, I have been working on an action plan for the next year—and I will be sharing that with many of you in the coming weeks. If you’d like to receive a copy, please write me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it I also will be working on a job description, in line with that plan and our longer range goals for POFEV.

I also am working on a plan to raise funds in the short term to provide compensation and office space for me, as well as some supplies and other expenses, for the next 12 months. The long term plan is to have a larger staff, with field reps placed strategically across Virginia. (If this excites you, you can start giving now—see below).

This was not an easy decision. In fact, it feels driven by a call from God.

Appropriately enough, awareness of that call came last year in what for me was an interfaith setting: the first night of Rosh Hashanah services, September 16, at the Jewish Community Center in Richmond. I had gone with my husband, Dr. Jonathan Lebolt, who is active in Congregation Or Ami.

Rabbi Ben Romer, a former POFEV Board member and a dear friend to all who work for justice, was speaking about passion, and how we are called to lead lives of passion. He encouraged us to do a passion inventory (conveniently provided in the worship booklet). As I began to contemplate mine, I had what can only be described as a vision: commit to making Virginia safe and welcoming for all LGBT people. It took hold of me that night, and I could not shake it.

I did not hear a voice, and I did not see a picture, but this vision took hold of me that night and caused me to “leave the room” for a short time, and experience an absolute stillness—in the midst of several hundred worshippers all rustling papers and murmuring and Rabbi Ben talking—unlike almost anything I have ever “heard.” In that stillness, I felt a powerful centeredness and peace, and I knew I would have to come to terms with what felt like a “call.”

I knew it would cause me to shift my focus from MCC Richmond (ministry and people I cherish) to POFEV, to change my congregation of accountability and passion to the entire commonwealth (I don’t mean that in a grandiose sense, but in the realization that my primary field of action would be much, much larger).

For three months, I prayed and thought and talked with Jonathan and other trusted advisors and friends. My spiritual director, Mary Ann Archer, was central to this process. We spent considerable time talking, exploring, praying, connecting with some deep places within me.

In December, I tested it out with the Board of POFEV. They were unanimous in their support and excitement. My daughters gave their blessing at Christmas. Jonathan was already on board (not that he, like me, is not sad at severing ties with our beloved community at MCC Richmond—we hope to be back among them after they go through a lengthy process of an interim pastor and choosing a new “settled” pastor).

So, the past few months have been about setting a timetable, and making the necessary moves.

Just this past week, I cleaned out my office at MCC Richmond, and am now faced with how to integrate all my books and shelves and other things in my already crowded home office and our living room! But it will work out, and before you know it, POFEV will have an office and things will be less crowded at home.

But enough about me.

This is about POFEV, about the cause of equality and justice for all Virginians. This is about freeing our beloved Commonwealth from the shackles of old prejudices and injustice, of leading the way toward becoming truly a common-wealth—a place where all people gathered here can share in the bounty with which God has blessed this beautiful land.

Of course, the greatest beauty, the greatest bounty, is in Virginia’s people, God’s people, and it is our mission to recognize the dignity of all of them, all of us, and to promote the cause of living with each other as God calls us to live—respecting, indeed celebrating, and thanking God for, the diversity of humanity.

Oh yes, about that giving. We really need it, so POFEV can lead the way in creating a new Virginia.

There are two options: use the PayPal option on our web page at www.faith4equalityva.org or send your check to POFEV, PO Box 4919, Richmond, VA 23220. POFEV is a 501 (c) (3) organization and contributions are tax deductible to the extent provided by law.

I am on fire with ideas, enthusiasm, and determination. I pray you share at least some of that with me. We have been blessed to be alive at this precise moment in history, when so much is shifting, and we can do our part to help move Virginia forward.

Forward! I say forward!

Forward! I Say Forward!!

by Rev. Dr. Robin Hawley Gorsline, POFEV President

It is now time to say out loud here what has been talked about in Richmond for some time.

MCCRVA for all God's people I have ceased serving as Pastor of Metropolitan Community Church of Richmond to take on full-time duties leading People of Faith for Equality in Virginia.

There are some things to be worked out with the Board of Directors, and I won’t take up my new responsibilities full-time until June, but things are moving already. For one thing, I have been working on an action plan for the next year—and I will be sharing that with many of you in the coming weeks. If you’d like to receive a copy, please This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . I also will be working on a job description, in line with that plan and our longer range goals for POFEV.

I also am working on a plan to raise funds in the short term to provide compensation and office space for me, as well as some supplies and other expenses, for the next 12 months. The long term plan is to have a larger staff, with field reps placed strategically across Virginia. (If this excites you, you can start giving now—see below).

This was not an easy decision. In fact, it feels driven by a call from God.

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Do you believe how much things are changing?

A majority of the United States Senates—including two Republicans—now supports marriage equality. Two of those Senators are our own Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. Six months ago, maybe less, who would have thought either of them, especially the relatively cautious Warner—who must face the electorate in 2014—would now be clear in their support.

And Rush Limbaugh and other conservative commentators are lamenting that the battle to stop it is lost. None of them that I can see has changed his or her opinion—but they do think it is inevitable.

Of course, many of us have been saying this for some time, believing in Dr. King’s arc of history that bends toward justice.

Nonetheless, the inevitable probably will take some time.

Right now, attention is on the United States Supreme Court. Two weeks ago, I joined thousands in Washington, in a great display of passion and commitment for marriage equality as two cases were about to be argued in that august marble hall of justice. Despite our passion, the court is unlikely to make any sweeping judgments.

The day began early—at 6:15 clergy were due at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, near the United States Supreme Court, to check in and find our assigned seats. Of course, it also gave us an opportunity to greet friends and make new ones. And we shared in a magnificent interfaith service. The music, testimonies, prayers, all of it was inspiring, giving us focus and encouragement to take the next step.

The procession from the church to the court started out somewhat organized—many of us singing, “This Little Light of Mine,” with the usual confusion among knots of people not singing the same verse at the same time, but still sounding pretty good!—but as we came closer to the court, we became a bit ragtag, in part because there were already thousands of people there.

Some had been there for 24 hours or more, waiting in line to get tickets to get into to watch the actual arguments. Most had come that morning—I had seen a lot of them on my way to the church a couple of hours earlier.

It was energizing and inspirational to feel all the energy, and to realize that our side was clearly a match for the other side. Sure, there were plenty of anti-equality folks, but they were pretty easily drowned out by our much larger numbers and, I think, enthusiasm and passion.

It is that enthusiasm and passion that got folks home in Virginia to do some witnessing, too—from Alexandria in the liberal north to Floyd in the conservative southwest, with Charlottesville, Roanoke, Staunton, Richmond, and Norfolk in between. What is exciting to me is that we had five communities engage in Valentine’s Day marriage equality witnessing, and six weeks later seven communities stood to be counted in response to the action in Washington.

This may feel like a smaller tide—I am not convinced a majority of Virginians yet support marriage equality (the most recent polls show it is a tie between the two views)—but it is a tide nonetheless.

I find it particularly heartening that folks staked the claim of justice in Floyd and Staunton. There were just nine brave souls in Floyd, but how alive they were! You can watch a short video clip (from our Facebook page) HERE, as well as footage from Staunton and elsewhere. This will not be stopped.

Still, we have a long road ahead. Amending the Virginia constitution is not easy. The General Assembly has to vote twice—in meetings separated by an election—for exactly the same resolution in order to put the question on the ballot. That means the earliest a vote of the people could happen is 2016. Then the voters have to approve it.

Over the next few weeks and months, you will read much more here about our plans at POFEV to build on this wave to carry the cause—and not just marriage equality, but protection for all Virginia’s families whether it is employment, adoption and foster care, immigration—to victory. We will be working with Equality Virginia, of course, and the Alliance for Progressive Values, PFLAG, various religious bodies and communities, unions, business groups, university faculties and administration as well as student groups, Virginia Organizing, S.O.N.G., Virginia New Majority, and many others.

We know we can’t do it alone, but the voices and activism of faithful people are needed if equality is to become reality.

You can help in many ways. Here are a few:

* Speak up, of course.

* Contribute funds to help us pay full-time staff (watch for that announcement soon) by using our PayPal option at POFEV web (or mail us your check at POFEV, PO Box 4919, Richmond, VA 23220).

* Talk to your pastor or priest or rabbi or imam to let them know where you stand, and ask them to take a stand in favor of equality, too.

* Write a letter to the editor.

* Make an announcement in your congregation and ask others to join you for a meeting to talk about working together for equality.

* Contact me at 804/519-3196 if you’d like me or someone else from POFEV come to speak to the meeting, or at worship or other event in your community.

We can do this, my friend. It is inevitable, yes—but the inevitable could benefit from a push.

If nine folks can stand up in public in Floyd, what is stopping the rest of us?

Following Floyd

by Rev. Dr. Robin H. Gorsline, POFEV President

Do you believe how much things are changing?

Mark Warner Headshot 2 A majority of the United States Senates—including two Republicans—now supports marriage equality. Two of those Senators are our own Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. Six months ago, maybe less, who would have thought either of them, especially the relatively cautious Warner—who must face the electorate in 2014—would now be clear in their support.

Tim Kaine And Rush Limbaugh and other conservative commentators are lamenting that the battle to stop it is lost. None of them that I can see has changed his or her opinion—but they do think it is inevitable.

Of course, many of us have been saying this for some time, believing in Dr. King’s arc of history that bends toward justice.

Nonetheless, the inevitable probably will take some time.

US Supreme Court bldg Right now, attention is on the United States Supreme Court. Two weeks ago, I joined thousands in Washington, in a great display of passion and commitment for marriage equality as two cases were about to be argued in that august marble hall of justice. Despite our passion, the court is unlikely to make any sweeping judgments.

The day began early—at 6:15 clergy were due at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation, near the United States Supreme Court, to check in and find our assigned seats. Of course, it also gave us an opportunity to greet friends and make new ones. And we shared in a magnificent interfaith service. The music, testimonies, prayers, all of it was inspiring, giving us focus and encouragement to take the next step.

Lutheran Church of the Reformation WDC The procession from the church (pictured left) to the court started out somewhat organized—many of us singing, “This Little Light of Mine,” with the usual confusion among knots of people not singing the same verse at the same time, but still sounding pretty good!—but as we came closer to the court, we became a bit ragtag, in part because there were already thousands of people there.

Some had been there for 24 hours or more, waiting in line to get tickets to get into to watch the actual arguments. Most had come that morning—I had seen a lot of them on my way to the church a couple of hours earlier.

It was energizing and inspirational to feel all the energy, and to realize that our side was clearly a match for the other side. Sure, there were plenty of anti-equality folks, but they were pretty easily drowned out by our much larger numbers and, I think, enthusiasm and passion.

It is that enthusiasm and passion that got folks home in Virginia to do some witnessing, too—from Alexandria in the liberal north to Floyd in the conservative southwest, with Charlottesville, Roanoke, Staunton, Richmond, and Norfolk in between. What is exciting to me is that we had five communities engage in Valentine’s Day marriage equality witnessing, and six weeks later seven communities stood to be counted in response to the action in Washington.

Continue reading . . . . .

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We Win—No Matter What the Court Decides

us-supreme-court No one knows how the Supreme Court will rule in the two cases involving questions of state and federal laws that limit marriage and legal benefits that flow from marriage to couples consisting of a woman and a man.

No matter what the justices say, however, the mere fact that these two cases are being argued before that court—on March 26 in Hollingsworth v. Perry, which is a challenge to Proposition 8 in California (which bans same-gender-loving marriage in that state), and on March 27 in United States v. Windsor, which is a challenge to the constitutionality of the so-called Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA), which really ought to be named the “Denial of Marriage Act”—carries great significance.

Tie.A.Knot.4.Love.web For that reason alone, it is important that supporters of equality take the opportunity now to celebrate this reality and to draw attention to the cause. Hence the POFEV campaign, “Tie a Knot for Love,” events on March 25 and 26 in Virginia, and the national United for Marriage: Light the Way to Justice events in Washington, D.C. March 26-27.

Many legal analysts think that the court has little choice but to strike down the provisions of DOMA that allow states to deny the validity of marriages done in another state. They reason this is a significance breach of the traditional understanding of our federal system. And at the least, it would seem that the court, based on prior decisions involving voter actions to overturn laws that support rights for a group of people, would grant the validity of the 18,000 marriages performed in California before the passage of Proposition 8. I am at best an armchair observer of the law—I took the Law School Aptitude Test in 1969 to please my father and did well enough probably to get admitted to law school but I never even opened a school catalogue—but this all seems right to me.

Of course, they could go farther. But somehow I doubt it.

Even so, these would be significant victories. Read more...

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