Dear Members, Friends and Supporters,
Spring is finally here and with it the next edition of the European Forum Rainbow Report!
Our Annual Conference will kick off online in just a few days! The registration deadline for "Strong Voices" has already passed unfortunately, but there will be public parts that you can follow (see below) and you can count on reports about what happened at the conference in our next newsletter.
In this one, we remember a former Co-president gone too soon, you can read about our ongoing podcast series and our outgoing Secretary tells you about her experiences in the Forum and on the Board of the European Forum.
Thank you for your support. As always, you can follow us on Twitter and like us on Facebook for more regular updates.
Blessings, and in solidarity,
The European Forum team
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Strong Voices - Parts of our Annual Conference will be public
The 40th Annual Conference of the European Forum of LGBT Christian Groups - organised by Dutch member groups of the Forum - will take place online next week (6-9 May 2021). Registration for the conference has already been closed. However, one of the highlights of the conference, presentation of the Rainbow Index of Churches in Europe (RICE) will be available via live-stream for anyone interested. The Rainbow Index - which has been developed in cooperation with the Protestant Theological University (Amsterdam, Netherlands) - measures the inclusivity of LGBTI+ people in 46 churches throughout Europe on the basis of 47 criteria for inclusivity. The presentation of the Rainbow Index will take place from the Church of the Nazarene in Vlaardingen, Netherlands on Saturday 8 May from 11.30-14.30 hrs, followed by an Open Church Service at 17.00 hrs. Both events will be streamed. Whoever wants to take part can register through: ef2021@lkp-web.nl. |
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Elaine Sommers
by Carol Shepherd
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Elaine Sommers (26 December 1945 – 26 February 2021)
The European Forum was deeply saddened to lose former Co-President, Elaine Sommers, to leukaemia in February 2021. Elaine did not only serve as Co-President from 2017-2019, but was also a much loved member of the Forum, with her wit, kindness and – of course – musical talent. Elaine touched many lives with her braveness in coming out as trans in 2005, not only in the Forum, but within the wider LGBT and medical community. Much travelled and a keen cyclist, Elaine was also active in church life and amateur dramatics in her hometown of Bristol, where she worked as an orthopaedic surgeon. She was also a founding member of Bristol Pride. Elaine truly was a role model for trans* people, as well as a much beloved husband, father and grandfather.
An online memorial was held for Elaine on 10 April 2021, in which readings and songs were offered in tribute, including a rendition of Elaine’s queerinclusive version of Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah, a permanent legacy to the LGBT Christian community. Carol Shepherd attended the family funeral on behalf of the Forum in Bristol, UK in April 2021, and has been asked by the Gibson family to edit and publish Elaine’s memoirs. It is hoped that Elaine’s story will be published in time for next year’s conference in Switzerland. Elaine leaves behind a wife, son, two daughters and two grandchildren, but her beautiful spirit will live on in the hearts of all she touched with her warmth, kindness and many, many talents.
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Priceless Podcast Series - every Monday
by Mihael Secen (Neprocjenjiva, Croatia)
The European Forum entered a partnership with The Priceless Podcast to publish 10-12 podcasts (within this partnership) covering different topics and people of different expertise. So far 9 podcasts have been published and I (Mihael) am working hard to deliver more stories of LGBT people of faith from Europe.
It has been so much fun and an honour to talk to all my guests and I’m looking forward to doing more interviews in the coming weeks.
I’m thankful for Arno Steen Andreasen who worked and is working with me on finding all the people as well as for all of you who helped me in finding and contacting a few people who could be a guest on the podcast.
When I first heard that the “request” is to publish a podcast each Monday, I only thought: “How?” It is a challenge to do most of it myself, preparing the interviews, having meetings before the interview, the interview, the editing… But I’m so glad I was encouraged to do it as I realised that it is possible.
Your help is also needed. People will most likely hear about the podcast if you tell them about it. If the Priceless podcast is something you feel comfortable sharing, tell others about it and leave a comment underneath the videos or the audio podcast. Your comments will help the podcast to be more visible. Also, if you have any suggestions or would like to have someone you want to hear on the podcast, send me your suggestions to thepricelesspodcast@gmail.com.
Take some time for yourself and enjoy the podcasts every Monday!
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The European Forum: The First Five Years!
by Carol Shepherd (Forum Friends and outgoing Secretary)
At my first ever European Forum in Gothenburg, Sweden, five years ago, I was asked to give a little speech on my maiden experience. I found the transcript the other day on the Forum website (Reflection on Ezekiel 17:22–24). In this speech, I wrote: “This has been my first forum and it won’t be my last. I have loved this weekend, and I have made so many friends. I think there is much work to be done but I want to be part of it.”
Well, dear Forumites and Boardies, I believe I kept my word!
It was the Reverend Shanon Ferguson who first introduced me to the Forum, by inviting me to lead a workshop on bisexuality at the 2016 Conference in Gothenburg. It was, I learnt, the first time in its then 37 year history, that anyone had given a bespoke talk on bisexuality. The small room was packed out with some friendly faces, but also, I have to say, some dubious faces. Bisexuality, it seemed, was a much mistrusted and little-known concept among LGBT Christians. It marked the start of raising awareness of bisexuality and bisexual issues within the Forum. More than one participant commented that I had opened their eyes on the subject.
In 2017 I was asked to assist the then secretary to the Board with the minute taking of board meetings. This led to me being co-opted to the Board as Secretary when the current secretary had to resign from her duties. I was then officially voted in as Secretary at the 2019 Conference in Canterbury.
Being Secretary to the Board has its ups (board meetings both home and abroad are hard work but great fun as well!) but also its downs – the workload can be significant and you are on the receiving end of much incoming mail to the Forum, not always gracious. However, overall, it has been an immense privilege and a rewarding experience being a ‘Boardie.’ The past 12 months have been hard, without the reward of board meetings around Europe to mitigate against the less glamourous aspects of the role. My last ‘foreign’ board meeting was Copenhagen in February 2020, the last time I spent time ‘in the flesh’ with the late, great, Elaine Sommers, as well. I have very fond memories of giggling with Elaine in the kitchen of the venue we were using. Don’t ask me what we were giggling about, though I think it might have been about ad-WOKACY! (we couldn’t sit next to each other in Board meetings, it was just fatal!)
I have so many amazing memories from my time on the board, including being caught up with the Gilets Jaunes in Paris, being surrounded by armed police at the Pride Parade in Gdansk, nearly exploding from eating so much Latvian bread in London and simply enjoying the company of so many WONDERFUL people.*
Five years later, as outgoing Secretary to the Board, I can say, hand on heart, I have very much been part of the European Forum! I also hope to continue being part of this amazing organisation, because there is much work still to be done, but also, more fun to be had!
*Arno’s favourite word
Pretending to be Polish, May 2016
Evening entertainment in Canterbury, 2019: How German Sounds…
L to R: Elaine, Stephanie, Raul, Alessandra, Dennis and myself
Feeling short with some of my closest Forum friends, Canterbury 2019
Ineke, me, Heleen, Irene & Susan
Post board-meeting in rainy Paris, 2019, with Tatiana and Wielie
With my fellow boardies in London, 2018
L to R: Misza, Elaine, Matijs, Wielie, me, Quentin, Sadie
Feeling short again in Albano with Heleen, Ineke and Steffi, 2018
With my great friend and collaborator, Shanon,
who introduced me to the Forum, in Albano, 2018
And a bottle of Peroni
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