06/16/2008
Clergy Pastoral Training for Gay & Lesbian Persons
by The Rev. Debo Dykes
The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi and The Diocesan Committee on Ministry with Gay and Lesbian Persons sponsored a clergy pastoral training course on meeting the pastoral needs of gay and lesbian persons and their family members at The Duncan M. Gray Camp & Conference Center, June 1st and 2nd. The presenter, The Rev. Dr. Philip Culbertson, recently retired from The College of St. John the Evangelist, The University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand, offered an inspiring, invigorating, and compassionate presentation on issues of justice and concerns faced by our gay men and women living in our church communities. Dr. Culbertson’s presentation was based on Chapter 7, “Counseling Gays and Lesbians”, from his book “Caring for God’s
People”. Bishop Gray invited this event as a pastoral expression in the spirit of the consistent encouragement by Lambeth Conferences and our own church to provide pastoral care for gay and lesbian persons in our congregations.
