05/16/2004: "A conference you'll want to miss"

There's still time to register for the "Together in Faith: A Journey into Inclusiveness" conference at Eastern Michigan University next weekend. Billed as "A National Multiracial, Multigenerational Conference for People of all Religions and Spiritualities Creating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender-Affirming Communities," it is being funded in part by the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan (through the GLBT group Oasis), the Wesley Foundation (United Methodist Church) at the University of Michigan, and the Michigan office of the American Friends Service Committee (Quakers) LGBT Issues group. Among the highlights: a presentation by Raven Kaldera, billed as a Female-To-Male "Transgendered Activist and Shaman, pagan priest, intersex transgender activist, parent, astrologer, musician, homesteader, and the author of Hermaphrodeities: The Transgender Spirituality Workbook," who will be speaking on "Transgender Spirituality," and one by Macha Nightmare (described as a "priestess and witch" and "an all-around Pagan webweaver"), who will be speaking on "Sex & Spells: Gender and Political Activism in the Witchen Community":

We will sit in circle for focused discussion about gender, power, and the many ways that people change culture.� We will address our values and the ethics of spellwork, after which we will plan, create and empower our own collaborative spell for change in harmony with our values and in accordance with our wills.

Also participating will be the Rev. Mel White of Soulforce, the group that recently staged a demonstration on the floor of the United Methodist General Conference. I also understand from confidential sources that Alyson Hannigan (the lesbian witch on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) will make a special guest appearance as Evil Willow and cast a spell to turn the University of Michigan into a life-sized replica of Sunnydale High, complete with subterranean Hellmouth. To sign up for the conference will cost adults $125, while it's $80 for children under 12 (!).

(Thanks to MCJ and Greg Griffith for the link.)

Replies: 3 Comments

on Sunday, May 16th, SeattleCarol said

It's so odd the way these people always speak of "culture" as if it were something that existed outside of people: "the many ways people change culture". It seems to end up as a kind of idolotry.

Although I would pay money to see Black Veiny Willow transmute the University of Michigan.

on Monday, May 17th, Greg S said

" Hermaphrodeities: The Transgender Spirituality Workbook"

OOh, where's my box o multicultural crayons!

on Monday, May 17th, Little Fly said

When things like this succeed, it is a sign that Christianity is failing to reach people. When I read things like this I feel shame for our inability to be any more prescient to people. What greater evidence do we need for mission?