Ray Boltz returns to Nashville to headline the Our Family Matters conference, October 22-25, 2008, at the Second Presbyterian Church in Nashville. The four-day conference offers a contemporary Christian perspective on being gay and Christian.
Also performing will be worship artist Michael Popham, who has published and sold 1,000,000 units during his 26-year Christian music ministry. His songs such as "Here in This House" have been recorded by Christian music artists and choirs, including Christ Church Choir, Vicky Yohe, and the Talley Trio. His praise and worship songs, including "At Your Feet" and "God Is My Refuge and Strength," have reached #1 spots on CCLI's recorded charts and been sung by churches all around the world. Popham is one of the worship leaders at Holy Trinity Community Church in Nashville.
Other artists performing include R&B artist Valerie Joi Fiddmont, the Holy Trinity Choir, Kenya Walker, and Rusti Rae.
The conference will offer workshops and film screenings, including God and Gays: Bridging the Gap, from producer Kim Clark and director Luane Beck. The film explores the religious struggle reconciling sexuality and spirituality.
Boltz performed this past weekend at the Metropolitan Community Church in Washington, where he unveiled new songs that reflect his new lifestyle. He also performed his classic songs, like "Thank You" and "I Pledge Allegiance to the Lamb."
Before you get all upset that I'm writing another post about gays: I think there are two interesting questions to consider here.
First, it's interesting that Boltz is returning to Nashville to perform at a gay church event. He said in the Washington Blade story that he wasn't trying to rejuvenate his music career or become the poster child for gay Christians. But that might be what happens, whether he intends it or not. While his new music reflects his new lifestyle, if Boltz started writing standard CCM music again, would you buy it?
Also, I've never heard of Michael Popham, but he's got quite a catalog of worship songs (here's a sample), and you don't get to #1 on the CCLI chart without a lot of churches singing your music. I wonder how many evangelical churches sing his songs, and would continue to sing if they knew he was gay? If you know these songs, does it change your perspective on his worship songs? Should it?
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Ray Boltz comes out of the closet
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I'm truly touched by Ray Boltz coming out and not giving up on his music, just like God never gave up on him as he struggled for 30 years on being honest of how God made him. I think we owe him a tremendous amount of respect for his courage, despite our inability to understand what it's been like for him. I don't know what it's like to struggle like that with my sexuality, although I can relate to struggling in other areas of my life. I think his songs mean even more to me now, he's living honestly and how many of us can say we're doing the same.
I'll be going to the conference because it's not a gay church event. It's actually created for straight, curious Christian people like me to come and ask questions and be in a safe environment to find some understanding around gay people of faith. I just want to live and love like Christ did and this event will help me do just that more...honestly.
Thank you for the article. I absolutely have no problem if music is coming from a gay person or not, I trust it more coming from a gay person, at least I know they aren't pulling a Ted Haggard false persona to stay a favorite in public opinion. They're doing what's real to them. God bless 'em!
Isn't being "gay" and Christian an oxymoron?
Why was it God destroyed the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah(Genesis19:4-25)?
sad so sad, he also might be taking people to hell also...
WOW! WE ARE IN THE LAST DAYS, ARE WE CALLING EVIL GOOD AND GOOD EVIL? MY OPINION, FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS MUST TAKE A BACK SIT TO GOD'S SPOKEN WORD.NOT ONE OF US LIKE THE EXPOSURE OF GOD'S LIGHT IT REVEALS OUR IMPERFECTIONS,HIS LOVE HOWEVER HAS LED ME TO CRY OUT FOR MERCY AND TO COME INTO AGREEMENT WITH JESUS. NOT MY WILL BUT YOURS OH GOD.MR VOLTS NEEDS DELIVERANCE AND A HEAVY DOZE OF REPENTANCE.PRAY FOR HIS SALVATION.
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