December 10, 2001
Local pastor to speak at 2002 Pride banquet By Eric Rangus erangus@emory.edu
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Chris Copeland, associate pastor of Oakhurst Baptist Church in Decatur,
will be the featured speaker at the Pride banquet, March 4. This announcement came at the latest meeting of the Presidents
Commission on LGBT Concerns, which took place Dec. 4 in 400 Administration. Copeland, 97L-97T, is an alumnus of Emorys Law and
Religion Program. As a gay man, Copelands ordination by Oakhurst
Baptist led the Georgia Baptist Convention (GBC) to expel the church from
its membership. In 1998, the GBC voted to exclude any church that knowingly
takes or has taken, any action to affirm, approve or endorse homosexual
behavior. While the speaker and the date of the Pride banquet have been finalized,
the location has not, said Pride banquet chair Catherine Shiel. Venues
being discussed include the Houston Mill House and the Miller-Ward Alumni
House. Essay committee chair Susan Browne updated the commission on her committees
work. She said a leaflet advertising the competition was designed and
will be posted throughout campus and distributed both to commission members
and LGBT groups. A e-mail advertisement was sent to campus LGBT groups
as well Browne said several ads are scheduled for The Emory Wheel both
before and after the holidays, and commission members stressed the importance
of advertising just prior to the Feb. 4 deadline. In previous years participation
has suffered because of a lack of late-January advertising. In addition to Copelands address, the Pride banquet will feature
the awards of $500 to the best graduate and $250 to the best undergraduate
essay in the field of lesbian/gay/bisexual/transgender studies, to be
presented by President Bill Chace. For more information on how to enter
the essay contest, contact Browne at 404-727-6590 or sebrown@emory.edu. The membership and outreach committee discussed the informational brochure it has been working on. Members have discussed including it in new hire packages, although that may not be feasible. Placing it on advertising racks in Human Resources, however, appeared
to be an option. Much of the discussion centered around what the commission hopes to accomplish
with the brochure. One goal is to differentiate it from the Office of
LGBT Life, a separate entity that is part of the Division of Campus Life
but is often grouped with the commission. Part of what we do is wait, said chair Mark Jordan. Were
there when theres trouble. The brochure lets people know were
here. The next LGBT meeting is scheduled for Jan. 22 in 400 Administration.
If you have a question or comment for LGBT, send e-mail to Mark Jordan at mjorda2@emory.edu |