Activities for 2008 
Planning a ‘Listening to gay Christians’ exercise in your rural Deanery? We may be able to help.
Sunday 17th February 10. 45 am Trinity College Chapel Dublin. Preacher Revd Colin Coward Director of Changing Attitude (England). Holy Irrelevant? The Church and LGBT Affirmation
13th -15th May. General Synod, Galway.
Visibility and Listening: Gay Clergy in the Church of Ireland
article to be published in 'Search', a Church of Ireland Theological Journal. Volume 31 Number 2 SUMMER 2008. APCK. (June 2008) Available from The Good Bookshop 61/67 Donegall Street Belfast BT1 2QH Tel. +44 (0)28 9024 4825 email sales@goodbookshop.com
July. Possible visit of Bishop Gene Robinson to Ireland. – details later.
Saturday 18th October 2008 at St. George's Church, High Street Belfast.
14.15hrs. “Living Sexuality & Spirituality Positively”
Dr. Andrew Yip, University of Nottingham
Preceded by Holy Communion 13.30-14.00
15.15 Coffee
15.30 – 16.30 A G M
All very welcome
Title: Living Spirituality and Sexuality Positively: A Matter of Identity Integration and Personal integrity.
Abstract: In this talk, I aim to share my experience of researching lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) Christians in the past decade or so. LGB Christians aspire to incorporate their sexuality and spirituality harmoniously, as they believe that these two divinely-created aspects of their lives are inseparable. Thus, being able to live their sexuality and spirituality proudly and positively is crucial to the integration of their identity as well as being honest with God, others, and themselves. However, their efforts in this respect are often thwarted by the lack of affirmation and acceptance within faith communities. This could have damaging effects on their spiritual and sexual health, leading to, for instance, cognitive dissonance, depression, a strong sense of guilt and shame, sexual risk-taking, and the dissociation from faith communities. Nevertheless, for those who find the strength and resources to rise above such structural limitations show indisputable evidence of personal flourishing, as a result of living positively as spiritual and sexual beings. Some also use their marginalised social position to challenge homophobia and sexism within faith communities, and promote inclusivity and social justice.
Biographical note: Dr. Andrew Kam-Tuck Yip is Associate Professor and Reader in Sociology at the University of Nottingham. He has published widely, among others, in the area of lesbian, gay, and bisexual Christian and Muslim identities and relationships. He is the author of Gay Male Christian Couples: Life Stories (Praeger, 1997), A Minority with A Minority: British Non-heterosexual Muslims (Economic and Social Research Council, 2003), and co-author of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Lives Over 50 York House Publishing, 2003). His articles have appeared in journals such as Sociology of Religion, Theology & Sexuality, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, British Journal of Sociology, and Sexualities.
