FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Friday, May 18, 2012 Media Contact: Heather Cronk, heather.cronk@gmail.

com, 202-491-7240 (cell)

**MEDIA AVAILABILITY** African American Pastor of New Progressive Church Enters Into Debate on Same-Sex Marriage Founding Pastor of The Open Church in Baltimore Publishes Opinion Piece in The Washington Post Supporting Marriage Equality
BALTIMORE, MD Following President Barack Obama's public announcement of his "evolution" on marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) couples, Dr. Brad Braxton -- senior pastor of The Open Church, a new progressive congregation in Baltimore -- entered into the public conversation through an opinion piece in The Washington Post. While many of the African American pastors who have weighed in publicly on the issue have been critical of President Obama's stance, Dr. Braxton -- the incoming Lois Craddock Perkins Professor of Homiletics at Southern Methodist University -- is choosing to publicly engage on the side of equality and inclusion for LGBT Americans. Last week, President Obama publicly endorsed marriage equality for LGBT Americans in an interview with Robin Roberts of "Good Morning America." In that interview, the President declared: "At a certain point, I've just concluded that-- for me personally, it is important for me to go ahead and affirm that-- I think same-sex couples should be able to get married." The response from faith communities and faith leaders has been varied, and particularly strong opposition has come from some African American clergy. In response to the "spiritual violence" that these pastors have issued through their statements the founding pastor of The Open Church in Baltimore, Dr. Brad Braxton, felt the need to weigh in on this national conversation through a published opinion piece. Wednesday's article by Dr. Braxton in the "On Faith" section of The Washington Post, titled "Same-sex marriage support a sign of love, acceptance and devotion to God," can be found here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/same-sex-marriage-support-a-sign-of-loveacceptance-and-devotion-to-god/2012/05/16/gIQAlkFkTU_story.html. Dr. Braxton is available for comment on this opinion piece via print, radio, or television interviews in order to more fully describe the ways in which he believes that marriage equality is an outgrowth of Christian love and inclusion. ** For interview requests for Dr. Brad Braxton, please contact Heather Cronk, heather.cronk@gmail.com, 202-491-7240.** ###
The Open Church will be a wide space where "Abraham's family" -- Christians, Jews, and Muslims -- can dialogue with Buddhists and Bah's and where Hindus can talk with Humanists. It will be a safe space where those who are hurting, confused, and in need can find healing and hope. The Open Church is where migrant workers, children, seniors, and people experiencing homelessness eagerly enter into worshipful conversation with theological scholars. The Open Church will be a sacred place where heterosexual Christians and lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Christians can peacefully break bread at the Communion Table, as they break down stereotypes and build up the "kin-dom of God."