I was blown away by the power of the down home hand-clapping/toe-tapping gospel choir and the old time fiery gospel preacher delivering an uplifting message of acceptance and healing, at the inaugural service tucked away in an inconspicuous building on Main Street, late last summer. Founded by the Reverend Gerald T. Williams from Harlem, New York, the church is based in what Unity Fellowship calls liberation theology. This concept, according to Williams, brings about freedom and healing, “empowering those who have been oppressed and made to feel ashamed.” The doctrine approaches scriptures with a very critical mindset that does not take every single word in the bible literally. Perhaps the most controversial philosophy within liberation theology is the assertion that “gayness” is of God, and not an abomination. Armed with scriptures and driven by a quest for freedom, this small fellowship is making a few waves in the religious community of Buffalo. “God is Love and Love is for everyone.” Expounds Reverend Williams, “not in spite of, but because of who we are.” It was that type of openness and acceptance that drew Williams to the Unity Fellowship Church Movement some 15 years ago.

The Unity Fellowship Church Movement (UFCM) was founded in Los Angeles, California in 1982 by Archbishop Carl Bean primarily for openly gay and lesbian African Americans, but on any given Sunday an array of cultural backgrounds is represented in the pews. Today, the UFCM is a separate distinct denomination backed by an established leadership structure and theological base. Caucasian, Hispanic, Native American and African American members come together to worship in 13 churches throughout the United States.

Reverend Williams had grown up in a Baptist church, but there were messages about sexuality that conflicted with feelings developing inside of him. Although he was very active in the church and eventually sought a call to ministry, Williams found himself being pulled toward sexual expression with men as a young minister. He began to allow himself to be picked up by strangers driving around Manhattan and felt tremendous guilt and shame after those encounters. Trying his best to fight those urges and not let the “gay spirit” take over, he decided to get married. But even with a daughter resulting from that union, Reverend Williams still found himself plagued with dreams and attractions for men, which eventually lead him to leave his family and the church, embracing the gay lifestyle.

In April of 1993 Williams attended a meeting for Gay Men of African Descent in New York and heard mention of a new “gay” church service at that center. He describes the experience with his first service at the Unity Fellowship of Christ Church of Harlem like coming home and being met by a spirit at the door. That same spirit ultimately led the Reverend to found the Unity Fellowship of Christ Church of Buffalo, where each Sunday GLBT men and women of diverse cultural backgrounds are given a message of hope and a promise of freedom.

In addition to the weekly 3pm services on Sundays at 1420 Main Street near Utica, UFCC Buffalo plans to offer faith based health education programs for the chemically dependent and persons living with HIV/AIDS; and programs to fight social injustice, including bans on same sex marriage. The Unity Fellowship Church Movement in Buffalo also has plans for outreach programs to combat poverty and increase financial literacy. For more information about the Unity Fellowship of Christ Church of Buffalo contact Reverend Gerald T. Williams at 884-0851 or via email at geraldw102@aol.com. —Donald Richardson, Jr.