A new voice for One Voice
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Noted . Notable . Noteworthy . LGBT News & Views
Volume 23 . Number 09 September 6.2008 Printed on Recycled Paper FREE
AIvMMS COA^pVCM^^S^
Jay Bakker talks about his ministry, LGBT inclusion and his parents* impact on his life
exclusive
q-noteSoCom
by Matt Comer. Q-Notes staff
don’t think I’ve interviewed a more laidback
person than Jay Bakker. Sitting at my desk,
1 safe from the sweltering humidity of what
Jay Bakker: ‘We are to be known for loving each other and
how we treat each other. To me that is really powerful.’
had to be one of the hottest days all summer, 1
dialed Bakker’s cell phone number at our
Performing
activist
Fights HIV
discrimination
page 36
scheduled time to chat.
“Hi, Jay Bakker?”! inquired.
“Yes,” the voice on the other end replied.
“I’m Matt Comer, with Q-Notes in
Charlotte. Is this a good time?”
“Well... I need to finish
up some laundry. Can I
cdl you back in about 15
minutes,” Bakker asked
with a slight laugh.
The young and vibrant
Christian leader — who
many folks still remem
ber as “Jamie,” the even
younger son of influential
televangelists Jim Bakker
and the late Tammy Faye
(Bakker) Messner on
“The PTL Club” — has an
easygoing attitude that
extends far beyond his
casual relations with the
media. The way he lives
his life and performs his
ministry have made him
the beau idial of a grow
ing movement that
eschews the pent-up,
pinched-off attitude of
old-time religion.
As one of the founders
of Revolution Church —
with congregations in
Atlanta, New York City and
Charlotte — Bakker has
taken traditional
Christianity by storm.
Like the Biblical voice cry
ing out in the wilderness,
he beckons those deemed
unworthy by conservative
evangelical leaders into a
faith community free
from condemnation, judg
ment and cold shoulders.
It’s no surprise that his
radically inclusive and
unorthodox approach to worship and fellow
ship have drawn ire from his conservative
‘Naked’
censorship
S.C. paper denies
‘Naked Boys Singing'
page 29
peers — who are more than willing to con
tinue their adherence to doctrine and dogma
that excludes far more often than it embraces.
Bakker’s work with Soulforce, a national
interfaith organization fighting “spiritual vio
lence” and religious prejudice, has led him to
join with LGBT families to visit some of
America’s largest and most conservative
mega-churches and their charismatic leaders.
During the latter half of this month, just
prior to his arrival in Durham for the NC
Pride Pest and Parade, Bakker will work with
Soulforce and its Seven Straight Nights for
Equality national organizing event.
In the following interview with Q-Notes,
Bakker opens up about the impact the PTL
scandal had on his life, the lessons he learned
from his father and recently departed mother,
his ministry and the inclusion of LGBT people
in the life of the Church.
Tell me a bit about your history with
Revolution Church. Where did the idea
come from? How did it get started?
Revolution was started in 1994 by me and two
friends in Arizona, so I’ve been doing
Revolution for a while now. We’ve done it in
Arizona and LA. and Atlanta and now I’ve been
in Brooklyn for two years. We meet in a bar here
every Sunday at 4 p.m. It really is a ministry for
people who may feel like they’ve been outcast
from church or feel they don’t belong or maybe
they’re just a little bit different.
Your churches in Atlanta, Charlotte
and New York have made efforts to
reach out to communities that have
often been ignored by the traditional
church. Where do you see the LGBT
community fitting into the life of
see Bakker on 18
South Carolina drags it out
RuPaul will headline SC Pride
Sept. 20
exclusive
On a recent trip to Washington, D.C., my
friend pried me out of his apartment the
evening I stepped off the long train ride
through Carolina and Virginia to attend a
“Project Runway” party put on with fabu
lous D.C. gay style. The great RuPaul sat as
a judge as designers fought the clock —
and the every whim of their drag perform
ers’ wishes — to create the best and most
imaginative drag outfits.
Just days later I found myself sitting
right back in my Charlotte office speaking
over the phone with RuPaul at her offices
on West Coast. Since her last exclusive
interview with Q-Notes, the nationally-
renowned drag performer has been busy
with movie and TV appearances, including
see RuPaul on 28
r~
V.
Dangerous
liaison
H/y-f Raleigh man
pleads guilty
page 23