History of Evangelicals Concerned Western Region

Evangelicals Concerned (EC, Inc.) is one of the many new Christian groups and churches which has emerged since the advent of the gay liberation movement.

While both minister primarily to gays and lesbians, there are some significant differences between the two types of organizations. Churches provide regular worship services, Bible studies, ministerial services, deacons, elders, ministers, and additional offices of a church. In contrast, EC is self-defined as "a fellowship and task force for gay and lesbian Christians and their friends." This leaves a lot of room for interpretation and for choices of activities by local groups.

In 1975, the First National Conference Series on Homosexuality for the Mental Health and Helping Professions was sponsored by the Homosexual Counseling Journal. Psychotherapist Ralph Blair, the founding editor of the HCJ, conducted the series and spoke at the one-day meetings in 14 major cities throughout the nation, repeating the series the following year in 14 additional cities. While speaking in Kansas City in March, 1975, Dr. Blair met with a nationally prominent evangelical leader who was struggling with his own homosexuality. This man met again with Dr. Blair in the summer, in New York City. It was at that second meeting in a midtown restaurant that their conversation focused on the needs of other isolated evangelical gay men and lesbians around the country. Dr. Blair then called for the founding meeting of Evangelicals Concerned to coincide with the next national convention of the National Association of Evangelicals. The NAE was to meet in Washington, DC in February 1976.

In 1972, Dr. Blair had written An Evangelical Look at Homosexuality for the Otherwise Monograph Series. He had advertised it in The Advocate, a gay newspaper based in California with a national readership. It was on the basis of the list of those who had requested that booklet that he issued the invitations to the founding meetings in Washington. They were held in a conference room at the Sheraton Hotel, across the street from the NAE’s convention. Flyers were distributed at the NAE’s Sheraton Hotel. Those on the mailing list who could not attend the meetings were informed of the founding of the new organization and the first local EC groups were then established around the country.

Dr. Blair continues to have a full schedule of speaking engagements on the topic of homosexuality and Christianity. He publishes two quarterly newsletters: RECORD, regarding news of homosexuality and religion as well as a report of EC events and activities around the country; and REVIEW, a commentary on pertinent books, articles, and other publications.
He also publishes pamphlets, fliers, and articles which are very helpful in maintaining a dialogue with the evangelical world, and in dealing with the Christian homosexual controversy.

The local EC groups in the West- Denver, Phoenix, Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Jose, San Rafael, and Seattle were evangelical and independent of one another when they were started in the last half of the 1970’s. Each group grew and developed programs in response to local needs and the desires of the local leadership. Communication among these groups was minimal until the 1980 Western ConnECtion (#1).

The Los Angeles group sponsored ConnECtion 1980, held near Healdsburg, California. Over 75 brave souls attended this rustic conference at Bishop’s Ranch. Keynoters were Rosalind Rinker, Phyllis Hart, and Ralph Blair. At this conference 75 local EC leaders got to know one another, developed an atmosphere of cooperation and the basis of the organization in the "Western Region." By 1982, this information network was formalized in Seattle, Washington.

The newly incorporated "Evangelicals Concerned Western Regional Fellowship" soon applied for and received tax-exempt status. After trying various names and acronyms for the local groups and for the region as a whole, the local groups decided on EC (with a local identifier such as EC Seattle, ECSF, etc.) with the region known as ECWR.

The Western ConnECtion continued as an annual conference and grew to include visitors from the East coast, though eastern and Midwestern ConnECtions also began in 1980. The western ConnECtion was held in California every year until 1989 when it began to rotate around the region to offer greater access to local people. Seattle was chosen to host the first non-Californian ConnECtion in remembrance of the birthplace of the corporation.

Like any new corporation, ECWR has experienced growing pains in the areas of personnel, finances, policy, planning, and identification. With the formation of the nine-member Board of Directors, these problematic areas have been addressed and tremendous growth and stability has resulted.
ECWR is a "fellowship and task force for gay and lesbian Christians and their friends." The Articles of Incorporation state: "The purposes for which the corporation is organized are:

• To propagate the gospel of Jesus Christ;
• To promote Christian worship and fellowship; and
• To propagate Christian education, discipleship, charity and community.
• To help gay and lesbian Christians reconcile their faith with their sexuality.

The Statement of Faith is based on that of the NAE, Apostles and Nicene Creeds.

ConnECtion History

ConnECtion is a four day retreat experience with other gay/lesbian Christians from the US, Canada & beyond.

In addition to the keynote addresses, we participate in song and worship, family groups made up of a small number of men and women, workshops on various subjects, time to play and talk, and opportunities to reflect on our experiences. Whether you are new or old as a Christian and regardless of where you are on your journey of integrating your spirituality and orientation, this is always a rich and rewarding weekend.

Locations Of ECWR ConnECtion Conferences
1980 Bishop’s Ranch, CA
1981, 1982 Mount Toyon, CA
1983, 1984, 1985 San Juan Bautista, CA
1986, 1987 U.C. Santa Cruz, CA
1988 University of Santa Clara, CA
1989 University of Puget Sound, WA
1990 San Francisco State Univ., CA
1991 Denver, CO
1992 Chapman University, CA
1993 Mills College, CA
1994 Chapman University, CA
1995 Mills College, CA
1996, 1997, 1998 Chapman University, CA
1999 University of Puget Sound, WA
2000 Pacific Lutheran University, WA
2001 Denver University, CO
2002 Chapman University, CA
2003 San Diego State University, CA
2004 Chapman University, CA

2005 San Francisco State University

2006 Reed College, Portland, OR