[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 174 (Monday, December 5, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1585]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      HONORING CITY OF REFUGE UCC

                                  _____
                                 

                            HON. BARBARA LEE

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, December 5, 2016

  Ms. LEE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the City of Refuge UCC 
upon its 25th anniversary for its legacy of promoting community 
building, inclusion, and faith in the Bay Area.
  First established in San Francisco, the City of Refuge was founded in 
1991 by a group of primarily gay and lesbian Christians with the goal 
of establishing a church that did not adhere to the exclusion of people 
based on gender or sexual orientation. Three years later in 1994, the 
City of Refuge joined the United Church of Christ (UCC) and became 
incorporated with over 5,000 churches worldwide working to uphold the 
denomination's commitment to social justice.
  Founder and Senior Pastor Reverend Dr. Yvette A. Flunder has been 
nationally recognized for her work to promote the inclusion of gay and 
lesbian parishioners and to minister to their specific needs. In 
response to the AIDS epidemic, Rev. Dr. Flunder established the Ark of 
Refuge, a non-profit organization that provided direct services to 
homeless and low-income individuals, and also created the Hazard-Ashley 
House and Walker House in Oakland as a means to provide housing 
services, education, and training for people affected by HIV/AIDS. In 
2000, she created the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, a network of 
more than 100 primarily African American churches around the world that 
work to promote ``radical inclusivity'', whereby the ministry is open 
to all without prejudice or discrimination.
  In 2013 the City of Refuge UCC relocated to Oakland. Through the hard 
work and dedication of the ministry, staff, and congregation, community 
members and in particular women, immigrants, and those who identify as 
LGBTQ, have found a safe space for self-expression, belonging, and 
religious participation. Through the Church's various ministries, this 
community provides support for those needing help addressing substance 
abuse, homelessness, HIV/AIDS treatment, and environmental justice.
  On behalf of California's 13th Congressional District, I would like 
to congratulate the City of Refuge UCC on this important milestone, and 
thank the community for the many valuable services that they provide to 
those in need. I wish the congregation continued success in upholding 
its commitment to social justice and expanding the radical inclusivity 
that has come to be the City of Refuge's hallmark.

                          ____________________