opinion
letter to the editor
Reader Defends Gail Burnaford Against ‘Unfounded’ Accusations Dear SFGN, As a reader of your paper, a supporter of the LGBTQ community, and an advocate for the rights of all people, I must take issue with your article on the so-called firing of Professor Robb Kvasnak, because he is gay [Unequal Opportunity: FAU professor claims getting booted for being gay, June 27, 2013, Vol. 4, Issue 26]. While I do not know Mr. Kvasnak or his work, I do know Dr. Gail Burnaford. It is simply bad reporting to even suggest that
Gail Burnaford Photo courtesy of Florida Atlantic University
Mr. Kvasnak’s firing was because of Dr. Burnaford’s “homophobia” or “faith.” I came to know Dr. Burnaford almost seven years ago when she joined the Coral Gables United Church of Christ, of which I am the senior pastor. We are a congregation of the United Church of Christ (UCC), a denomination that ordained the first openly-gay pastor in 1972. The UCC has been and continues to be a constant advocate for the rights of all people, regardless of sexual orientation. In 2005, we were the first mainline denomination to support gay marriage. Coral Gables United Church of Christ is a beacon of light for those seeking a faith home in the Miami area who have been excluded from other churches because of their sexual orientation. As a church, we have taken strong and bold stands in the belief that all people, regardless of where they are on life’s journey or with whom they walk that journey, are loved by God just as they are, and should be welcomed and affirmed in the life of the church. We witness to these things by participating in every single Pride Parade in Miami. We perform Holy Unions and bless weddings of same-gendered couples. We constantly
promote and provide programs, Bible studies, and other gatherings which articulate our message of acceptance and welcome and differentiate us from those who use the Bible and their faith as a weapon against the LGBTQ community. Dr. Burnaford made a commitment to join this particular church because of our stand on justice, peace, openness, and welcome to all. She travels well over two hours each Sunday from her home in Boca Raton, passing hundreds of churches to attend and participate in a faith community which is open and affirming to all. Your facts are also not correct in suggesting that she is a protestant minister. This is simply not true. She did graduate with an MA from Lancaster Theological Seminary, a seminary of the United Church of Christ, which offers courses including Queer Theology, Liberation Theology, and Feminist Theology. It is one of the most progressive, open-minded, and theologically liberal seminaries in the nation. I grieve with the statistics that the article presented about our gay and lesbian brothers and sisters who have lost their jobs based on their sexual orientation. I am appalled that there is not better protection for those who
are discriminated against, simply because of who they are. I am sad about these facts that present the economic disparity that exists. I can assure you that, if indeed discrimination had taken place in this situation, Dr. Burnaford would have been the first to fight against such an injustice. And, I would be right behind her, as would the members of our congregation. Please do not attempt to take down good people who are advocates for the very positions that you stand for as a paper. Let’s work together to eliminate discrimination and injustice, but not on the back of misinformation and that which is untrue. The Rev. Dr. Laurinda Hafner Senior Pastor Coral Gables United Church of Christ [Editor’s Note: A couple of readers have stated that Gail Burnaford is not a Protestant Minister. But according to Burnaford herself, she is a minister. From the reporter: “I wrote the sentence the exact way that I confirmed it with Burnaford. She took a sabbatical in 2012 to become a Protestant minister. Maybe she’s not practicing as a minister at the moment (since she’s back at FAU).”]
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5/10/2013 5:40:28 PM