LGBT-Affirming Spiritual Org. Has Its Eyes on Buying Harlem Hate Church

Two worthy LGBT-focused organizations are proving that great minds do indeed think alike.

While the Ali Forney Center, a group for at risk LGBT youth, collects online donations to secure the property of the auction block-bound Atlah World Missionary Church in Harlem, a local spiritual organization with a history of LGBT inclusiveness and activism also has eyes to purchase the property.

Rivers of Living Waters, a ministry that has become a place of refuge for LGBT Christians is also attempting to raise $1.2 million�to purchase the Atlah Church to transform the community space into one which they feel truly embodies Christian values.�
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ROLW touts itself as being "radically inclusive and open and affirming" of the SGL/LGBTI community. Currently, the organization, which was founded in 2007, holds services in the basement of St Paul and Saint Andrews United Methodist Church (263 West 86th Street) on the Upper West Side.�They would like to establish a permanent residence in Harlem, but admit that the effort has "become a long, arduous, and increasingly costly process."�

Moreover, embracing the LGBT community has come at a cost for ROLW.�Senior pastor Vanessa Brown says that because black religious organizations still largely condemn homosexuality, she has had trouble finding a proper space for her congregation to worship.�

In its short history, ROLW has become a small but dedicated force for LGBT issues. In 2013, Pastor Vanessa Brown delivered the eulogy for murdered transgender aspiring model Islan Nettles. The organization provides HIV outreach and counseling services at home and fights for the rights of LGBT individuals in the African nations of Ghana, Rwanda and Kenya. Pastor Brown has participated in numerous protests against Reverend Manning and his Atlah Church.

A GoFundMe campaign has been set up and has raised $17,556 to date.