April 5, 2025 in Florence at "Corner stones" 8 more voices meetings on churches and LGBT+ people
We are sorry to communicate that the enrollments in corner stones was closed having reached the maximum number of participants ...
"The stone that the manufacturers have discarded has become a corner head"(Luke 20, 17-18)
This verse of the Gospel reminds us that what is "discarded" can become the foundation for something extraordinary. Saturday 5 April 2025, from 10 to 18 in Florence, in the theater of the parish of Santa Maria al Pignone, in via Felice Cavallotti 11, will be held Corner stones, a day of comparison of the Cornerstone Project coordinated by La Tenda di Gionata. Corner stones is an opportunity to reflect and confront the welcome of LGBT+Christians, their family members and pastoral workers who accompany them, exploring the challenges to be faced to build more inclusive Catholic and evangelical communities, "more and more sanctuaries of reception and support towards each person affected by discrimination".
Why participate? Because it is an opportunity to contribute to the construction of more open and welcoming communities through:
• listening to testimonies that speak of faith, welcome and courage, showing the inclusion paths already undertaken and possible.
• mutual comparison to discover how theology and study of the Bible and an "open language" can help overcome prejudices and make our Christian communities more inclusive.
PLAN: 8 workshops for a more voices reflection
The day will be open, at 10 hours, from an introductory intervention in plenary of Chiara d'Uritanor, psychologist, psychotherapist and consultor of the dicastery for the clergy, eight workshops will be proposed (four at the same time, from 11 to 13, and four others simultaneously in the afternoon, from 16 to 18) led by several speakers who will try to offer Reflections and experiences to multiple voices:
Morning, 11-13
1. "Plural forms of families and love relationships in theological reflection"WithLetizia Tomassone, Valdese pastora and author of essays on theology and genre.
2. "Children of a minor God? What paths with transgender people?"WithAndrea Conocchia, parish priest, eLuciano Moia, journalist and author of "Children of a minor God? Transgender people and their dignity"(Saint Paul, 2022) with which we will explore the human challenges and the inclusion questions that transgender people ask our Christian communities.
3. "Eros in Sacred Scripture"WithRoberto Massaro, moral theologian and professor, who will deepen the meaning of Eros in the Bible trying to light new ideas for a renewal of sexual ethics.
4. "To impose with responsibility: "Lord you gave me five talents, here are five more (Mt. 25, 14-30)"withPino Piva, Jesuit engaged in pastoral care with Christians LGBT+ and their parents and author of the book "Dignity and responsibility: a path of spiritual liberation for all"(The pilgrim, 2024)
13-14.30, Aporipranzo In the theater premises and open only to the participants, a contribution of 15 euros.
14.30-15.40 Testimonials in plenary
AFTERNOON, 16-18
5. "A spiral path: in the footsteps of diversity"WithElizabeth E. Green, pastora Battista theologian and author of numerous essays including "A spiral path. Feminist theology: the last decade"(Claudiana, 2020), with whom we will reflect on the contribution of diversity on the path of our Christian communities.
6. "Inclusive language. The names of the human rainbow"WithReal gheno, socio-linguist and author of"Call me like this: normality, diversity and all words in the middle"(The margin, 2023); To discuss a conscious use of language in an inclusive key.
7. "Walking with responsibility: the experience of Queer Christians in the service of the Church"By theLGBT+ Young Christian Projectwith the groupKairos Young of Florence
8. “Build Inclusive Catholic pastorals: experiences in progress"with the managers of theIn progress pastoral initiativesin diocese ofBologna,Chiavari is Florence.
Where and when: Saturday 5 April 2025, from 10 to 18, Theater of the parish of Santa Maria al Pignone, Via Felice Cavallotti 11, Florence (reachable by car or with the tramway from the Santa Maria Novella railway station, Porta Prato stop, then 5 minutes on foot).
Mandatory registration subject to availability (maximum 100 participants).
The Cornerstone project is coordinated byLa Tenda di Gionata, an association that deals with reception and support for LGBT+believers in Italy, their family members and pastoral operators who accompany them, and is supported by: laFaith, Gender and Sexuality Commission of the Baptist, Methodist and Waldensian churchesand fromItalian Evangelical Youth Federation(Fgei) and some Christian realities of different parts of the world:Drachma Malta, Global Network of Rainbow Catholics, China Catholic Rainbow Community(China) eRainbow Home of Seven Sisters – RHOSS(India).
The 2025 edition of Cornerstone project it is co-financed by the bottomEight Per Thousand of the Valdese Church (OPM/2024/47240)
