Rev. Karla Fleshman
In her own words:
"I feel a deep passion and compassion for matters pertaining to social justice. I see how the evil of heterosexism is influenced by sexism, which is influenced by racism and on and on. When one person is oppressed we are all oppressed. When one person is hungry we are all hungry.
In my earlier days when I marched with Act-Up, I would chant the 'Body of Christ as AIDS!' It was my effort to get church folk to wake up and realize that when Jesus said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because God has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. God has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor' (Luke 4:18-19) that he was speaking about everyone, including Queer Folk and people with HIV.
I have never lost my zeal to see people liberated from the chains of church dogma and social stigma. I yearn to and am inspired to aide people on their journey to spiritual (re)awakenings and (re)connections to a community of faith. I take joy in watching people develop their God-given gifts and put those gifts to use helping people within and beyond the church.
I also enjoy working with and walking the journey along side persons of other faith traditions. What a joy to celebrate together the diversity of our faith, our sexual orientations, our ages, abilities, gender identities, ethnicities, and political affiliations (to name a few ways we are so diverse). What a witness it is for a rainbow people to come together in celebration, support, and service to one another.
I feel blessed to be journeying with Imago Dei MCC at this time in my life. We truly are a Christian church that seeks to embody so much of the good stuff put forward by Jesus of Nazareth. I take a humble pride in putting my gifts to use through the people of Imago Dei MCC, who are the church!
If there is one passage of scripture that communicates my calling it would be from Ephesians 4:12ff: 'To equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ, until all of us come to the unity of the Child of God, to maturity, to the measure of the full stature of Christ. We must no longer be children, tossed to and fro and blown about by every wind of doctrine, by people's trickery, by their craftiness in deceitful scheming. But by speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way…knitted together by every ligament with which [the Body of Christ] is equipped, as each part is working properly, promotes the body's growth in building itself up in LOVE!'"
Education
Rev. Fleshman is a graduate of Columbia Theological Seminary in Decatur, GA with her Master in Divinity Degree (1999). She is also a graduate of the University of Maryland at Baltimore School of Social Work with her Master in Social Work (1991). Special areas of study include: Church Planting and Leadership Development.
Scholarships and Awards
1996 - 1999 Honors Scholarship, Columbia Theological Seminary (Full Tuition)
1998 Ludwig Richard Max Dewitz Old Testament Studies Award
Publications
Understanding & Dealing with Spiritual Violence: Preaching, Testifying & Ghandi's Satyagrapha as Tools in the Queer Social Justice Movement in Understanding and Dealing With Violence: A Multicultural Approach, edited by Wallace and Carter, SAGE Publishers (publication date tentative for Winter, 2003)
Experiences
Church
Imago Dei MCC - March 2000 to present
Rev. Karla, upon graduation from seminary, began the work in starting a new church. In March 2000 she began holding meetings regarding starting a new church. By March 2001, Imago Dei MCC began to worship.
Church Planting Program Specialist of Metropolitan Community Churches – November 2006 to present
Rev Karla has a passion for church planting and works throughout the Fellowship creating a culture of church planting while coaching new church planters (currently in Nigeria, Dominican Republic, Scotland, across the United States and throughout Central/South America)
Christ Covenant MCC - July 1996 to May 1999
While attending seminary, Rev. Karla was an active member of Christ Covenant. She also completed a one year internship while there.
MCC Baltimore - February 1991 to June 1999
Secular
Chase Brexton Health Services - March 1992 to June 1996
Rev. Karla was the Case Management Coordinator of this Not-For-Profit Outpatient Health Services Provider offering care to the HIV infected/affected community of Maryland. She supervised a staff of ten FTE/PTE/Students during her tenure, while her department offered assistance to a caseload of approximately 700 clients.
Greenspring Pediatrics - September 1990 to February 1992
Rev. Karla provided case management services to women and children infected/affected by HIV.
Community Service
Church
Current
Member, International Judiciary Team of MCC
Member, Regional Clergy Interview Team of MCC
Past
Member, MCC District Three District Committee
Community
Current
Volunteer, Youth Health Empowerment Project, Philadelphia – Monthly Discussion on “Empowering Your Spirit”
Member, Value All Families Coalition facilitated by the Center for Lesbian & Gay Civil Rights
Member, Delaware County Chamber of Commerce
Member, Women's Clergy Ministerial of Media, PA
Member, YES Coalition
Past
Member of Worship Planning Team, WOW Conference 2003 Philadelphia, PA
Member, Soulforce, Inc.
Member, Act-Up
Member, Lesbian Avengers
Guest Speaker to Haverford College
Guest Speaker, Chester County Pride, Inc - training on non-violence
Guest Speaker to West Chester University
Guest Speaker to the University of Delaware
Guest Speaker to Penn State Delaware County Campus
Guest Speaker to Unitarian Universalist Church of Delaware County
Presentations
Church Related:
- Church Planting Institute (Track 1 & 2) Program Planner UFMCC General Conference 2007 Scottsdale, AR (July, 2007)
- “Youth, Sexuality, HIV & Religion” 13th Annual AIDS Education Month Prevention Summit Philadelphia, PA (June, 2007)
- “Creating a Transformative Community” Religion & Transgender: Being Loved, Becoming Whole Glen Mills, PA (May 2007)
- “Sexuality & the Sacred” Equality Forum Philadelphia, PA (May, 2007)
“Love, Sex, Drugs and…Spirit?” Co-presenter at LGBTI Health Summit 2007 Philadelphia, PA (March, 2007) - "One Day Church Planting Institute" General Conference, Calgary, Canada (July, 2005)
- "Feed Yourself: Personal Spiritual Development" Vision of Hope MCC, Mountville, PA (May, 2005)
- "Gay Marriage: Why It Matters" Equality Forum, Philadelphia, PA (May, 2005)
- "How to Fend off the Bible Thumpers" Equality Forum, Philadelphia, PA (May, 2004)
- Guest Preacher, General Conference, Dallas, Texas (July, 2003)
- "One Day Church Planting Institute", General Conference, Dallas, Texas (July, 2003)
- "Glocal Ministry" at Regional Conference, VA (August, 2002)
- "The Adventures of a Queer Christian at Columbia Theological Seminary" Gay & Straight Alliance, Princeton Theological Seminary, NJ (April, 2002)
- "Sharing My Story: Queer & Christian" Penn State, Delaware County, PA (November, 2001)
- "Sharing My Story: Queer & Christian" West Chester University, PA (October, 2001)
- "Queering the Bible" YES Conference, Philadelphia, PA (October, 2001)
- "A Spiritual Journey: Gay & Christian" Bucks County Spiritual Voices, PA (October 2000 & October 2001)
- "Being Queer & Christians" Renaissance, Wayne, PA (August 2000 & July 2001)
- "Doing Justice in the Day to Day" Mid Atlantic District Spring Conference 2000, VA (May, 2000)
Prior Social Work Related Presentations:
- "HIV/AIDS Social Injustice & The Role of the Social Worker". Senior Social Work Seminar at Elizabethtown College, PA (March, 1996).
- Fleshman, K and Ruby, K. "Understanding the Psychosocial Dynamics of HIV/AIDS and the Multiplicity of Service Delivery". Social Work Field Instructors at University of Maryland Baltimore County, MD. CEU Credits (February, 1996).
- "Social Security & HIV/AIDS". Coalition of Providers Conference, MD (December, 1995).
- Fleshman, K and Carrot, C. "The ABC's of HIV Medical & Case Management". Prudential Health Care Plan: Nurses & Social Work Staff, MD. (May, 1995).
- "Role of Case Managers in HIV/AIDS". Catholic Charities Shelter Program Staff, MD . Two part Series (January & March, 1995).
- "HIV Transmission: Facts & Fiction". Social Security Staff Mondawmin Office, MD. Two-part Series ( December, 1994; January, 1995).
- "Case Managers & HIV/AIDS". Coalition of Providers Conference, MD (December, 1994).
- "HIV Infected Women: The Needs, The Resources". Department of Social Services, Foster Care Unit, MD. (December, 1993).
- "HIV/AIDS What You Need To Know for Your Child & Yourself'. Family Start Transitional Housing Day Program: Clients & Staff. (January, 1993)
- "HIV/AIDS & Social Work Intervention". Pennsylvania Association of Undergraduate Social Work Education Conference, PA. (November, 1991)
- "HIV Infected Parents & Children with AIDS". Family & Children Services of Central Maryland Foster Grandparent Program, MD. (April, 1991).
