| 2 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Reverend Dr. Neil G. Cazares-Thomas has been a |
|---|
| 6 | 7 | | leader in the fight for social justice for members of the LGBTQIA+ |
|---|
| 7 | 8 | | communities in Texas, and his efforts have made a positive |
|---|
| 8 | 9 | | difference in numerous lives; and |
|---|
| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Since 2015, Reverend Cazares-Thomas has been the |
|---|
| 10 | 11 | | senior pastor at Cathedral of Hope in Dallas, which is a member of |
|---|
| 11 | 12 | | the United Church of Christ and one of the largest predominately |
|---|
| 12 | 13 | | LGBTQIA+ churches in the nation; since 1981, he has been a member of |
|---|
| 13 | 14 | | Metropolitan Community Churches, a movement made up of LGBTQIA+ |
|---|
| 14 | 15 | | affirming congregations, and he previously served as senior pastor |
|---|
| 15 | 16 | | of MCC churches in Bournemouth, England, and Los Angeles, |
|---|
| 16 | 17 | | California; and |
|---|
| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Throughout his career, Reverend Cazares-Thomas has |
|---|
| 18 | 19 | | spoken out against the bigotry that many religious organizations |
|---|
| 19 | 20 | | express toward members of the LGBTQIA+ communities; in addition, he |
|---|
| 20 | 21 | | has played a vital role in establishing programs for unhoused |
|---|
| 21 | 22 | | people, night and day shelters, safe sex initiatives, and LGBTQ |
|---|
| 22 | 23 | | youth services, and he helped found a drop-in counseling center |
|---|
| 23 | 24 | | during the AIDS pandemic; and |
|---|
| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, A native of Bournemouth, Reverend Cazares-Thomas |
|---|
| 25 | 26 | | attended St. John's Theological College, La Saint Union, and King |
|---|
| 26 | 27 | | Alfred's College, and he earned his doctorate of ministry from San |
|---|
| 27 | 28 | | Francisco Theological Seminary in 2009; he has chaired the Ordained |
|---|
| 28 | 29 | | Ministries European District board and served as a member of the |
|---|
| 29 | 30 | | Elder's Task Force on Education, the European District Committee, |
|---|
| 30 | 31 | | and the board of Samaritan College, among other leadership roles; |
|---|
| 31 | 32 | | and |
|---|
| 32 | 33 | | WHEREAS, Reverend Cazares-Thomas is a recipient of many |
|---|
| 33 | 34 | | honors, including the 2018 Justice Seeker of the Year Award from the |
|---|
| 34 | 35 | | Dallas Peace and Justice Center, the 2017 Shalom Award from the |
|---|
| 35 | 36 | | Temple Shalom Brotherhood, the 2017 Partners for Equality Award |
|---|
| 36 | 37 | | from Lambda Legal, the 2016 Crystal Hope Award from AIDS Interfaith |
|---|
| 37 | 38 | | Network, the 2012 Leadership Award from California Faith for |
|---|
| 38 | 39 | | Equality, and the 2010 Harvey Milk Award; and |
|---|
| 39 | 40 | | WHEREAS, Through his myriad endeavors, Reverend |
|---|
| 40 | 41 | | Cazares-Thomas has helped further inclusion and equality in the |
|---|
| 41 | 42 | | Lone Star State, and he may indeed reflect with pride on his many |
|---|
| 42 | 43 | | noteworthy accomplishments; now, therefore, be it |
|---|
| 43 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
|---|
| 44 | 45 | | Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby commend the Reverend |
|---|
| 45 | 46 | | Dr. Neil G. Cazares-Thomas for his service to the LGBTQIA+ |
|---|
| 46 | 47 | | communities of Texas and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
|---|
| 47 | 48 | | continued success in his important work; and, be it further |
|---|
| 48 | 49 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
|---|
| 49 | 50 | | prepared for Reverend Cazares-Thomas as an expression of high |
|---|
| 50 | 51 | | regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
|---|