At the gates of the Christian Community Identity

By Artur Vieira*

LGBTQIA+ couples are increasingly emerging, coming out of hiding and revealing themselves in the construction of different family models. They now have equal rights to heterosexuals, and until a few years ago they were marked by a linearly heteronormative society in their “standard” of family construction. And a beautiful example of this is the couple of evangelical pastors Cleiri Irade and Dárfini Duarte, who have been together for seven years and are expecting the arrival of their first child, Ravi.

They tried to get pregnant five times. They chose home insemination, a method that is not very well-known because it is low-cost: you find a trustworthy donor with up-to-date tests and insert the donor’s sperm into the woman’s uterus, without having sex. To do this, a syringe is used, and the procedure is done without the help of health professionals. Many couples, including heterosexuals, have opted for this type of insemination.

Entering her eighth month of pregnancy, Cleiri feels completely fulfilled by the couple’s long-held dream of becoming mothers. They have not ruled out the possibility of adoption in the future, as they plan to expand their family. “We lesbians are victims of sexism in all spheres,” says Cleiri.

Realizing the need to open a faith community that would be led by women and combat the sexist and patriarchal religious fundamentalism that dominates Brazilian evangelicals, the two were motivated by a group of friends who recognized in them the leadership for such a feat (after a few months of intimate prayer meetings held weekly in some homes); they opened the doors of their own church in the Federal District in September of last year, with the aim of welcoming and celebrating the queer community.

Under the name Comunidade Cristã Identidade, the church pastored by them was born with a difference in several aspects, not only for using inclusive theology and establishing itself as an evangelical Christian church; but also for prioritizing social action and raising awareness among its members that the gospel is totally linked to helping others.

First Year of ID Church
The church will celebrate its first year next month and is so different that even the way it handles its finances surprises all its members and visitors: it leaves the destination of the funds raised transparently exposed – which makes it a beautiful example that could be followed by other religious leaders who insist on hiding the values ​​and high salaries of their leaders from their members.

“In our church, there is no separate time for tithing. We do not believe in collecting money through manipulation.

Well-known figures in this journey of bringing biblical teachings to the LGBT+ community and combating religious homophobia and transphobia, the two were known for years as leaders of same-sex couples. Today, they are increasingly gaining a place of reference in the lives of other lesbian women, being invited to speak and minister in other religious institutions in the Midwest of our country.

And in September, the liturgical program will be different, with special guests every Sunday, such as: the speaker and writer Keila Guedes, the pastor and activist Wall Moraes, a reference in the black women’s movement, the participation of the leadership of the renowned community of Goiânia: Refúgio Brasil, among others. And to boost the celebrations of the next month, on August 30th the church will have the participation of the famous and controversial Pastor Berlofa.

To see their work, visit Instagram: @idnarede

*Artur Vieira is a Christian, gay and journalist who has worked with the LGBT+ public since 2013 on the internet with the profile @devoltaaoreino.