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As pastor of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Asheville, NC, Joe has long been fighting for LGBTQ equality on both a local and national level. In 2002, Joe’s congregation voted overwhelmingly to become an “open and affirming” church. In 2005 Joe, along with Noel Nickle and Mahan Siler, formed People of Faith for Just Relationships to advocate for marriage equality. Joe came to national prominence in 2006 when he preached a sermon titled “It’s Time for This to Change,” in which he announced he would no longer sign legal state documents for heterosexual marriages until he could do the same for all couples. Joe co-chairs a project for the Center for Diversity Education called Love Makes a Family, assists HRC’s Faith and Religion program, lobbies Washington on behalf of LBGTQ issues, and is on the advisory board for Youth OUTright in Asheville. |
