Hey Luvs, it’s your girl Cerinass. Get ready to feel the Holy Spirit of Radical Inclusion because today, we’re shouting from the pulpit for a truly anointed Black queer icon. When you think of a Bishop in the Black church, you might think of tradition, or maybe even judgment. But I want you to clear your mind and picture Bishop Yvette Flunder: a woman with a powerhouse alto voice, a Doctor of Ministry degree, and a mission to tell the world that God loves all of us—no exceptions!
We are talking about the phenomenal Bishop Yvette Flunder!
Bishop Yvette (born Yvette A. Flunder) didn’t just break the mold; she took the pieces of the old, judgmental church and rebuilt it into a safe, affirming sanctuary for everyone. A Black lesbian woman who is a celebrated gospel singer, pastor, and bishop—that’s what I call a triple threat!
Table of Contents
From Pentecostal Roots to Radical Theology
Bishop Flunder’s story starts in the womb of the Black church, specifically the very traditional, Pentecostal Church of God in Christ (COGIC). She’s a third-generation preacher and a celebrated gospel artist, having recorded with legends like Walter Hawkins. She was steeped in the tradition, but as an openly lesbian woman, she faced the devastating reality of a church that would love her voice but condemn her love.
She saw the pain and disconnection, and like any good revolutionary, she decided to create her own spiritual space.
Building a Refuge at the Edge
As a Black lesbian bishop, she faced immense opposition from traditional Black church leaders who clung to patriarchy and homophobia. She was a woman in a men’s world, a lesbian in a straight world, and a liberator in a world of judgment. She persevered, refusing to compromise her identity or her inclusive theology.
In the mid-’80s, when the AIDS epidemic was decimating the queer community and the church largely stayed silent or condemned victims, Bishop Flunder was on the front lines. She founded the Ark of Refuge, Inc., a non-profit that provided housing, direct services, and care for people affected by HIV/AIDS, particularly in the Black community. She literally put a roof over the heads of people who had been disowned and discarded.
In 1991, she founded the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in San Francisco. The name says it all, honey! It wasn’t just a church; it was a safe haven. Bishop Flunder’s ministry became fiercely dedicated to a theology she calls Radical Inclusion—a bold and necessary message that says everyone is welcome at the table, especially those pushed to the edges.
The Fellowship: Spreading the Gospel of Love
Bishop Flunder didn’t stop at her own church. In 2003, she was consecrated as the Presiding Bishop of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries, a multi-denominational coalition of over 110 churches worldwide!
She gave other affirming Black and queer clergy a network of support, showing them that they didn’t have to choose between their faith and their identity. She wrote the book, literally, on her theology, Where the Edge Gathers: A Theology and Homiletic of Radical Inclusion, cementing her place as a theological powerhouse.
Cerinass’ Takeaway
Bishop Yvette Flunder shows us that your truth is your anointing. She took the condemnation of the church and turned it into a calling. She took the pain of the AIDS crisis and turned it into care. She took her beautiful Black, queer identity and turned it into a bishopric that affirms life!
For those of us in the queer community, especially those of us who have felt rejected by faith or family: your holiness is not up for debate! You don’t need permission to be loved by God, or to love yourself, and you certainly don’t need a church that shrinks your spirit. Bishop Flunder taught us to build our own damn sanctuaries! Go out there, love radically, and be that radical inclusion in every space you occupy!
I’m spiritual not religious but can I get a, Amen! 💋
Stay fabulous, and keep making some noise!
Cerinass
XOXO
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