History

In July 2001 under the leadership and vision of Pastor Jack McConnell, Church of the Holy Spirit held its first service. The meeting location was known as the dungeon, a drab damp conference room in the basement of University Inn on Market Street in Greensboro, North Carolina. The service was made up of about 40 members for Holy Trinity Church, Winston Salem and a hand full of Greensboro residents. For the next three months the church thrived with the support from Holy Trinity as the “Mother Church” and Pastor McConnell as the pastor. 

A new kid on the block, Pastor McConnell discussed with Reverend Roger Hayes about taking over the pastorate of Church of the Holy Spirit. In November 2001 Reverend Hayes became the second pastor of the church. After the first Sunday Pastor Hayes, along with four members; all Caucasians, went forward with the vision of the church. 

The church held services in a hotel that was later sold to Greensboro College July 2002. As a result Church of the Holy Spirit became homeless for the first time. For the entire month of August of that year the church met on the campus of Greensboro College. Following that month the church met at the park and on inclement weather, met in one another homes until November. Due to problematic management, the church was shut down in November of 2002. 

Pastor Hayes and Pastor McConnell met with a realtor in Greensboro and found a place for services to be held. The first Sunday in March 2003, Church of the Holy Spirit was reopened with a clear vision and purpose. 

June 2004 Church of the Holy Spirit became a part of Fellowship 2000 under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Yvette Flunder is the Bishop Prelate. This move empowered the church and was aligned with like minded believers all over the country that was purpose is to spread the message of Radical Inclusion to the world. 

January 2005, the word came from the Lord, “there is bread for Church of the Holy Spirit in Winston Salem.” The Lord went on to say, “The dessert experience has come to an end, get ready for a new place of positioning.” Pastor Hayes and members prayed and preached about having a Joshua spirit, one that say, “We are more than able to inhabit the land.” 

With the orders from God, Church of the Holy Spirit set feet to Winston Salem with a name change and a new attitude, Church of the Holy Spirit Fellowship in May 2005. April 2005, Church of the Holy Spirit Fellowship received incorporation and was officially, Church of the Holy Spirit Fellowship, Inc. 

Today CHSF serves over 100. The makeup of CHSF is diverse and includes: African Americans, Caucasians, Same Gender Loving (SGL), Transsexual, Disabilities, mental and physical, Children of SGL parents, Gay teens, Young Adults including students from WSSU, WFU, NCSA, Straight; Heterosexual, Regular attending members travel from: Pilot Mountain, Mt. Airy, Greensboro, High Point, Durham, Raleigh, and Charlotte, in addition to Winston Salem. 

The congregation is ministered to through regular services: Weekly Sunday Service, Tuesday evening intercessory program, Thursday evening Bible study, Music and Arts Ministry that includes: VOS Choir, Spirit Filled Praise Ensemble, Liturgical Dance, and Youth Dance. Pot Luck family and friends dinner monthly 

CHSF takes a courageous stand as the lone voice in the black community of the Triad offering advocacy, education, and support. This stand is not even supported in the progressive, educated parts of the black community; has received GLADD (Gay, Lesbian Alliance against Defamation) media training so as to best represent . Feature story in the Chronicle newspaper: “Coming out of the closet and into the light” March 15, 2007; Served as “out” expert panel at Grace Presbyterian for controversial movie forum; Represented the SGL community in a NC Black Repertory Theater panel discussion on HIV and the role of the black church covered by the 10pm WGHP news; Recognized nationally for conducting service for National Black Church Week of Prayer (controversial involvement on the part of CHSF), Provided keynote speech for WSSU march and rally celebrating National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day; Conducted Social/Spiritual event for SGL couples featuring formal ball, worship service, and couple blessings which attracted over 85 people from four states; maintains a blog on My Space addressing spiritual and controversial issues concerning the national black SGL community; addressed LGBT issues with the Society of Human Resource Managers during a monthly meeting. 

CHSF provides a leadership role in the Triad community and the state of NC. CHSF impact the SGL community regarding harm reduction (needle exchange, HIV training and awareness, Hepatitis C awareness); Participates on State Board as officer; Provides trained facilitation (certified by Center of Disease Control) to educate SGL men who have sex with men (MSM) on HIV awareness and condom use. Part of CDC Many Men Many Voices program directed at the black, SGL male population in which the latest study found that 46% of African American MSM’s are HIV positive; Six members of CHSF attended NC Minority Health Conference in Raleigh in April of 2007; Six members of CHSF lobbied in Raleigh with members of State Senate and house regarding sex education in schools and need for test programs concerning needle exchange; Participated as contributing minister to AIDS Care Service prayer event at Memorial Gardens at Tanglewood. CHSF youth dance team performed. 

CHSF partners with community agencies to provide accurate information and on going support regarding mental and physical health issues including, HIV, child abuse, domestic violence, drug abuse, and health care for CHSF membership. Agencies include: NAMI—National Association of Mental Illness, NC Harm Reduction Coalition, and NCSAPPB—NC Substance Abuse Professional Practice Board, Forsyth County Health Department, NC Department Social Services, Rainbow Net, and C.H.A.N.G.E.—Citizens Helping all Neighbors Gain Empowerment/ Sharee Fowler 

Partners with other WS community churches and organizations committed to serving the SGL community at large. Activities include: Presentations at WFU School of Divinity masters program (spirituality and sexuality), Fundraising for Triad Health Project (raised over $1,500 four consecutive years) participating in the Winter Walk; participation Dinning with Friends; provides lunch for Higher Ground a day treatment program in Greensboro six times a year for the last four years, Collaborated with Metropolitan Community Church of Winston Salem regarding Empowerment for gay and SGL parents featuring Rainbow Net and Forsyth County School (35 parents attended). CHSF hosted the Saturday event, Meets regularly with MCC and New Holy Trinity Church to create local chapter of COLAGE (Children of Lesbian and Gays Everywhere) a national support organization, Provided a week long Summer Youth Enrichment Camp for children of SGL/Gay parents that included asset development, boys/girls 101, a community youth choir, a support group, and a weekend outdoor camping trip to Linville Falls, NC. The camp served 15 children ages 8-15, including 2 LGBT teens, Celebrates landmark events with Winston Salem churches serving the LGBT community: Participated in installation of Rev. Joe Cobb, MCC of WS, and Provided youth dance ministry for New Holy Trinity Church youth Sunday event, Invited Dellabrook Presbyterian Church and Grace Presbyterian Church to participate in Pastoral anniversary celebration. 

Serves the African American SGL community and LGBT&Q community at large: Provides transitional housing to SGL persons living with HIV (eight people served over the last four years), Provides transportation for weekly doctor visits and medication support for HIV patients (over 50 patients over six years), Performed five holy union/commitment ceremonies. Including extensive relationship/couple counseling (minimum of four sessions) is required, Created “In the Cross Services”. ICS is dedicated to providing resources, support groups, intervention, and peer education training to men with various health disparities and barriers within the Triad of North Carolina, Leads bi-monthly support group, Men in Touch. M.I.T. is a group for men who are fighting various health disparities, often bringing mental and emotional anguish. In a place of safety with support, fellowship, and resources men grow and find mental and emotional stability for living, Provides “Thanksgiving for Life,” an elegant, full service Thanksgiving dinner on Thanksgiving Day for the past 3 years. Averages of 55 people living with HIV/AIDS attend each year. 

Provides leadership roles in national organizations serving black SGL people including: National Federation of Black Pride (serving as the host church and presenter at 1st Black Gay Pride in Charlotte, NC and Columbia, SC, The Balm of Gilead—a non-governmental organization whose mission is to improve the health status of people of the African Diaspora by building the capacity of faith communities to address life-threatening diseases, especially HIV/AIDS, National Black Justice Council—a civil rights organization dedicated to empowering Black same-gender-loving, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people. The Coalition works with our communities and our allies for social justice, equality, and an end to racism and homophobia, “The Fellowship”—A trans-denominational fellowship of primarily African American Christian leaders and laity representing churches and faith-based organizations from all parts of the country. The overriding purpose of The Fellowship is to support religious leaders and laity in moving towards a theology of radical inclusivity.