Yvette Flunder facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Yvette Flunder |
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Flunder singing at 2011 San Francisco Pride
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| Church | United Church of Christ |
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| Born | July 29, 1955 San Francisco, California, U.S. |
| Spouse | Shirley Miller |
Yvette A. Flunder (born July 29, 1955) is an American preacher, pastor, and singer. She is also an activist who works for fairness and equality. Bishop Flunder leads the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in Oakland, California. She is also the head of The Fellowship of Affirming Ministries.
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Yvette Flunder's Early Life
Yvette Flunder was born in San Francisco, California. She grew up in both the Bay Area and Mississippi. Her family is African American. She attended the Saints Academy in Lexington, Mississippi.
In 1984, she began singing with Walter Hawkins and the Love Center Choir. She was a lead singer in the choir. Later, Walter Hawkins also ordained her as a minister.
Education and Learning
Flunder earned a degree from College of San Mateo. She then studied ministry at the Pacific School of Religion. She received a Master of Arts degree in 1997. In 2001, she earned her Doctor of Ministry degree. This was from the San Francisco Theological Seminary.
Starting New Ministries
In 2000, Bishop Flunder started the Fellowship of Affirming Ministries. This group brings together Christian churches. They want to share the idea of Jesus Christ's welcoming love. She became the head of this fellowship in 2003.
Flunder believes in a type of theology called "womanist." This means her faith focuses on the experiences of Black women. She also believes in "liberation theology." This idea says that faith should help people find freedom from unfair situations.
In 2005, she wrote a book called Where the Edge Gathers. This book is about building a community where everyone feels welcome.
Speaking and Recognition
In 2013, the Pacific School of Religion honored her. They named her a Distinguished Alumna. On December 1, 2014, Flunder spoke at the White House. This was for World AIDS Day. She talked about how negative judgments can harm people with HIV. She also spoke about how it affects AIDS education.
The next year, she was a guest speaker at the American Baptist College. Since 2015, Flunder has been on the board of trustees. This is for the Starr King School for the Ministry. She also served on the Presidential Advisory Council on HIV/AIDS.
Yvette Flunder's spouse is Shirley Miller. Shirley Miller is the cousin of Walter Hawkins. They have been partners since the mid-1980s.
Helping Others Through Ministry
Bishop Flunder grew up deeply involved in the church. Her family helped start churches in the Bay Area. From a young age, Flunder showed her belief in treating everyone with value.
In 1986, Flunder felt called to help people with HIV/AIDS. This was during the epidemic of the 1980s. She started several non-profit organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area. These groups provided services for people affected by HIV. They included Hazard-Ashley House, Walker House, and Restoration House. These were part of the Ark of Refuge, Inc., which later became the Y. A. Flunder Foundation.
In 1991, she founded the City of Refuge. This church is part of the United Church of Christ. Its goal is to combine faith-based work with social work. The Transcendence Gospel Choir was connected to the City of Refuge. It was the first choir in the United States made up entirely of transgender people.
Flunder also shares her work online. In 2021, she spoke on a panel for the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. They discussed Black male gospel music.
Yvette Flunder in Media
Yvette Flunder's story has been shown in TV and movies.
In 2017, actress Phylicia Rashad played her. This was in the mini-series When We Rise on ABC. Her role in the show highlighted the church's kindness. It also showed its commitment to helping the community in San Francisco.
Joni Bovill also played Flunder in the film Come Sunday. This movie was shown at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival. It was released on Netflix in April 2018.
Flunder uses many online platforms. She often speaks up for Black people and LGBTQ+ people. She also advocates for easier access to healthcare. She works to reduce unfair judgments about people with HIV.
In 2021, Flunder was featured in PBS's "The Black Church: This is our story, this is our song."
Books by Yvette Flunder
- Where the Edge Gathers
- Birthing the Sermon: Women Preachers on the Creative Process
- Those Preaching Women: A Multicultural Collection
- Queer Christianities: Lived Religion in Transgressive Forms
