Maranatha 1978

Maranatha is born in May 1978 and begins . . .

1979 - 1980

Maranatha moves ahead . . .

Maranatha's Birth

In the summer of 1977, Rev. Bill Johnson, approached Riverside again about starting a gay and lesbian group, this time with Rev. Dr. William Sloane Coffin, Jr., Senior Minister of Riverside from 1977 - 1987.

Rev. Johnson showed his film A Position of Faith again at Riverside in April 1978 at "The Gay Civil Rights Movement" forums sponsored by Adult Ministries. Dr. Carter Heyward was a guest speaker.

At the end of the last forum, Sam Barrett, a Riverside member, asked if people were interested in forming a Lesbian & Gay support group at Riverside. Marnanatha (although it had yet been named as such) was BORN!

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Rev. Bill Johnson approached Rev. Bill Coffin about beginning a gay and lesbian group at Riverside.