A place to belong. Isn't that what we all want, really? Somewhere we feel loved and wanted. A place where we can be real. A place where we can say what's really going on inside and not be turned away or ostracized simply by others' silence. A place where we're included and accepted, no matter what.
That's what Jesus did for people while he was here on this earth. And he's still doing it today through communities of faith that believe in being welcoming and affirming places for LGBTQ people.
CenterPeace is built on the concept of table fellowship, on the truth that Jesus invites each of us, no matter where we are, to dine with him. For with Jesus at the center of our lives, there is peace.
Mission
"Neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God."
Romans 8:39
What We Offer
CenterPeace prioritizes community for LGBTQ people. We want to see all sexual and gender minorities thrive, knowing they are beloved by God. CenterPeace offers Tapestry, a spiritually encouraging retreat for LGBTQ people, Faithful Love, a retreat for couples, and the CenterPeace LGBTQ Community, a private Facebook group that includes a monthly Zoom connection called Nurturing Faith. Other gatherings include Just Dinner, a monthly meal for LGBTQ folk and allies, as well as Stories and Tunes, a Dallas coffee shop gathering of LGBTQ testimony and worship (contact CenterPeace for details on these latter two). CenterPeace also collaborates with The Redwood Center for Spiritual Care and Education to implement a mentorship program, Bakos Project, which serves LGBTQ young adults in their 20s and 30s who demonstrate both a commitment to Christ and leadership qualities. Finally, Sally Gary, director of CenterPeace has provided pastoral care for hundreds of LGBTQ individuals over nearly twenty years since she started CenterPeace.
CenterPeace also serves parents through PeacePrint retreats, as well as trains church leaders through the Certificate in LGBTQ Ministry. Both of these initiatives have the goal of creating a place for LGBTQ people within their families and Church. The primary thing that drives sexual and gender minorities away from a faith community is lack of acceptance by family members and church leaders. CenterPeace recognizes that navigating faith and sexuality can be challenging. That's why CenterPeace creates spaces for parents and ministry leaders to ask honest questions and learn how to best support their LGBTQ loved ones. Sally Gary provides compassionate listening and consultation for those seeking to grow in understanding of faith and sexuality.
History of CenterPeace
Founded in 2006 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the work of CenterPeace is to cultivate community for LGBTQ people, providing a seat at Christ's table where all can find a place to belong. CenterPeace longs for the day when LGBTQ folk are fully affirmed and integrated into the life of the Church and within their families. CenterPeace grew out of Founder and Executive Director Sally Gary's own journey, growing up in a Christian family and experiencing attraction to the same-sex, but with no safe place to talk about those feelings. Church and university leaders met with Sally for nearly two years exploring what a ministry like this should offer, and the result was CenterPeace. Since then, hundreds of LGBTQ people, church and community leaders, and family members have reached out to CenterPeace for help. Following the lead of Jesus, who never turned anyone away, CenterPeace is helping Christians who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, or asexual to find a place to belong within the Body of Christ.
CenterPeace Team
Sally Gary
Executive Director
Sally is a pastor at heart, who not only oversees the mission of CenterPeace, as its founder, but also spends much of her time as a listening ear and guide for LGBTQ+ people, their families, and pastors and ministry leaders. Sally holds bachelor's and master's degrees in communication from Abilene Christian University, as well as a Doctor of Jurisprudence degree from Texas Tech University School of Law. She has coached high school and college speech and debate, worked as a civil trial attorney, and spent ten years teaching communication at ACU. Most of all, Sally is dedicated to helping LGBTQ people to know they are loved and that they belong. Everywhere. Sally now lives in Dallas with her wife and their miniature dapple dachshund, Rudy.
Christopher Keane
Accounting Manager
Christopher Keane is a Texas native from the DFW area. He comes to CenterPeace with experience in finance, human resources, and the madness of small business operations. After a recent season in Minneapolis, MN, he returned to Texas and started his own business, Keane Consulting Services. He also moved home to help support other queer Christians like himself through his church, Open Table Oak Cliff, and favorite non-profit, CenterPeace. When not busy at work, he enjoys travel, time with his family, experiences with friends and watching too many TikTok’s daily.
Kevin Ries
Operations Manager
Kevin Ries has spent 15 years in pastoral ministry, but recently sensed a calling to focus on supporting God’s children that have been marginalized by the church and general culture. Through personal relationships, he came to know CenterPeace and has followed God’s calling to care for the LGBTQ community that is often left out of traditional faith spaces. With a ministry background in a variety of Protestant denominations and a master's degree in biblical and theological studies from Dallas Theological Seminary, he brings broad experience to maximize the impact of ministries for Kingdom work. In addition to his work with CenterPeace, Kevin supports other ministries that focus on racial reconciliation and justice.
Amy Jarobe
Programs Coordinator
Amy Jarboe is a Kentucky native, raising her family in Bowling Green, home of the Corvette and Big Red. As wife to Ben, and mom of three LGBTQ children (young adults now), she is passionate about helping parents to love their LGBTQ children well. Amy has served as an Ambassador for The Reformation Project, leading support groups, retreats and teaching classes on LGBTQ inclusion in the church. She is also a licensed local pastor in the United Methodist Church and is working towards a Master of Divinity degree at Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary. In her free time Amy enjoys time with family, travel, watercolor painting and movies.