Harmony (LGBT religious organization)
Harmony, formerly "GALA, Gay and Lesbian Acceptance", is a non-profit organization for LGBTQIA+ people, allies, and their family and friends who are connected with Community of Christ. Harmony's mission is "to provide advocacy, education, and resources for LGBT voices in Community of Christ with a shared vision of full participation." Its stated purpose is to "affirm the dignity and worth of all persons without regard to gender, race, sexual orientation, or religious affiliation". The organization works closely with some individual members, some congregations, and Community of Christ leaders at all levels to advocate for  LGBT persons. Although Harmony is not formally affiliated with Community of Christ, most of its members have a connection to the Independence, Missouri-based church. Several denominational leaders are dues paying Harmony members, which has caused concerns of conflicts of interest being both a member of an advocacy organization and being leaders that same organization approaches to advocate change. Apostle Robin Linkhart who is an advisor for Harmony, as well as a dues paying Harmony member and a member of the Council of Twelve that Harmony advocates with. The organization sends representatives to Community of Christ jurisdictional and World Church  gatherings and conferences. History. GALA was founded by Bob Swoffer, and its first gathering was in 1982. Arthur Butler and Ginger Farley were founding members, and Allan Fiscus was the first president of GALA. In 2019, GALA legally merged with the Welcoming Community Network, a non-profit organization serving Community of Christ congregations seeking to become welcoming and affirming, and took the name Harmony.