Facilitated by:
Rev. Dr. Deb Berman, DMin, LCSW
Welcome to the OSLA Alt Faith Collective!
You belong here with us.
Come receive affirming blessings, meditations, nurturance, and unconditional love to feed your beautiful Queer spirit and/or Alt Soul during these difficult and uncertain times.
Monthly Meeting Time
Every 2nd Wednesday morning of the month, September-May
from 8:00 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. EST, Online
Facilitated by Rev. Dr. Deb Berman, this private online monthly online prayer and spiritual circle provides a warm and affirming safe haven for OSLA's Queerfolx, Nonconformists, and Alt Relationship/Alt Kinship folx to meet and nourish our unique and divinely created Alt souls.
RSVP is Required
Please email Rev. Dr. Deb Berman at revdeb@1spirit.org or click the button below to RSVP.
Committed Allies or people who want to become Allies are also warmly encouraged to reach out to Rev. Deb via email for resources, information, and a comprehensive reading list.
About the OSLA Alt Faith Collective
The OSLA Alt Faith Collective prayer, liturgy, grounding, and mindfulness group is a safe spiritual space for One Spirit folx who are LGBTQAI2+, or Non Conforming, or oriented to diverse non-mainstream relationships or family/kinship constellations, or whose sex, sexuality, sexual practices, and/or gender expressions are non-stereotypical or non-conforming.
Participant identities include, but are not limited to, Polyamory, Ethical Non-Monogamy, Kink, BDSM, Leather, Consensual Power Exchange, Chosen Families, Same Sex Relationships, Staightfolx who are Alt sexual practices or Alt relationship, Mixed Orientation Relationships, Genderqueer, Fluid or Fluctuating, and beyond, as well as those who are in discernment as to where they might land in this beautiful firmament of Queerness, Altness, and holiness.
A Safe and Confidential Space
No one in this safe space is ever pressured or asked to disclose anything about themselves during sessions. In this sacred community we honor everyone's autonomy and agency to decide for themselves what, if anything, they want to say about themselves. Additionally, no one is ever called on to speak or pressured in any way to participate with words. There are many members of the Alt Faith Collective who have attended for years in sacred silence, while others share intermittently or regularly within the group. It is entirely up to you. Whatever you decide, this group is your safe space where you will receive unconditional love, support, community, wisdom, and nurturance.
Program Content Includes:
Affirming prayers from diverse faith traditions
Morning meditation
An affirming theological exploration of Queerness, Altness, sexaulity, and holiness
inspirational readings
And additonal content aimed at buttressing OSLA's Queerfolx, Altfolk, and Explorers as we walk our sacred paths as ministers, counselors, leaders, scholars, healers, educators, students, and seekers.
2024-2025
Meeting Dates
Meeting every 2nd Wednesday of the month,
8:00 a.m. to 8:50 a.m. EST.
September 11th, 2024
October 9th, 2024
November 13th, 2024
December 11th, 2024
January 8th, 2025
February 12th, 2025
March 12th, 2025
April 9th, 2025
May 14th, 2025
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Testimonial
"Alt Faith Collective feels like home. It’s easily my favorite meeting every month. Whether I speak or not, I always feel loved and seen for the fullest version of myself in this community. The love and support I’ve both given and received have made this group family to me."
— Group Member
Facilitator:
Rev. Dr. Deb Berman, DMin, LCSW
Rev. Deb (she/her), a 1st year Dean at One Spirit Seminary, facilitates the Alt Faith Collective from her home in Amsterdam, Netherlands. A licensed holistic and integrative psychotherapist in private practice, Rev. Deb is also the founder of PrideMinistry, an international online spiritual, life, and relationship coaching and counseling practice. PrideMinistry serves a diverse range of seekers, including those who identify as LGBTQAI2+, polyamorous, non-monogamous, kink, sex workers, straightfolx, allies, and beyond.
Rev. Deb holds a Master’s degree from Columbia University’s School of Social Work and a Doctorate in Ministry in Pastoral Counseling and Clinical Education from Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. Her groundbreaking dissertation, “Understanding the Spiritual and Faith Community Needs of People in Alternative Relationships,” was the first study to explore the intersection of alternative relationships and spiritual communities. Rev. Deb is an ordained Interfaith minister through One Spirit and facilitates the institution’s Alt Faith Collective affinity group.
With a distinguished career in organizational leadership, she has served as Director of Behavioral Health at Interfaith Hospital in New York City and Director of Social Work and Clinical Services at the National Jewish Council for Disabilities. Alongside her clinical work and coaching practice, she is a liturgy, leadership, and lifecycle advisor to clergy and faith communities seeking to become more understanding or more affirming of diverse sexualities, genders, and relationship/kinship structures.
Rev. Deb has spoken at over 200 professional conferences and workshops and continues to mentor and supervise master’s and PhD students, psychotherapists, spiritual counselors, health and wellness professionals, clergy, seminary students, mental health counselors, and sex educators.
Testimonial
“Bless the bodies through which we experience ourselves, our relationships with others, and this awesome Creation. Living and envisioning new ways of loving is divine work that makes all of us freer and more honest. ALTFAITH is an intimate community of seekers who bless each other with compassion, humor, and respect as we navigate our changing spiritual love lives. Every meeting has been like sharing communion and feeling the Creator’s hand on my shoulder.”
— Group Member
Join our next Meeting
RSVP IS REQUIRED AS THIS IS A CLOSED EVENT: Email revdeb@1spirit.org.