There’s a New Face at Holy Covenant
The journey Chad Shoaf and Jeffrey Shields embarked upon a year and a half ago in their quest to become parents came to fruition on January 17, 2011, with the birth of their son, William (Will) Robert Thomas Shields. Will was born in Flagstaff, Arizona, which is seven states and 1,998 miles away from his new home in Mooresville. Chad and Jeffrey celebrated their 11th year together in December.
Chad is originally from Salisbury and he is the Director of Support Services for a company in Florida. Jeffrey is from Burlington. He is a Cosmetologist and Cosmetology Instructor in Mooresville. Their desire to become parents started at an adoption expo in 2009. With the help of an adoption consultant, they were matched with Will’s birth mom in September 2010 when she was about six months into her pregnancy.
“The birth mom’s last name is Williams, so we wanted to include that somehow. The other names are all family names between our parents and grandparents,” Chad said. Both of them have lots of support from their families. “Between family and close friends, we have a great support system,” and Chad adds, “with Holy Covenant, we have an even greater one.”
Chad and Jeffrey were both raised in church. They had talked about returning to church several times throughout the years, but never found a new church home in which they like as a same-sex couple. We were invited on “Bring-A-Friend” Sunday by our best friends, Shawn and Eric, who were invited by HC member Trisha Lytle-Gardner.
“We felt welcome the moment we walked in the door and have ever since,” Chad said. It is important to be able to raise their son in a church where they will not be judged or looked down upon for being a same-sex couple. “With him being Native American and having two dads, we know he will likely be judged,” Chad said. “We are blessed that he will have a spiritual place by in which he will not be judged.”
~By Jeff Rivenbark