Tweet “Relationship.” It is my mantra. As an advocate for the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) Christian community for full equality and inclusion in the church, I am engaged in conversation at every level of understanding. Those that hold a hard line on “you cannot be Christian and gay” often share one thing in common: [...]
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GOP, You Want to Know Why You Lost the Election? Because You Could Not Count on Evangelicals Like Me
Tweet The Republican Party and conservative Evangelicals and Protestants that supported and voted for Mitt Romney are now analyzing the after-election tallies and theorizing the shortfall they expected in votes. The statistics showed that 78% of Evangelicals voted for Romney and 21% for Obama. Mike Huckabee, and others, posit that much of the blame for [...]
Six Things Straight People Should Stop Saying about Gay People
Tweet A kind woman, who would never intentionally offend another person, writes: “I love gay people, I just cannot support their gay lifestyle.” A pastor stands holding an electric cord as a prop and warns the congregation, “Don’t mess with God’s original design. Gay sex is not natural, the parts don’t fit.” A man thinks [...]
Invitation for Pastors to Dialogue about the Gay & Trans Christians
Tweet The issue of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (glbt) Christians in the church has become a polarizing and even frightening conversation in some faith communities. There are glbt people sitting in virtually all congregations and church youth groups. How is your church addressing this? A few years ago, when I offered dialogue to 57 [...]
“I no longer identify as a Christian . . .” they write
Tweet “I no longer identify as a Christian . . .”, so many letters begin. The reasons will vary, but only slightly. Because I am a straight Evangelical Christian who advocates for equality and against injustice, I get mail from gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (glbt) people and friends and family who love them. Reading [...]
Equality IS a Jesus Value
How is the Christian church responding the the GLBT community in their quest for equality? Looking back at in our involvement in abolition, the suffrage movement and the Civil Right Act of 1964, have we learned lessons that we can now apply to gay/trans people as they struggle for equality?
Bishop Jim Swilley, Called by God, Gay by God
Bishop Jim Swilley, Church in the Now, Conyers, Georgia came out to his congregation of over 1200 people. After 39 years in ministry (25 of them at his current church), a twenty one year marriage (his second) and four children, Bishop Jim chose to tell his congregation the truth about his sexual orientation. He is and always has been gay.
The Law of Kindness on My Tongue and Typing Hands
Responding in kindness when the dialogue gets heated. Working actively in GLBT Christian equality in the church tests my ability to extend grace under pressure and tension. Will I respond in a way reflective of the God I follow?
To the Church in North America: Keep it Simple
Tweet (Here was the challenge by the EIGHTH LETTER project and a SYNCHROBLOG which asks authors and bloggers to communicate a message to the Church in North America. The book of Revelation contains seven letters addressed to 1st century congregations struggling to find their identity. Nearly two thousand years later, we were asked: what is your [...]
My Visit to a Mosque, Now What? | A Christian Perspective on My Muslim Neighbor
I know Jesus told His followers to “love you neighbor as yourself”. It was time to check out how I am doing with my Muslim neighbor. I needed the practical experience of visiting a mosque during Ramadan and the research afterwards. And yes, it has changed my views.
“Fearfully and Wonderfully Made” or Fear?
Fear blinds us, fear prevents love, fear causes hate and destruction. The Bible tells us the opposite of love is fear. If you are not loving the person that looks the least like you, the problem is you. No excuses. We need to get this right and stop blaming “others”. Jesus offered no caveats on the treatment of others.
Tea Under the Big Tent
It is easy to be inclusive of those you love and those who love who you love. The “do you act like Jesus” test though comes when we are asked to love those who are not kind and may even hate those we love. Then what?
Sometimes I Don’t Act So Pretty . . .
Tweet Confession time, bless me Father for I have sinned, again. There are times when I don’t know if it would be more appropriate to laugh at myself or cry over the mistakes I still make. Maybe this disclosure is part both. Sometimes when I hike, I listen to podcasts and one of my favorites [...]
Keeping Mom Happy with Homemade Baileys
Baileys is a popular drink for the holidays and easy enough to make for about one-third the price and has that “wow” appeal for a holiday gift when paired with a good chocolate bar.
