In addition to the question of ordination, debates like Amendment B actually save lives. Despite the rhetoric from those who seem unable to get beyond their own prejudice, gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth who are watching realize that there are churches and clergy and church members who understand and who are on your side.
In our area of the country that is worth a lot. This is no easy place to grow up gay.
I am no expert on the mysteries of human sexuality. My heterosexual privilege leaves me clueless much of the time. In spite of the fact that I have much to learn about what it means to be human, I feel one of my roles even now is to shout from the mountain top and from this blog, "You are not alone!"
Whether you are a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or questioning young person, wondering if or how to come out to parents and family...
Whether you are a parent whose son or daughter has come out to you and you are not sure where to go for guidance...
...you are not alone.
I hope that my colleagues, regardless of where they come down on the ordination issue, would get informed and see the responsibility they have to minister to their church members.
It wouldn't hurt to check out the PFLAG website and read a little. I go there on a regular basis so I can learn more.
When you learn of families who are blessed to have an lgbt person in their lives but don't realize that it is a blessing yet, send them over to PFLAG Tri-Cities.
It is time to end the silence.
Funny. I had a conversation just a few weeks ago with an African-American lesbian who, when we were sharing war stories about being gay in church said (and I paraphrase), "at least the PC(USA) is having the conversation. That's not happening in the AME or other black churches. That you're even discussing it is a cause for hope."
ReplyDeleteThanks for that Fly. A number of people have said that once the discussion starts the outcome is inevitable.
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