From Ron Hudson, founder of the ICP:
Dear Friends of the International Carnival of Pozitivities (ICP):
It is a tremendous pleasure to announce the publication of edition 2.11 of the ICP at DropDeadHappy. Mark has done a beautiful job of tying together a number of new blog posts from the world of HIV/AIDS. I encourage you to bookmark this edition and visit it over time so that you can enjoy each of the contributions. Please leave feedback for the contributors and especially for the host for these selfless efforts to help us continue presenting the ICP.
May 07, 2008
May 06, 2008
"Strike a Match"
That's the message that Rev. Candace Chellew-Hodge shares in this essay for Whosoever, the online GLBT Christian magazine she edits. Rather than be bullied into silence, she encourages GLBT Christians to stand up and allow others to see the light of God shine through gay as well as straight people.
It's a message that arrives too many times in my email box.
"Hi, I'm gay (or lesbian, or bisexual or transgender) and I've been told I’m going to hell. Help me! I’m scared!"
My heart breaks every time I receive that message, because it reminds me of just how powerful the message is that GLBT people receive about God and how God surely feels about them. It’s a message many in our community hear relentlessly. A Bible verse or two is quoted as proof. The person under attack may not know how to defend themselves; they simply hear the words of condemnation and fear overtakes them. Many, unfortunately, succumb to the darkness. They accept the condemnation and either bury their sexuality, try to “change” it, or forsake their relationship with God all together. Some write to me or other GLBT Christian organizations seeking support.
As someone who has put this issue to rest within my own mind ("No, I'm not going to hell because I'm a lesbian. Thanks for your opinion, though."), it's difficult to back up and give that helping hand to those still behind me on the path toward reconciling sexuality and spirituality. However, that is what Christ demands from us when he tells us to let our light shine in the world. Instead of cursing the darkness that keeps GLBT people from realizing the light of God within them, we are to strike a match and be beacons of light along the path for anyone who has not made it as far down the road as we have. We are to be like bodhisattvas in the Buddhist tradition, refusing to enter Nirvana until all have found the way there.
Click here to read the rest of the essay at Whosoever.
It's a message that arrives too many times in my email box.
"Hi, I'm gay (or lesbian, or bisexual or transgender) and I've been told I’m going to hell. Help me! I’m scared!"
My heart breaks every time I receive that message, because it reminds me of just how powerful the message is that GLBT people receive about God and how God surely feels about them. It’s a message many in our community hear relentlessly. A Bible verse or two is quoted as proof. The person under attack may not know how to defend themselves; they simply hear the words of condemnation and fear overtakes them. Many, unfortunately, succumb to the darkness. They accept the condemnation and either bury their sexuality, try to “change” it, or forsake their relationship with God all together. Some write to me or other GLBT Christian organizations seeking support.
As someone who has put this issue to rest within my own mind ("No, I'm not going to hell because I'm a lesbian. Thanks for your opinion, though."), it's difficult to back up and give that helping hand to those still behind me on the path toward reconciling sexuality and spirituality. However, that is what Christ demands from us when he tells us to let our light shine in the world. Instead of cursing the darkness that keeps GLBT people from realizing the light of God within them, we are to strike a match and be beacons of light along the path for anyone who has not made it as far down the road as we have. We are to be like bodhisattvas in the Buddhist tradition, refusing to enter Nirvana until all have found the way there.
Click here to read the rest of the essay at Whosoever.
May 05, 2008
Where Does GLBT Acceptance Stand in Three Key Protestant Denominations?
That's the question review by this interesing article from The Christian Century (hat tip to Whosoever, which reviews the status of GLBT acceptance into the Evangelical Lutheran Church, United Methodist Church, and the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.).
"The Church's Unfinished Sexual Revolution" was the title of an article in the spring 2006 issue of Yale Divinity School's Reflections magazine. In it longtime Christian ethicist James B. Nelson described some progress in church thinking about sexual ethics, but contended that the church's agenda on sexuality remains "confusing, unsettled, unfinished."
When asked if he sees himself in a "sexual revolution," Phil Soucy, publicist for the gay-friendly Lutherans Concerned/ North America, demurred: "It's difficult after all these years to think of it as a revolution; it is more like an evolution."
Indeed, three of the largest mainline Protestant denominations continue to move to and fro on issues of sexuality, with leaders often expressing concern about whether the churches will survive the turmoil.
Click here to read the entire article, "Gay acceptance has advances and setbacks in three denominations."
"The Church's Unfinished Sexual Revolution" was the title of an article in the spring 2006 issue of Yale Divinity School's Reflections magazine. In it longtime Christian ethicist James B. Nelson described some progress in church thinking about sexual ethics, but contended that the church's agenda on sexuality remains "confusing, unsettled, unfinished."
When asked if he sees himself in a "sexual revolution," Phil Soucy, publicist for the gay-friendly Lutherans Concerned/ North America, demurred: "It's difficult after all these years to think of it as a revolution; it is more like an evolution."
Indeed, three of the largest mainline Protestant denominations continue to move to and fro on issues of sexuality, with leaders often expressing concern about whether the churches will survive the turmoil.
Click here to read the entire article, "Gay acceptance has advances and setbacks in three denominations."
May 02, 2008
Seminary President Testifies Against Constitutional Ban on Same-Sex Marriage
Dr. Riess V. Potterveld, president of gay-affirming Lancaster Theological Seminary, testified in a hearing in the Pennsylvania state legislature concerning a ballot measure to amend the state constitution to ban same-sex marriage.
From the Lancaster New Era:
"Clearly, what is proposed in Senate Bill 1250 is a step backward into language of denial, devaluing, delegitimizing and in its simple wording, in my opinion, conceals a wellspring of toxic and prejudicial feeling," testified Riess W. Potterveld, president of Lancaster Theological Seminary.
"The text is not neutral but rather agressive in its language of invalidation. This would be a step back into what I will call 'worst public practices'; because it is essentially about the restriction of rights, the enforcement of inquality without any basis other than fear, prejudice and hostility," he said, according to prepared remarks provided to the New Era."
...To be honest, I cannot think of one good thing that would come from passage of this amendment; my hope is that reason will prevail and that the measure will be defeated," said Potterveld, the only local speaker.
I found this to be a very well spoken arguement against this measure, with a little added kick from the fact that it came from an ordained minister (United Church of Christ).
We need even more men like Dr. Potterveld to step forward and make this same arguement.
From the Lancaster New Era:
"Clearly, what is proposed in Senate Bill 1250 is a step backward into language of denial, devaluing, delegitimizing and in its simple wording, in my opinion, conceals a wellspring of toxic and prejudicial feeling," testified Riess W. Potterveld, president of Lancaster Theological Seminary.
"The text is not neutral but rather agressive in its language of invalidation. This would be a step back into what I will call 'worst public practices'; because it is essentially about the restriction of rights, the enforcement of inquality without any basis other than fear, prejudice and hostility," he said, according to prepared remarks provided to the New Era."
...To be honest, I cannot think of one good thing that would come from passage of this amendment; my hope is that reason will prevail and that the measure will be defeated," said Potterveld, the only local speaker.
I found this to be a very well spoken arguement against this measure, with a little added kick from the fact that it came from an ordained minister (United Church of Christ).
We need even more men like Dr. Potterveld to step forward and make this same arguement.
May 01, 2008
National Day of Prayer Not Really National
As clearly pointed out in this note from the American Prospect (item #4 on this link), the upcoming "National Day of Prayer" on May 1 should actually be called "Government Sponsored Day of Christian Prayer."
This is just another example of the Religious Right co-opting the government for their agenda. The first warning of this should have been the fact that Shirley Dobson, the wife of infamous founder of Focus on the Family Dr. James Dobson, is the chairman. Don't take my word for it, here is a quote from the official site:
The National Day of Prayer Task Force was a creation of the National Prayer Committee for the expressed purpose of organizing and promoting prayer observances conforming to a Judeo-Christian system of values. People with other theological and philosophical views are, of course, free to organize and participate in activities that are consistent with their own beliefs. This diversity is what Congress intended when it designated the Day of Prayer, not that every faith and creed would be homogenized, but that all who sought to pray for this nation would be encouraged to do so in any way deemed appropriate. It is that broad invitation to the American people that led, in our case, to the creation of the Task Force and the Judeo-Christian principles on which it is based.
Clearly Shirley Dobson has every right to organize this type of event on her own dime. Last Saturday, an event called ReignDown USA was held on the National Mall and broadcast across the world. There were no government proclimations behind this event (also an exclusively Christian gathering) however. There are plenty of them for the National Day of Prayer, from the federal government and all 50 states (you can see for yourself from this link).
Folks, this is not freedom of religion. This if freedom for the Religious Right to worship as THEY see fit and direct everyone included to worship ONLY as the leadership sees fit.
I'm a Christian, so I would be welcome to participate (probably only as long as I kept my mouth shut about GLBT people), but I don't want to be part of government led and sponsored worship anymore than I want my church to pass legislation (we could probably do a better job, but I digress).
I'll be praying for our nation to go back to its foundation of being inclusive and the end of state-sponsored religious worship. I hope you'll join me.
This is just another example of the Religious Right co-opting the government for their agenda. The first warning of this should have been the fact that Shirley Dobson, the wife of infamous founder of Focus on the Family Dr. James Dobson, is the chairman. Don't take my word for it, here is a quote from the official site:
The National Day of Prayer Task Force was a creation of the National Prayer Committee for the expressed purpose of organizing and promoting prayer observances conforming to a Judeo-Christian system of values. People with other theological and philosophical views are, of course, free to organize and participate in activities that are consistent with their own beliefs. This diversity is what Congress intended when it designated the Day of Prayer, not that every faith and creed would be homogenized, but that all who sought to pray for this nation would be encouraged to do so in any way deemed appropriate. It is that broad invitation to the American people that led, in our case, to the creation of the Task Force and the Judeo-Christian principles on which it is based.
Clearly Shirley Dobson has every right to organize this type of event on her own dime. Last Saturday, an event called ReignDown USA was held on the National Mall and broadcast across the world. There were no government proclimations behind this event (also an exclusively Christian gathering) however. There are plenty of them for the National Day of Prayer, from the federal government and all 50 states (you can see for yourself from this link).
Folks, this is not freedom of religion. This if freedom for the Religious Right to worship as THEY see fit and direct everyone included to worship ONLY as the leadership sees fit.
I'm a Christian, so I would be welcome to participate (probably only as long as I kept my mouth shut about GLBT people), but I don't want to be part of government led and sponsored worship anymore than I want my church to pass legislation (we could probably do a better job, but I digress).
I'll be praying for our nation to go back to its foundation of being inclusive and the end of state-sponsored religious worship. I hope you'll join me.
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