Away At the TEN Conference

We're all down in Gastonia, NC for The Evangelical Network (TEN) conference this weekend. Click here to find out more about TEN. We'll have some new posts early next week.

Out of the Mouth of Babes.....

The next time you think you can't do anything to help the cause of GLBT equality, think of Ethan. He's the THIRD GRADER who organized and led a marriage equality rally in Colorado. After listening to his speech, I think there are a lot of people in high places that aren't as smart as a third grader. Here is the video below (thanks to Gay Agenda for the link):

Breaking News: Prop 8 Upheld

The California Supreme Court has upheld the legality of Proposition 8, the constitutional amendmend that made same-sex marriage illegal in the state, by a 6-1 vote. The 18,000 couples that did marry prior to Prop 8's passage will stay legally married.

Equality California vows to return the issue to the ballot in 2010.

If you want to exercise your right to protest and/or speak out about this decision, click on the link below to see if there is a "Day of Decision" event in your area, in California or across the nation.

Day of Decision website

Here's the official ruling. It's 185 pages, so you may want to skim it.

More later.

Church of Scotland Appoints a Gay Minister

I didn't know the Church of Scotland was "the mother of the Presbyterian churches" until I read it on Box Turtle Bulletin. They were linking to an Associated Press report on Google news:

An openly gay minister on Sunday praised the decision of the Church of Scotland to dismiss a challenge to his appointment by religious conservatives — the latest case involving sexuality to create a division in the Anglican Communion.

The church's ruling body voted 326 to 267 Saturday to support the appointment of the Rev. Scott Rennie, 37, who was previously married to a woman and is now in a relationship with a man.

Rennie was first appointed as a minister 10 years ago, but has faced opposition since he moved to a church in Aberdeen, Scotland, last year. He has been unable to take up his post while the Church of Scotland considered appeals from his critics.

"I'm relieved, humbled, I'm obviously pleased and I'm really looking forward to going to be with my new congregation," Rennie told reporters on Sunday. "I've had a long time to wait, they've had a long time to wait and I'm just glad we can get on with life."

Rennie said he believed religious conservatives were behind attempts to oust him from his post.

"The same talk was about when women were ordained, and I think that argument suits those that don't want any change," he told Britain's Sky News television on Saturday.

Following the vote to back Rennie, Scotland's Equality and Human Rights Commission said the Church of Scotland had proven itself to be "a modern church
for a modern Scotland."

"We are certain that this decision will be welcomed by the majority of Scots and certainly the majority of Queen's Cross parish in Aberdeen who overwhelmingly demonstrated their support for Mr. Rennie," said Alyson Thomson, a commission spokeswoman.

It will be interesting to see if there is any ripple effect on this side of the pond.

Click here to read the rest of the AP report.

Sunday Worship 5/24/09

If you don't have a welcoming church near you, or you just can't make yourself step into one, we're bringing worship to you. Here are links to some worship music and services from open and affirming ministries (all times eastern). I hope you are blessed and take time out of your busy schedule to enter into the Lord's day.

Don't forget to click on the tab on the upper right of this blog and leave your prayer requests in the comment section so we can petition the Lord for your needs.

We appreicate all of the positive feedback we've received for our Sunday Worship series. If you know of a service we should add to our list, please send an e-mail and share it with me.

Worship Music--sing along and make a joyful noise unto the Lord!









Live Sunday Services (all times Eastern)
AL-Covenant Community Church, Birmingham, 11:45 AM
FL-Potters House International Fellowship, Tampa, 11:00 AM
VA-Believers Covenant Fellowship, Vienna, 11:00 AM
OK-Diversity Christian Fellowship International, Tulsa, 1:00 PM
CA-Glory Tabernacle Christian Center, Long Beach, 1:00 PM
WA-Living Water Fellowship, Kenmore, 1:30 PM

Video Archive
AL-Covenant Community Church, Birmingham
CA-Glory Tabernacle Christian Center, Long Beach
FL-Church of the Holy SpiritSong, Ft. Lauderdale
FL-Potters House International Fellowship, Tampa
GA-Gentle Spirit Christian Church, Atlanta
MI-Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
OK-Expressions Community Fellowship, Oklahoma City
OK-Diversity Christian Fellowship International, Tulsa
WA-Living Water Fellowship, Kenmore

More on Same-Sex Marriage Recognition in DC

Washington DC is a very liberal city in regards to the voting patterns of its residents, therefore it was no surprise when the City Council voted 12-1 to recognize other states' legal same-sex marriages.

Not everybody is happy about that, however. From the Washington Examiner:

Ralph Chittams has been turned out of restaurants, denied jobs and called unprintable names because he is black. He says he understands discrimination.

So forgive him if he doesn’t believe that denying a marriage license to a gay couple is morally equivalent to denying fellow black men the right to sit at a lunch counter.

“Marriage is a religious act,” said Chittams, 48, a Baptist minister and longtime resident of the Hillcrest neighborhood. “From the dawn of time, it’s been between a man and a woman.”

Words like that offend Richard Rosendall of the Gay and Lesbian Activists Alliance of Washington, D.C.

“Marriage equality benefits everyone,” he said. “The fact is that our opponents have no monopoly on faith or on holy scripture.”

Nowhere else in the U.S. does the debate over gay marriage take on quite the shape that it does in the District of Columbia. The city is one of the most liberal jurisdictions in the country. Its voters chose Barack Obama nearly by a ratio of 95-to-5.

But the outrage that has exploded among black ministers after a 12-1 city council vote to recognize out-of-state gay marriages has highlighted a deep divide. On one side are white gays and lesbians and their backers. On the other side are otherwise liberal African-Americans with a deep conservative streak on social questions.

“There is a feeling that white activists from out of town, that they’re sort of the setting the agenda,” said Sean Bugg, co-publisher of Metro Weekly, a weekly magazine that covers gay and lesbian life in the District. “It’s an arguable point. But I think it’s too early to say, ‘Black D.C. thinks this or black D.C. thinks that.’ ”

Still, Bugg said the vehemence of the opposition — including that of longtime gay rights advocate Marion Barry — ought to be “a wake-up call” for gay rights advocates.

Most gay rights advocates strenuously deny that there’s a racial divide.

“It’s a red herring,” Rosendall said. “Bishop Harry Jackson and his allies like people to believe there is. They seem to be doing their best to stoke one.”

Harry Jackson, the leader of a mega-church in Lanham who is emerging as a national leader in the fight against gay marriage, said he was guilty as charged. “Why do they get to appeal to blacks as if blacks are their property and I can’t go to that same group?”

Jackson asked. Black people have been silent for too long on matters of “righteousness,” Jackson said. Gay marriage offers the perfect opportunity to refocus their political power.

It’s not just the opposition to gay marriage that discomfits gay rights advocates. It’s also the toxic language of the opposition.
“I think one of the big challenges for African-American gay people … is the hostile rhetoric in the pulpit,” said Michael Crawford, a black gay activist based in the District.

Chittams says he regrets some of the vitriol of the debate. “I don’t think it’s a racial thing on a national level. Unfortunately, here, in the District, it has taken on a racial connotation,” he said.

Chittams, a registered Republican who voted for Barack Obama, said he hoped that the debate would get people to rethink government involvement in marriage altogether.

“It doesn’t matter whether you’re straight or gay: You should not be able to go down to the courthouse and get a marriage license,” he said. “Anybody who goes down to the courthouse, all you should get is a certificate of a civil union.”

Bishop Jackson, to my knowledge NOT a resident of DC, is good at stirring up hate and playing the race card, even hinting at the "slave card" (blacks are not property, blacks should be free). He has received a lot of attention, had a book published, and gets plenty of face time on Fox News.

Let me know when he gets around to preaching the love of Jesus.

An Important Lesson In Christian Love From an Athiest

I don't often go to the blog "Friendly Athiest" for what I hope are obvious reasons, but when someone is right, they're right and thanks to the link from PageOneQ I saw a powerful lesson from Hermant Mehta on the blatant hypocrisy of the Religious Right:

The Religious Right keeps saying gay-rights activists are “redefining marriage”:

Changing the definition of marriage would undermine the very nature that
gives marriage its unique status in society. Ultimately, forcing marriage to
mean all things will force marriage to mean nothing at all. (The Heritage
Foundation)

The same group of people also goes on about how God loves gay people:

God loves homosexuals. He loves them just as he loves every other human on the planet.

People living a homosexual lifestyle are sinners like the rest of us and, like the rest of us, they are people created by God and loved by God. As such, we are called to love in whatever sinful state we happen to find them.

I say this to the religious people who oppose marriage equality:

You think we’re redefining marriage?

How can you accuse us of that when you’ve done something far worse?

You redefined love.

“Love the sinner, hate the sin”? Please…

For you, “love” means making sure gay people cannot adopt a child who needs a home.

For you, “love” means stripping away the marital status of gay couples who were legally married in California before Proposition 8 took effect.

For you, “love” means accepting someone only if they never act on their sexuality.

For you, “love” means putting our country at risk if gay people in our military dare mention they are in a same-sex relationship.

For you, “love” means allowing doctors to refuse patients who need their help because the patients are gay.

For you, “love” means preventing homosexuals from serving in leadership positions for organizations like the Boy Scouts because you oppose their sexual orientation.

For you, “love” means telling someone else what they can and cannot do in the privacy of their bedroom.

For you, “love” means removing your children from school for a day so they can’t witness other students taking a stand for LGBT rights.

I know we’ve heard the rebuttal to this notion of “redefining marriage”
— marriage has been redefined a countless number of times. From a property
arrangement to a love marriage to interracial marriage, etc. The definition of
marriage has never been static.

But how dare Christians make that accusation: You’re redefining marriage.

They say it like we’ve done something wrong.

How dare you belittle us for trying to promote equality and marriage and civil rights?
You’re Christians. Aren’t those values you’re supposed to endorse?

We are not trying to change how your church operates or how you practice your faith. We’re not telling you how to live your life. We’re not forcing you to adopt our beliefs.

Who is showing more love here?

Wow! When Chistians can get schooled on the basics of their faith by an athiest, it's time to take a good long look in the mirror, drop on your knees, and ask the Lord to teach us how He would love.

You can bet it wouldn't resemble anything like what was described here.

What's Up With New Hampshire's Governor??

I read on CNN that Gov. Lynch of New Hampshire has made the same-sex marriage bill that passed the House and Senate hit a snag.

What the governor did was refuse to sign the bill into law unless there is a specific provision that protects religious institutions from having to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies. Huh? What does religion have to do with civil rights? It sounds to me like Gov. Lynch, who's a Democrat by the way, is catering to the religious right's paranoia.

To hear some churches tell it, all of us gay folks are just dying to get married in their church and if we have legal marriage rights, then we'll run down to the local Baptist church and demand they perform our wedding ceremony or face legal wrath. I don't know if it's arrogance or ignorance, or both, but having legal same-sex marriage doesn't give us the right to tell a church what ceremonies to perform! Come on. Do they really believe that to be the case?

I submit that the religious right knows they are losing the same-sex marriage battle on moral grounds and now they are using the tactic of saying that legalizing the unions would infringe on their religious liberties as a way to fight us. They are grasping at straws, but apparently Gov. Lynch has bought it, hook, line and sinker!

The law doesn't need to specifically protect churches from having to perform same-sex marriage ceremonies because there is no legal basis for forcing any church to perform any ceremony that they don't believe in. It's just not there. There is no connection and there should be no connection. Separation of church and state says that the government shall make no establishment of a state religion OR prohibit the free exercise thereof. That means a specific religion cannot tell government how they should rule and government can't tell religion how they should worship. It's so simple!

So, I hope that the New Hampshire government gets it's act together and does the right thing. Civil rights should never be denied because of religious intolerance. Religious liberty must be protected, but not at the cost of denying civil rights. You see where I'm going here?

As a Christian, I have been so offended by the Church of late. Instead of focusing on telling people of God's great love for them and how they can know that love, they focus on making sure that two people who love each other and want to get married and "settle down" together cannot legally do that. For some reason, they've decided that my relationship is more important than spreading the Gospel! For shame. For shame.

Is This What It Will Take to Stop Bullying?

Whether it's an individual or an organization, it is so often true that the best way to get their attention is to hit them in the pocketbook. That's the approach Masika Bermudez, the mother of Jaheem Herrera, the 11-year old who recently committed suicide as the result of constant bullying at school, is taking.

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, thanks to PageOneQ for the tip

The family of a fifth-grader who committed suicide after his mother said he
was continuously teased at a Stone Mountain school plans to sue DeKalb County Schools.

A family member discovered 11-year-old Jaheem Herrera in his Atlanta-area
home after he hanged himself on April 16, according to authorities.

Gerald Griggs, the family’s attorney, announced the planned lawsuit at a
rally outside a Decatur church Saturday. Griggs said the family is seeking an
unspecified amount to help fund the Jaheem Herrera Foundation, formed to stop
bullying in schools.

“The purpose of the suit is to hold Dekalb County responsible for the
actions that led to Jaheem’s death and to force a change in the school policies
on handling bullying,” Griggs said after the rally. “This case will send a
message that we as a community will no longer tolerate school systems that
tolerate terror in the classrooms.”

A DeKalb County school spokesman did not immediately return a call and e-mail seeking comment.

DeKalb County and Dunaire Elementary Principal Carolyn Thompson will also be named in the lawsuit, Griggs said. The county and school district have 30 days to respond to Griggs’ “intent to sue” notice before the lawsuit becomes official.

Jaheem’s mother, Masika Bermudez, has said her son often complained of
being called names. She said she repeatedly visited Dunaire Elementary, but her
son told her the bullying continued. Schools Superintendent Crawford Lewis
has acknowledged Bermudez visited the school, though he said it’s unclear how
many times.

He said county school officials are reviewing anti-bullying policies and
investigating allegations of teasing, including a choking incident involving
Jaheem.

State law says students involved in three incidents of bullying can be
expelled.

See, even where there are laws in place, effort still needs to be put into enforcing them. Maybe a good old fashioned lawsuit will help motivate people and prevent more tragedies like this one.

Same-Sex Marriage Could Be New Supreme Court Litmus Test

With the upcoming retirement of Supreme Court Justice David Souter, President Obama will soon get his first crack at nominating someone to the high court. According to the Washington Post, the nominee's view on same-sex marriage could replace abortion as the key litmus test among senators who will vote on confirmation.

In addition to shedding more light on the nation's most contentious unfolding social drama and legal frontier, Senate Republicans say the debate could provide a road map to an Obama nominee's judicial philosophy.

"It may reflect the degree to which they think that they're not bound by the classical meaning of the Constitution, and that they may want to let a personal agenda go beyond what the law said," said Sen. Jeff Sessions (Ala.), the senior Republican on the Senate Judiciary Committee.

"It is now the flash point where politics and law meet. That flash point used to be abortion. I don't think anybody thinks that's going to be the flash point in this nomination," said William A. Jacobson, a Cornell University law professor and conservative blogger.

Most Republicans and Democrats -- Obama included -- agree that individual
states should determine their own marriage laws. But Congress complicated that
process by approving the Defense of Marriage Act.

Rushed through by Republicans and signed by President Clinton on the eve of the 1996 election, the law allows states to ignore marriages performed in other states and denies federal recognition of legal gay marriages.

Under that law, same-sex couples are barred from receiving a long list of
federal benefits -- more than 1,100. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr., the most
recent addition to the Supreme Court, acknowledged during his January 2006
Senate hearing that "several constitutional doctrines seem to be implicated" in
the legislation, including the "full faith and credit" clause that compels
states to honor judgments by other state courts. Legal scholars differ on the
clause's application to gay marriage, Alito noted, and "that's an issue that may
well come up within the federal courts" and is "almost certain to do so."

For conservative activists, the Defense of Marriage Act is the levee holding back the flood. The 2003 Supreme Court decision that threw out a Texas sodomy law sparked scores of civil challenges to state and federal gay-marriage restrictions based on discrimination and other claims. Conservative legal organizations have mobilized in opposition to these lawsuits and to increasing activity on the issue in state legislatures. One priority is to establish the right not to recognize same-sex marriage on religious grounds. In New Hampshire, Gov. John Lynch (D) is seeking protections for churches and their employees before he signs his state's pending same-sex marriage bill into law.

Conservative groups are scrutinizing potential nominees for any hint of where they stand on the Defense of Marriage Act and other issues related to same-sex marriage. Gary Marx, executive director of the Judicial Confirmation Network, one of the leading groups revving up for the summer proceedings, said of the gravity of the marriage issue, "A lot of it does depend on who the nominee is."

Folks, please don't underestimate the anger festering within many conservatives right now. Having staked out the moral high ground and still getting their asses kicked, as they have consistently in 2009, the righteous indignation among conservatives has welled up until it is ready to explode. James Dobson may have run up the white flag (at least temporarily), but federal recognition could be the line in the sand that the right wing draws to protect or die trying.

With lukewarm at best support for LGBT equality from the White House, they still have a good chance to accomplish that on the federal level. Obama's nomination will be another indicator of whether he is ready to engage in these issues or not.

Click here to read the rest of the Washington Post article.

Sunday Worship 5/17/09

If you don't have a welcoming church near you, or you just can't make yourself step into one, we're bringing worship to you. Here are links to some worship music and services from open and affirming ministries (all times eastern). I hope you are blessed and take time out of your busy schedule to enter into the Lord's day.

Don't forget to click on the tab on the upper right of this blog and leave your prayer requests in the comment section so we can petition the Lord for your needs.

We appreicate all of the positive feedback we've received for our Sunday Worship series. If you know of a service we should add to our list, please send an e-mail and share it with me.

Worship Music--sing along and make a joyful noise unto the Lord!








Live Sunday Services (all times Eastern)
AL-Covenant Community Church, Birmingham, 11:45 AM
FL-Potters House International Fellowship, Tampa, 11:00 AM
VA-Believers Covenant Fellowship, Vienna, 11:00 AM
OK-Diversity Christian Fellowship International, Tulsa, 1:00 PM
CA-Glory Tabernacle Christian Center, Long Beach, 1:00 PM
WA-Living Water Fellowship, Kenmore, 1:30 PM

Video Archive
AL-Covenant Community Church, Birmingham
CA-Glory Tabernacle Christian Center, Long Beach
FL-Church of the Holy SpiritSong, Ft. Lauderdale
FL-Potters House International Fellowship, Tampa
GA-Gentle Spirit Christian Church, Atlanta
MI-Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
OK-Expressions Community Fellowship, Oklahoma City
OK-Diversity Christian Fellowship International, Tulsa
WA-Living Water Fellowship, Kenmore

Has James Dobson Surrendered?

According to this US News & World Report blog post, Dr. James Dobson ended a rant against "the utter evil that's coming out of the United States Congress (the hate crimes bill recently passed by the House)" with this stunning quote:

I want to tell you up front that we're not going to ask you to do anything, to make a phone call or to write a letter or anything.

There is nothing you can do at this time about what is taking place because there is simply no limit to what the left can do at this time. Anything they want, they get and so we can't stop them.

We tried with [Health and Human Services Secretary] Kathleen Sebelius and sent thousands of phone calls and emails to the Senate and they didn't pay any attention to it because they don't have to. And so what you can do is pray, pray for this great nation... As I see it, there is no other answer. There's no other answer, short term.

So then what is it exactly that is stopping the White House from engaging in GLBT rights issues if one of the key opposition leaders is giving up?

Click here to read the rest of the post by Dan Gilgoff, who wrote a book about Dobson and Focus on the Family not long ago, at the US News & World Report website.

Advocacy Group; The UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns

The United Church of Christ is known as a very open and affirming denomination, but it is important to note that not all individual churches have signed up as ONA (Open and Affirming). This website identifies ones that have along with the status of other issues within the UCC affecting LGBT members. From the website:

MISSION

The Coalition provides support and sanctuary to all our lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender sisters and brothers, their families and friends; advocates for their full inclusion in church and society; and brings Christ's affirming message of love and justice for all people.

The United Church of Christ Coalition for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Concerns is officially recognized by the United Church of Christ as a related, self-created organization.

The work of The Coalition is focused on three primary areas:

* Creating and supporting Open and Affirming (ONA) settings within the United Church of Christ
* Supporting youth and young adults and those who work with them
* National Gathering

But all of our work is geared to support the work of volunteers on the local level.

VISION

• Develop a community organizing emphasis within The Coalition and among UCC groups and other external partners
• Build and expand relationships for support, community, and action for the purpose of:

* “Goosing” and growing Open and Affirming settings
* Increasing Youth and Young Adult ministry
* Strengthening local networks to work on local issues
* Building coalitions with ecumenical, interfaith, and secular partners

This Coalition ministry is rooted in our particular place as Christians working for peace and justice, inspired by the Good News of God’s extravagant welcome.

There's that word again--welcome. That's a really good word to see from a church.

Click here to visit the website for The UCC Coalition for LGBT Concerns.

Finding A Congregation That Welcomes a Transwoman

A Facebook friend recently posted the link to a site titled "No Dumb Questions" that contains a lot of important, personal stories from LGBT people. I'll be posting some of them in the weeks ahead. The first one is from transwoman Nicole Garcia and her experience finding a church that welcomed her presenting as a woman. A shout out to St. Paul Lutheran Church in Denver, the congregation that gives this story a happy ending.

From 2003 to today...a little history on the "slippery slope" argument

I stumbled onto a 2003 article today on the web and found it fascinating. Here's an excerpt from the Weekly Standard:

"...Among the likeliest effects of gay marriage is to take us down a slippery slope to legalized polygamy and "polyamory" (group marriage). Marriage will be transformed into a variety of relationship contracts, linking two, three, or more individuals (however weakly and temporarily) in every conceivable combination of male and female. A scare scenario? Hardly. The bottom of this slope is visible from where we stand. Advocacy of legalized polygamy is growing. A network of grass-roots organizations seeking legal recognition for group marriage already exists. The cause of legalized group marriage is championed by a powerful faction of family law specialists. Influential legal bodies in both the United States and Canada have presented radical programs of marital reform. Some of these quasi-governmental proposals go so far as to suggest the abolition of marriage. The ideas behind this movement have already achieved surprising influence with a prominent American politician..."

To read the rest of it, you can go to: http://www.weeklystandard.com/Content/Public/Articles/000/000/002/938xpsxy.asp

What fascinated me was history. This was written in 2003, right after the Supreme Court decision of Lawrence v. Texas. Apparently, saying that what we do in the privacy of our bedrooms is our business set off a firestorm!

Anyway, it struck me how things have changed, and yet they stay the same. Case in point, I heard a few sound bites from Ann Coulter this morning that almost quoted this article. She went into the whole, if gays can marry then we'll have to legalize marriage with children, animals, threesomes, etc. and on and on.

It's interesting that 5 states now have legal marriage between two people of the same sex and not one of them is even considering these other things! How is that possible? You mean gay marriage is legal and it hasn't completely obliterated "traditional" marriage?! Hmmm. Have we heard anything about a state forcing a church or religion to recognize or perform same-sex marriages? Nope. How about the fact that now all of these pedophiles and group sex advocates will not descend in droves onto the state capitals to demand their right to marry? That would be a "no" as well. How is that when the religious right has been telling us for years how these things would absolutely occur if gay marriage was legalized?

Maybe, just maybe, my right to marry my partner isn't something that even affects traditional marriage, much less destroys it! I know it won't stop straight people from wanting to marry each other. It won't stop them from divorcing half the time either.

In 2003, no state had legal gay marriage or civil unions on the books. Jump to 2009...We have 5 states that have decided to recognize gay relationships, legally. I submit there will be many more to come. Why? Because the longer that gay marriage is legal in any state and there is no real impact on traditional marriage, the less the religious rights' arguments will be able to hold any water. Not that they ever did, mind you.

People like my parents will probably always believe that gay marriage is morally wrong and we shouldn't legalize it. However, I am seeing signs everywhere that the majority is starting to see the light. More young people, especially, are seeing gay marriage for what it is...the right of two people who love each other to marry, no matter their gender.

It's only been 6 years since the Lawrence v. Texas and to see the progress we have made does my heart good. Do we have a long way to go? Of course. But it doesn't change the fact that we've come a long way, Baby!

"Stuck in Fear"

Monica Helms has a lot of interesting posts at her blog Trans Universe, and I want to share this one in particular with you. Here's an excerpt from "Stuck in Fear"

One of the most debilitating emotions that can grip a person’s heart and freeze a body in an instant is fear. Everyone of us fears something, be it spiders, rats, crowds, small spaces and even death. These fears don’t last long, and we can easily get past them, with the exception of death. We’ll all go there, eventually.

Yes, we all experience fear, but for many in the transgender community, fear becomes their constant companion. Society gave us a lot to fear and because of that, some trans people have raised fear to an art form. For many, fear has kept them from realizing their potential in life. It serves as their crutch, their excuse, their way to avoid growing as a person. “No. I can’t do that. It scares me.”

The fear of discovery has become a big discussion in our community. Living a fully stealth life, or even a partially stealth one can cause a person to be stuck in fear. No good way to get around this issue can be found without a lot of anxiety and stressful moments. Others have been taken advantage of, or made fun of at work, church and social events, yet fear keeps them from speaking up or standing up for their rights. I hear, “It’s okay. It’ll work out.” Let me tell you from experience, it never does. It gets worse.

Any fear can be conquered. Keep this in mind. If we had the will power and the strength to overcome all of the fears we knew would follow us when we started living our true lives, then we have the will power and strength to overcome other fears that we face in life. Society has made us afraid. We have the power to succeed and to squash the fears they put upon us. The answer to defeating fear lies in your heart. All you need to do is to let it out.

Monica touches on her faith elsewhere in her post, but I want to add a very important verse of scripture to her message:

(Phillipians 4:13, NIV) I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

We can ALL overcome fear with the promises of the Lord, like the scripture above.

Click here to read the rest of "Stuck In Fear."

"What Do Mothers and Gay Marriage Have In Common"

One of my Facebook friends linked to this essay from the Huffington Post, and after reading it I thought it was worth sharing with you. Here's an excerpt:

Gays and lesbian parents living authentically allow people to see that their love and joy does not threaten the families of those who hold different values.. I believe as more people come to know this as truth we will see allies growing in their support of the unfettered right to love and care for children. The argument that same-sex marriage erodes traditional standards that have been entrenched since the time of the Bible is erroneous. This same argument adds that gay marriage will distort children's views of sex and love. What they fail to acknowledge is that society does not evolve out of a rigid adherence to tradition. Our country and society itself was founded out of radical departures from oppression and stifled expression.

Gay men and women have been adopting / birthing children and creating families for years. Children will continue to have same sex parents regardless of whether marriage is sanctified or not. In the United States alone, 10 million people have at least one gay or lesbian parent. It would be healthier for individuals and society for all children to be raised in environments where the love his or her gay parents share is legally and socially recognized.

Research cited from an article in the journal of the American Sociological Association by Laura Hamilton, et.al (Indiana University) illustrates that the commitments by gay and lesbian parents are naturally more intensified due to the often arduous roads to adoption. Gay parenting "accidents" are a rarity. I personally know gay parents who have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars and received more intensified scrutiny in the adoption process. The same study of 13,000 parents including 161 adoptive families shows in some cases that adoptive parents actually rate better on activities including helping with homework, parental involvement in school, exposure to cultural activities and family. Also, the study specifically states that gay and lesbian parents may go the extra mile to ensure children's welfare in response to stigma and less social acceptance.

It is apparent that the argument that gay marriage is detrimental to society because of its potential effect on children is erroneous. My assumption is that those who claim that gay marriage is unhealthy for children have not taken the responsibility to comprehensively explore the research available that proves otherwise. This leads me to ponder if a society of hate has blindly become a money making institution. If not, then organizations that claim to be invested in the interest of children might consider taking the millions upon millions of dollars raised to spread hate and fear and use it to feed and clothe the plethora of hungry children living far below the poverty line right here in California.

There much more from this excellent esssay here at the Huffington Post.

Sunday Worship 5/10/09

If you don't have a welcoming church near you, or you just can't make yourself step into one, we're bringing worship to you. Here are links to some worship music and services from open and affirming ministries (all times eastern). I hope you are blessed and take time out of your busy schedule to enter into the Lord's day.

Don't forget to click on the tab on the upper right of this blog and leave your prayer requests in the comment section so we can petition the Lord for your needs.

We appreicate all of the positive feedback we've received for our Sunday Worship series. If you know of a service we should add to our list, please send an e-mail and share it with me.

Worship Music--sing along and make a joyful noise unto the Lord!







Live Sunday Services (all times Eastern)
AL-Covenant Community Church, Birmingham, 11:45 AM
FL-Potters House International Fellowship, Tampa, 11:00 AM
VA-Believers Covenant Fellowship, Vienna, 11:00 AM
OK-Diversity Christian Fellowship International, Tulsa, 1:00 PM
CA-Glory Tabernacle Christian Center, Long Beach, 1:00 PM
WA-Living Water Fellowship, Kenmore, 1:30 PM

Video Archive
AL-Covenant Community Church, Birmingham
CA-Glory Tabernacle Christian Center, Long Beach
FL-Church of the Holy SpiritSong, Ft. Lauderdale
FL-Potters House International Fellowship, Tampa
GA-Gentle Spirit Christian Church, Atlanta
MI-Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
OK-Expressions Community Fellowship, Oklahoma City
OK-Diversity Christian Fellowship International, Tulsa
WA-Living Water Fellowship, Kenmore

When Will Obama Engage?

There is an interesting consequence of the recent advance of GLBT equality in several states; the pressure is mounting on President Obama to push something through at the federal level.

From the New York Times:

President Obama was noticeably silent last month when the Iowa Supreme Court overturned the state’s ban on same-sex marriage.

But now Mr. Obama — who has said he opposes same-sex marriage as a Christian but describes himself as a “fierce advocate of equality” for gay men and lesbians — is under pressure to engage on a variety of gay issues that are coming to the fore amid a dizzying pace of social, political, legal and legislative change.

Two of Mr. Obama’s potential Supreme Court nominees are openly gay; some advocates, irked that there are no gay men or lesbians in his cabinet, are mounting a campaign to influence his choice to replace Justice David H. Souter, who is retiring. Same-sex marriage is advancing in states — the latest to allow it is Maine — and a new flare-up in the District of Columbia could ultimately put the controversy in the lap of the president.

Mr. Obama’s new global health initiative has infuriated activists who say he is not financing AIDS programs generously enough. And while the president has urged Congress to pass a hate crimes bill, a high priority for gay groups, he has delayed action on one of his key campaign promises, repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” rule.

Social issues like same-sex marriage bring together deeply held principles and flashpoint politics, and many gay activists, aware that Mr. Obama is also dealing with enormous challenges at home and overseas, have counseled patience.

But some are unsettled by what they see as the president’s cautious approach. Many are still seething over his choice of the Rev. Rick Warren, the evangelical pastor who opposes same-sex marriage, to deliver the invocation at his inaugural, and remain suspicious of Mr. Obama’s commitment to their cause.

In the words of David Mixner, a writer, gay activists are beginning to wonder, “How much longer do we give him the benefit of the doubt?” Last weekend, Richard Socarides, who advised President Bill Clinton on gay issues, published an opinion piece in The Washington Post headlined, “Where’s our fierce advocate?”

Here is an interesting piece from CNN including a discussion on how Obama should approach gay rights issues (thanks to Pam's House Blend for the tip):



CNN political analyist Paul Begala makes a key point in that video, stating that the gay marriage issue is moving along quite well at this point without the White House pushing it forward.

I understand the eagerness of people who are still being discriminated against to have that situation corrected, but the enormous crush of issues affecting the security and economic health of the United States, issues with don't discriminate between straight and gay, do need to be Obama's priority. Let's see if the Senate will pass the Hate Crimes bill that the House has already approved (here is a NY Times editorial encouraging them to do so), and give the President time to move forward on Don't Ask, Don't Tell (he promised he would in this personal letter).

Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi also preaches patience in this article from the Detroit News:

"Right now on our agenda we're talking about turning the economy around, dealing with an energy policy, health care for all Americans; education is the third pillar. We have an economic crisis of a magnitude that none of us has seen in our lifetime that we have to deal with."

"Members will make a priority of issues like gays in the military, and where we have prospects of success, we always want to expand to a place of more opportunity and more freedom for all Americans."

"But right now our agenda is jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, jobs, and as we move on that front, concurrently, we have to make some decisions about what is possible in our values based initiatives as well."

In the meantime, equality has built up a good head of steam at the state level, so lets focus on keeping that momentum moving forward.

Advocacy Group: Atticus Circle

Atticus Circle is a GLBT advocacy group founded by Anne S. Wynne, a straight woman who felt that "as a married woman of three children, I decided to take a stand."

From the Atticus Circle website:

Why We Need Atticus Circle

The Atticus Circle was created because discrimination exists. Same gender couples and their children are being systematically denied the protections and responsibilities afforded to other families.

Research shows that there are over three million gay or lesbian people living in the United States in committed relationships in the same residence.

Here are just a few of the ways discrimination affects the lives of these families:

Parenting
Because they cannot legally marry, same gender couples are denied the automatic right to function as equal partners parents out in the world - in places such as their child's school or the hospital emergency room. Same gender couples are also denied the right to joint adoption and joint foster care.

Divorce
The children of same gender couples are denied the guarantee of child support and an automatic legal relationship to both parents - possibly leading to no contact with the parent who is not on the birth certificate.

Health: Unlike spouses, unmarried partners are usually not considered next-of-kin for the purposes of hospital visitation and emergency medical decisions. In addition, they can't cover their families on their health plans without paying taxes on the coverage, nor are they eligible for Medicare and Medicaid coverage.

Death
Same-gender couples are denied the right to inherit from each other like a husband and wife. They are denied the right to receive Social Security survivor benefits. A surviving partner could never file a wrongful death claim, and is not entitled to bereavement leave from work.

It is also worth remembering that there are no "accidental" children in gay and lesbian families. Their families are created with conscious intention. We must honor these relationships by giving them the rights they deserve.

Click here to read more about Atticus Circle, including their new initiative "Sundays of Solidarity."

ANOTHER Big Win: Same-Sex Marriage Now Legal in Maine

From CNN:

Same-sex marriage became legal in Maine on Wednesday as Gov. John Baldacci signed a bill less than an hour after the state legislature approved it.

"I have come to believe that this is a question of fairness and of equal protection under the law and that a civil union is not equal to civil marriage," said Baldacci, a Democrat.

The Human Rights Campaign, a gay and lesbian rights organization, praised Maine's new law.

"This law is simply about making sure that loving, committed couples, and their families, receive equal rights and responsibilities. This is a step that will strengthen Maine families," Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese said in a statement.

More from Gay City News:

Betsy Smith, executive director of EqualityMaine, noted the significance of a massive public hearing held several weeks ago, at which thousands of citizens turned out, the clear majority of them in favor of marriage equality.

"Since we began our campaign, tens of thousands of Mainers have raised their voices in support of fairness for gay and lesbian families," Smith said, in a written statement. "Today the Legislature and the Governor listened to the people of Maine and made marriage equality the law of this state. Two weeks ago thousands of Mainers traveled from every corner of the state to testify to their hopes for their families, and the harm that they suffer from not being able to marry.

"Baldacci becomes the first governor in the nation to sign a marriage equality law not mandated by a court. Earlier this year, Connecticut's Republican governor, Jodi Rell, signed a measure passed by the Legislature there to conform the state's laws to its high court marriage equality ruling last year. Republican Governors Arnold Schwarzenegger of California and Jim Douglas of Vermont vetoed similar measures, though Douglas' action was overridden.

Noting he would soon celebrate his 53rd wedding anniversary, Representative James J. Campbell Jr., a Newfield Republican, said, "They have been the best 53 years of my life. I don't want to stand here and say that two men and two women cannot have what I've had for the past 53 years with my wife."

It's nice to see a Republican committed to acting on an issue of fairness. Hopefully more of his colleagues will follow suit.

DC Counvil Votes to Recognize Other States' Same-Sex Marriages

The Nation's Capital has become a symbol of hope for many Americans since the inauguration of President Obama, and that hope has started to become a more tangible reality for the GLBT community with today's passage by the city council of a bill that will recognize same-sex marriages legally performed in other states. Mayor Fenty is expected to sign the bill into law.

Ironically, the lone dissenting vote was former mayor (and felon) Marion Barry, long a supporter of the District's GLBT community but who has undergone a recent public transformation into a champion of traditional marriage (despite issues with that in his own life).

Here's an excerpt from the Washington Post report:

Council member David A. Catania (I-At Large), one of two openly gay members of the council, appeared to take a swipe at Barry over his stance.

"This issue is whether or not our colleagues on a personal level view me and [council member] Jim Graham as your equals," Catania said, referring to the other openly gay member of the council. "If we are permitted the same rights and responsibilities and obligations as our colleagues. So this is personal. This is acknowledging our families as much as we acknowledge yours."

If Congress does not try to block the bill to recognize same-sex marriages performed in other states, Catania has said he will introduce a separate bill later this year to allow same-sex marriages to be conducted in the District.

Barry predicted today there could be a "civil war" in the District if the Council decides to take up a broader gay marriage bill later this year.

"All hell is going to break lose," Barry said while speaking to reporters. "We may have a civil war. The black community is just adamant against this."

Stay tuned. Click here to read the rest of the Post's report.

Using the "B" Word More Sparingly

Bigot.

I've used that word plenty on this blog as have many other LGBT activists.

Is it accurate, and is it helpful?

First, not always, and second, seldom.

Here's an excerpt from a thoughtful essay on 365gay.com by John Corvino:

Marriage-equality opponents are increasingly complaining that we’re calling them bigots. This leads to a kind of double-counting of our arguments: For any argument X that we offer, opponents complain both that we’re saying X and that we’re saying that anyone who disagrees with X is a bigot.

Then, instead of responding to X—that is, debating the issue on the merits—they focus on the alleged bigotry charge and grumble about being called names.

I don’t deny that some of us do call them names (sometimes deserved, sometimes not). Yet even those who call them “bigots”—such as Frank Rich in his New York Times op-ed “The Bigots’ Last Hurrah”—often engage the substance as well. Increasingly, our opponents ignore the substance in favor of touting their alleged persecution.

Personally, I think the term “bigot” should be used sparingly. Many of those who oppose marriage equality are otherwise decent people who can and sometimes do respond to reasoned dialogue.

To call such persons bigots is not merely inaccurate; it’s a conversation-stopper. It says, “your views are beyond the pale, and I won’t dignify them with discussion.”

I've wondered more than once if some of the folks who I work with and with whom I share good discussions about the Lord read some of my pieces where I use the "B" word how they would feel. I know, as I'm sure most of us do, many good-hearted people who love God that truly believe that the Bible teaches homosexuality is a sin. How would they feel if they saw me indirectly label them bigots for that belief? Angry and hurt, I suspect, and less open to hearing what I have to say about much of anything I suspect.

There is a moveable middle of opinion about GLBT rights that is starting to move in the right direction. I believe the best way to keep that momentum is to engage in constructive discussion, which is hard to do when either side slaps a label on the other.

I'll pledge to be more sensitive toward that, and I encourage you to do the same.

Click here to read the rest of John Corvino's essay.

Do You Tweet in Church?

If you do, this article from Time magazine encourages you not to feel guilty about it:

There's a time and a place for technology, and most houses of worship still say it's not at morning Mass. But instead of reminding worshippers to silence their cell phones, a small but growing number of churches around the country are following Voelz' lead and encouraging people to integrate text-messaging into their relationship with God.

In Seattle, Mars Hill churchgoers regularly tweet throughout the service. In New York City, Trinity Church marked Good Friday by tweeting the Passion play, detailing the stages of Jesus' crucifixion in short bursts. At Next Level Church, outside Charlotte, it's not only okay to fuse social networking technology with prayer; it's desirable.

On Easter Sunday, pastor Todd Hahn prefaced his sermon by saying, "I hope many of you are tweeting this morning about your experience with God."

"It's a huge responsibility of a church to leverage whatever's going on in the broader culture, to connect people to God and to each other," says Hahn.

If worship is about creating community, Twitter is an undeniably useful tool. The trick is to not let the chatter overshadow the need for quiet reflection that spirituality requires. At Westwinds, people can ask questions about the sermon that the pastors will answer later, or they can tweet in real time and hope another congregant offers insight. Some use Twitter as a note-taking tool. Often, it's pastor-directed, with McDonald preaching while Voelz taps out, "In what way do you feel the spirit of God moving within you?" Discuss.

Well, there you are folks, tweet away in the name of the Lord. Just make sure your house of worship is a twitter-friendly zone.

Sunday Worship 5/3/09

If you don't have a welcoming church near you, or you just can't make yourself step into one, we're bringing worship to you. Here are links to some worship music and services from open and affirming ministries (all times eastern). I hope you are blessed and take time out of your busy schedule to enter into the Lord's day.

Don't forget to click on the tab on the upper right of this blog and leave your prayer requests in the comment section so we can petition the Lord for your needs.

We appreicate all of the positive feedback we've received for our Sunday Worship series. If you know of a service we should add to our list, please send an e-mail and share it with me.

Worship Music--sing along and make a joyful noise unto the Lord!







Live Sunday Services (all times Eastern)
AL-Covenant Community Church, Birmingham, 11:45 AM
FL-Potters House International Fellowship, Tampa, 11:00 AM
VA-Believers Covenant Fellowship, Vienna, 11:00 AM
OK-Diversity Christian Fellowship International, Tulsa, 1:00 PM
CA-Glory Tabernacle Christian Center, Long Beach, 1:00 PM
WA-Living Water Fellowship, Kenmore, 1:30 PM

Video Archive
AL-Covenant Community Church, Birmingham
CA-Glory Tabernacle Christian Center, Long Beach
FL-Church of the Holy SpiritSong, Ft. Lauderdale
FL-Potters House International Fellowship, Tampa
GA-Gentle Spirit Christian Church, Atlanta
MI-Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
OK-Expressions Community Fellowship, Oklahoma City
OK-Diversity Christian Fellowship International, Tulsa
WA-Living Water Fellowship, Kenmore

Major Legislative Victories for GLBT People

The momentum toward equality picked up a bit more steam on Wednesday with two important votes, the passage of legislation allowing same-sex marriage in New Hampshire and the federal hate-crimes bill sailing to victory in the U. S. House of Representatives.

First, the story from New Hampshire from MSNBC:

New Hampshire's Senate passed a bill on Wednesday that would legalize same-sex marriage after an amendment was added that prohibits polygamy and marriage of family members, among other measures.

Governor John Lynch has not indicated whether he will veto the bill, which passed in a 13-11 vote and would make New Hampshire the nation's fifth state where gay marriage is legal. But the Democrat has expressed opposition to the measure.

The bill passed the state's House of Representatives on March 26 but looked set for near certain defeat in the Senate before the amendment, which appeared to mollify some critics in the Democrat-controlled chamber.

The last-minute changes to the legislation would allow clergy to decline to marry homosexual couples and give couples the freedom to either keep the words "bride" and "groom" on marriage licenses, or simply use the word "spouse" instead.

Because the Senate and House passed separate versions they must resolve their differences before the bill can go to the governor, who in 2007 signed a law recognizing same-sex civil unions, making New Hampshire the fourth state to do so.

Democratic state Senator Deborah Reynolds, who opposed the bill at committee level, changed her vote after the amendment.

"This is a compromise that is respectful to both sides of this debate and meets our shared goal of equality under state law for all the people of New Hampshire," Reynolds said.

"It honors the religious beliefs of many of our constituents and gives denominations clear authority to decide whether to bless any marriage in this state according to their principles and beliefs."

Here's the story on the hate crimes bill from 365gay.com:

The House of Representatives passed legislation Wednesday to add sexual orientation and gender identity to the list of categories covered under federal hate crime law.

The Local Law Enforcement Hate Crimes Prevention Act, also known as the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes Act for the 21-year-old college student who was murdered in an anti-gay hate crime in Wyoming in October 1998, would provide local police and sheriff’s departments with federal resources to combat hate violence.

“No one should face violence simply because of who they are,” said Judy Shepard, executive director of the Matthew Shepard Foundation. “This bill is a critical step to erasing the hate that has devastated far too many families.”

Wednesday morning, just hours before the vote, President Obama urged Congress to pass the bill.

” I urge members on both sides of the aisle to act on this important civil rights issue by passing this legislation to protect all of our citizens from violent acts of intolerance – legislation that will enhance civil rights protections, while also protecting our freedom of speech and association,” the President said in a statement.

” I also urge the Senate to work with my Administration to finalize this bill and to take swift action.”

As do I and all others who believe in fairness and justice.

Enjoy Rep. Barney Frank's speech before the vote:

A Gay Look at Obama'a First 100 Days

From the Philadelphia Gay News:

This Wednesday marks the 100th day since President Obama took the oath of office and, for the national lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community, never-before-experienced access to and inclusion in the federal government — although the LGBT community is still awaiting the appointment of an openly gay individual to the president’s cabinet.

Since taking office, Obama has appointed at least 35 openly LGBT individuals to federal posts. Seven of these employees were nominated for positions that required Senate confirmation, making Obama the first president ever to choose LGBT individuals for such positions within the first 100 days of the presidency.

The Obama administration’s inclusion of the LGBT community has also extended beyond employment opportunities.

In the past three months, scores of LGBT community leaders have been invited to the White House for a series of mainstream events.

On Feb. 18, Joe Solmonese, executive director of the advocacy group Human Rights Campaign, and Rea Carey, executive director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, were included in the president’s reception for progressive leaders.

Solmonese also participated in the Feb. 23 Fiscal Responsibility Summit, as well as the March 5 White House Forum on Health Reform, along with Carey, Paul Kawata, president of the National Minority AIDS Council, and Frank Oldham, executive director of the National Association of People Living with AIDS.

Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, Darlene Nipper, deputy executive director of the NGLTF, and Leslie Calman, executive director of the Mautner Project, a national lesbian health organization, were all included in the March 11 launch event for the White House Council on Women and Girls.

The administration has also made strides to provide outreach to specific segments of the LGBT community.

In late March, Eliza Byard, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, and a collection of LGBT and ally students met with secretary of education Arne Duncan to discuss the challenges faced by LGBT students, marking the first time that such a meeting took place.

Click here to read more about the encouragement the GLBT community should feel from President Obama's first 100 days in office.

Legal Same-Sex Marriages Begin in Iowa

Yesterday was the first day that same-sex couples could take advantage of full equality under state marriage laws in Iowa. It was the first day that they could file for marriage licenses, and state law requires a three-day wait before couples actually get married, but some couples were granted waivers and got hitched right away.

From MSNBC:

Rumors surfaced over the past week that some recorders would refuse to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples over conflicts with their personal beliefs. Some conservative groups and lawmakers were accused of trying to recruit recorders to refuse the licenses.

State agencies sent out information to recorders statewide last week saying they could be removed from their positions if they don't follow the law and issue the licenses.

"There's a lot of people fishing around out there, but we'll see," said Painter. "I am quite optimistic that all 99 recorders will follow the rule of law and issue licenses."

Iowa has a history of being at the forefront on social issues. It was among the first states to legalize interracial marriage and to allow married women to own property. It was also the first state to admit a woman to the bar to practice law and was a leader in school desegregation.

Alicia Zacher, 24, and her 22-year-old fiancee Jessica Roach, both of Des Moines, said they have a 4 p.m. appointment to get married if they can get a waiver. They want to get married immediately after seeing how California voters reinstated a ban on same-sex marriage.

"You just never know when they'll try to take it away," Roach said.

From the Huffington Post:

Within hours of a state Supreme Court ruling legalizing gay marriage taking effect, several same-sex couples had exchanged vows on the steps of the Polk County Administrative Building.

"It's not very romantic is it?" Melisa Keeton joked, referring to the location of the ceremony and the media attention, before marrying Shelley Wolfe.

The couple were allowed to wed after getting a judge to waive the state's three-day waiting period. The waiver was granted after the couple claimed the wait was stressful on Keeton, who is
pregnant and due in August.

The couple, who will go by the last name Keeton, were married by the Rev. Peg Esperanza of the Church of the Holy Spirit. She later married at least two other couples, all at no charge.

"God sent me here today, and I've said OK," said Esperanza, a lesbian who plans to marry her partner in October.

A poll by the University of Iowa taken just before the high court's ruling showed 26 percent of Iowans support gay marriage. That number rises to more than 50 percent when people were asked if they supported either gay marriage or civil unions.

"If they want to marry, I don't see a reason not to let them," said Joe Biase, a 31-year-old college student from Des Moines. "For a state in the heartland, it's come a long way."

Tom Wittman, 55, of Johnston, agreed.

"I think it's fine," he said. "It is an issue of equal rights."

There's some basic wisdom from the heartland.

Presbyterians Move Closer to Ordaining Gays

GLBT people have not won the war yet, but they are winnng more battles for equality in the Presbyterian Church. From the Associated Press via MSNBC:

Efforts to allow gays and lesbians to serve as clergy in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) have been defeated again, sealed by votes Saturday.

But the margin of defeat — the final tally has yet to be determined — is already guaranteed to be much closer than in previous years. That is encouraging for gay clergy supporters and concerning to opponents, with both sides expecting the issue to be revisited in the future.

Before Saturday, the total was 68 presbyteries for and 86 opposed, or one shy of the margin needed for defeat, according to Presbyterian News Service, the denomination's official press arm.
Previous efforts to delete the "fidelity and chastity" provision failed at the presbytery level by votes of 57-115 in 1997-1998 and 46-127 in 2001-2002.

Twenty-eight of the 127 presbyteries that voted no in 2001-2002 have voted in favor of this year's amendment. Many of them, supporters of the change pointed out, were in traditionally conservative states such as Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina and Tennessee.

One surprising exception was the San Francisco presbytery, which voted no.

"The tide is turning before our very eyes in understanding that GLBT men and women are loved by God and called to ministry," said the Rev. Janet Edwards, co-moderator of More Light Presbyterians, which supports changing the ordination standards. "The church is catching up with the love Jesus has for all God's children."

Isn't it sad that the Church has to catch up to Jesus' love instead of leading the way. This continues to be symptomatic of most organized religion, but at least the Presbyterian Church is moving in the right direction. It seems a short matter of time before GLBT people will have the same right to serve God within that denomination as everyone else.

Organized religion has a way of putting restraints on people, but Jesus truly wants everyone to be set free and have the opportunity to fully use the gifts He blessed them with to serve Hiim.

Sunday Worship 4/26/09

If you don't have a welcoming church near you, or you just can't make yourself step into one, we're bringing worship to you. Here are links to some worship music and services from open and affirming ministries (all times eastern). I hope you are blessed and take time out of your busy schedule to enter into the Lord's day.

Don't forget to click on the tab on the upper right of this blog and leave your prayer requests in the comment section so we can petition the Lord for your needs.

We appreicate all of the positive feedback we've received for our Sunday Worship series. If you know of a service we should add to our list, please send an e-mail and share it with me.

Worship Music--sing along and make a joyful noise unto the Lord!







Live Sunday Services (all times Eastern)
AL-Covenant Community Church, Birmingham, 11:45 AM
FL-Potters House International Fellowship, Tampa, 11:00 AM
VA-Believers Covenant Fellowship, Vienna, 11:00 AM
OK-Diversity Christian Fellowship International, Tulsa, 1:00 PM
CA-Glory Tabernacle Christian Center, Long Beach, 1:00 PM
WA-Living Water Fellowship, Kenmore, 1:30 PM

Video Archive
AL-Covenant Community Church, Birmingham
CA-Glory Tabernacle Christian Center, Long Beach
FL-Church of the Holy SpiritSong, Ft. Lauderdale
FL-Potters House International Fellowship, Tampa
GA-Gentle Spirit Christian Church, Atlanta
MI-Christ Community Church, Spring Lake, MI
OK-Expressions Community Fellowship, Oklahoma City
OK-Diversity Christian Fellowship International, Tulsa
WA-Living Water Fellowship, Kenmore

How Bullying Can Kill

CNN has a good summary of the latest tragedy brought on by a boy being bullied by his schoolmates because he wasn't considered masculine enough.

Allegations of such severe bullying surprises experts familiar with the school district. It's anti-bullying program was considered exemplary and includes programs to raise awareness and a specially trained liaison. Students are even asked to sign a no-bullying pledge. But other parents told CNN they have complained about bullying as well.

Despite recent strides towards preventing bullying in schools and increased awareness programs, a Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network study showed that 65 percent of teens are bullied each year and most believe adults can't help them.

Less than a month before Jaheem's death, a boy in Massachusetts killed himself after being bullied, harassed and called "gay."

Eliza Byard, executive director of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network, says to be effective, awareness programs need to include education about the harm that can be done by teasing someone about sexuality or perceived sexuality.

"Anti-gay language is really the ultimate weapon for a bully who wants to degrade his or her peers," she says. "And any effective response to bullying has to take that on."

Words CAN hurt--they can even kill. AS the GLSEN director was quoted above, people need to be educated so they understand the consequences of their actions.

Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't point out that Jesus was not a bully, and anyone truly interested in following Him instead of just using His name to justify hate doesn't do that.

http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/04/23/bullying.suicide/

Miss California's Bible-Speak

Well, Monday night's Miss USA pageant was a real interesting one. I didn't watch it this year, but I have read the transcript of Miss California's answer to Perez Hilton's question about same-sex marriage. Miss California spouted forth that she believes marriage should be between a man and a woman and that was how she was raised, etc.

Here is an excerpt from a Karel's website blog (http://www.radiokrl.com/):

Civil rights are not up for debate. The Constitution guarantees that equal equals equal so I know one day marriage will be legal for all couples that want it. Fight that fight in a way that works and leave someone whose job it is to model dresses and be objectified by men alone, even if it’s for your own advantage. Technically, she gave the POPULAR and CORRECT answer in her country like it or not. Change that and you make her look stupid and irrelevant. Attack the message, not the messenger.

I disagree with Miss California, whose name I do not use on purpose, but I support her right to have her opinions. I support her right to rally people to keep marriage between a man and a woman, it’s America. She is ill informed or brainwashed by religion or some other force. Don’t ask a scorpion why it stung you, it’s a scorpion, that’s what it does, Ask why its sting hurts so much and why its attack is still condoned. The answer to those questions, and changing of those situations is how you, we, us, Americans that believe in equality win. Those that seek legal oppression should not have their voice codified in law, but the First Amendment gives them a voice.

And truthfully, who the hell cares what a pageant winner thinks about social policies? SHE’S A PAGEANT BEAUTY QUEEN, not running for public office. Her job will be to attend corporate events and speak all around the country. IF she won and IF she went on a anti-marriage campaign, then, in America it would be your right to launch some sort of campaign against her. Chances are, she would have stayed away from that topic for an entire year. Quickly, off the top of the head, name one political stance of one past MIss USA? War in Iraq? Abortion? Economy? The Bush Years?...

What this guy said is so right on! Why do we in the glbt community call this same-sex fight anything but a fight for civil rights? The Constitution gives every American the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. It also says that we should all be equal! Why do we feel the need to talk about this issue with those who have religious difference with us? If they feel differently than we do, then let them. However, civil justice requires that we all be treated equally. Therefore, in civil law, we should be able to marry whomever we want. The Church doesn't have a say in this, really. Now, if I wanted to get married in a church, then they could refuse to marry me to my partner. However, religious folk who disagree with me about same-sex marriage do not have the right to tell me who I can enter into a civil contract with!

This issue should be very simple. We need to go back and start re-framing the same-sex marriage debate in these terms.

It's like a bumper sticker says: If you don't believe in gay marriage, then don't marry one!

"America's First Transgender Mayor"

I'll bet people picking up the latest issue of Details magazine didn't expect to find the story of the first transgender mayor in U. S. history, Stu Rasmussen, but there it is. Here's an excerpt:

In 2004, Rasmussen was re-elected to the city council. In 2006, he decided to take another run at mayor. He ignored the skeptics who questioned whether a man in lipstick could lead the town, and he lost. So he ran again in 2008, only this time he altered his strategy, posting a photo of himself in a revealing black top on his website. During the town-hall debate, he squared off against Ken Hector and a candidate named Jim Squires. When all three men were asked how they planned to increase tourism, Squires and Hector pointed to the Oregon Garden, an eight-year-old, 80-acre refuge that drew about 6,000 visitors a month. Rasmussen pointed to himself. "If you're looking for a tourist attraction," he said, "elect me."

Click here to read the rest of the story from the Details website.

Advocacy Group: Reconciling Ministries Network

The United Methodist Church is one of the mainline denominations in the United States that is slowly moving toward full equality for GLBT people. An organization working hard to faciliate that is the Reconciling Ministries Network. Here is some information from their website:

The Reconciling Ministries Network (RMN) is a growing movement of United Methodist individuals, congregations, campus ministries, and other groups working for the full participation of all people in the United Methodist Church.

As of March 2009, the RMN encompasses 259 Reconciling Congregations, 34 Reconciling Campus Ministries, and 75 other Reconciling Communities and Ministries. There are over 80,000 Reconciling United Methodists.

Reconciling Ministries Network mobilizes United Methodists of all sexual orientations and gender identities to transform our Church and world into the full expression of Christ’s inclusive love.

Guiding Principles
Reconciling Ministries Network is a Christian and United Methodist organization. Its work is guided by the following core principles:
1. Spiritually GroundedReconciling Ministries Network is committed to the justice imperative of the Gospel and grounding its ministries in the Wesleyan practice of personal and social holiness. RMN is committed to utilizing inclusive language and respectfully recognizing the diverse approaches to scripture, tradition, reason, and experience of the congregations and communities with whom it relates.
2. ReconciliationReconciling Ministries Network is committed to reconciliation that leads to the healing and transformation of animosity into a loving relationship amongst all God’s children. Authentic reconciliation requires peace with justice.
3. Overcoming OppressionReconciling Ministries Network aspires to fulfill our baptismal covenant to resist oppression in whatever form it presents itself in our movement, church, and world. RMN has a commitment to ending institutional racism, sexism, and economic injustice by working at the intersections of oppression and focusing on an ongoing examination of internal processes and external actions at all levels including its selection of issues and organizing strategies.
4. Integrating Sexuality with SpiritualityReconciling Ministries Network believes that human sexuality is a good gift from God. RMN is committed to supporting the integration of healthy, loving expressions of sexuality and spirituality for everyone. In particular, since the Church so often has sought to deny their full humanity, we celebrate the sexuality and spirituality of LGBT persons and pledge to provide resources that lead to a deeper understanding of God’s precious gift.
5. RelationshipsReconciling Ministries Network acts in hospitality across theological divides and is committed to the creation of community, interconnectedness, and deep relationships.
6. Systems ChangeReconciling Ministries Network is committed to policy change and the creation of long-term solutions and practices that create full inclusion in The United Methodist Church and our broader society. RMN works for full equality in membership, ordination, and marriage for God’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender children.
7. StewardshipReconciling Ministries Network is committed to the stewardship of its organizational resources—the people, time, talent, and treasures—that God provides for transformation of our church and world.
8. Organizational Authenticity Reconciling Ministries Network is committed to operating in a way that mirrors the change we hope to create in the world. Towards that end, we commit to honesty, integrity, excellence, equality, justice, dignity, civility, diversity, inclusion, and creativity. This includes continuous soul searching in all organizational practices and the provision of ongoing continuing education to all staff and board members to enhance skills and develop growth.

Click here to read much more about this organiation on its website.

Can Conservatives Support Same-Sex Marriage?

Steve Schmidt, John McCain's presidential campaign manager, thinks that there is justification for conservatives to support same-sex marriage. From CNN:

In a speech Friday to Log Cabin Republicans, a conservative gay rights group, Steve Schmidt said allowing same-sex marriage is in line with the conservative credo of keeping government out of people's private lives.

"There is a sound conservative argument to be made for same-sex marriage," Schmidt, who was McCain's campaign manager, told the group. "I believe conservatives, more than liberals, insist that rights come with responsibilities. No other exercise of one's liberty comes with greater responsibilities than marriage. In a marriage, two people are completely responsible to and for each other."

He added: "If you are not willing to accept and faithfully discharge those responsibilities, you shouldn't enter the state of matrimony, and it doesn't make a damn bit of difference if you're straight or gay. It is a responsibility like no other, which can and should make marriage an association between two human beings more fulfilling than any other."

"People are turned off in large measure by what they see as intolerance coming out of the party," he said.

Makes a lot of sense, doesn't he? Now we'll see how many Republicans not of the Log Cabin variety will listen.

Click here to read the entire CNN report.