Okay, here goes. The leadership team at West Bloomfield Congregational Church, UCC has arrived at the following statement. We will ask our congregation to pray over it, study it and then vote on adopting it as our own at our annual meeting January 4, 2009. Most who have read this statement see it as a simple formalizing of what we have already practiced for decades.
We know as Christians that we are many members, but are one body in Christ. We are members of one another, and we all have different gifts. With Jesus, we are called to love our neighbors as ourselves. We are called to act as agents of reconciliation and wholeness within the world and within the church itself. We join together as a loving Christian community to celebrate and share our common communion and the reassurance that we are indeed created by God, reconciled by Christ and empowered by the grace of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, we do not discriminate against any person, group or organization in membership, appointment, use of facility, provision of services, funding, hiring, or promotion on the basis of sexual orientation, race, gender, age, nationality, ethnicity, economic status, marital status, or physical disability.
That is all there is to it. Yet, that is not all there is to it. To say we will openly embrace, encourage, and even hire anyone regardless of their sexual orientation is not an uncontroversial thing. I know a few of our church members are deeply troubled by this step. We will be speaking about it over the next few weeks in our church, especially in light of explicit Biblical chapter and verse that seem to contradict our stance. This is a deep issue and must not be approached carelessly.
What's your opinion?
Well, even more reason why I am a proud member of this church.
ReplyDeleteTo express my opinion about this issue is hard for me to do so without expressing myself in absolutes, cause I know we all come down different paths on these ideas.
I think I see it from a very black/white perspective in that if I don't want anyone creating systems or rules that holds me or my family as "less" or is positioned to remind us that we don't belong, or don't have rights for whatever reasons, and I feel absolutely that I can't fathom why I would do that or endorse that action towards anyone else.
And I guess what makes this hard for me to say is that I feel as though I'm coming to the table banging my fist just as someone thinking opposite of me could, and that's not getting it done. That's not dialogue. And my intention isn't to just railroad my opinion, but more to proclaim what is in my heart.
I guess what I'm saying and how I feel is as Corey said before, this is where I stand. I know no where else I would stand or any other way to enter the discussion. I stand in the footsteps of those who came before me who were systematically oppressed for centuries, consistently seen as sub-human and in my own past have had that treatment impact me so deeply, that at times I'm still recovering from the emotional scars.
So why would I ever wish anyone to be treated the same?
We are supposed to be inheritors of wisdom intending to take us beyond separating ourselves, it is supposed to make us see each other as siblings in the arms of an ever-loving parent who's sole desire is to watch us embrace one another.
So, as a member of this church family I choose to open my arms and my heart and embrace away.
Sorry to re-post I just wanted to clarify something b/c words mean so much...yet can be mistaken so easily.
ReplyDeleteBy black/white perspective, I mean that as either/or, not as reference to race.
I think it was Mary who made exactly your point in one of her first posts on this blog. I had spoken of how so many fundamentalist Christians act like the Pharisees of Jesus' day. She pointedly and quite correctly reminded me that Pharisaism is a HUMAN affliction, not owned by one particular philosophy or theology. Me in my "openness," I can be just as strident, judgmental and marginalizing as any of my brothers and sisters.
ReplyDeleteDeacon Bob quite correctly warned me against using the term "conservative" when speaking of those who oppose open and affirming status, as that is a divisive political identifier in America, and many of our most politically conservative members support Open and Affirming. This is not a liberal vs. conservative issue. It is not a right vs. wrong issue. It is not an us vs. them issue. It is an us issue. Who will WBCC publicly welcome to Christ's table? That is the question at hand. Like you, Kristin, I need to bridle my passion for the outcast to make sure I don't run rough-shod over others. At the same time, I need to keep riding in this direction God has directed me. Respect with resolve.
Great post, Kristin. You are a very effective monitor for me.
All you other readers...please share your thinking on this O & A statement.
Hi, this is Claudette. I couldn't get my BloggerID to work, so I'm using Anonymous for now.
ReplyDeleteFor starters, I couldn't agree more.
I think that this is a very important step for any church or group to take. The fact that such a statement can offend makes it necessary, in my opinion. If there is some risk involved for you (gossip or anger, in this case) and you still go through with something, you prove to yourself that you are really committed to improving life for others. Through improving life for those around you, you improve your own life. It's hard to be happy when you see people ostracized and mocked for things they cannot control. It's sad that in today's world sexual orientation, race, gender, nationality, economic status, and religion are used by some to determine "worthy" and "unworthy". We're all human, and we all have a limmited amount of time on this planet - so let's not spend it hating each other.
I am so very proud of our congregation. With the inclusion of the proposed Open and Affirming statement in yesterday's bulletin, I felt it best to open the service up for questions and statements. The chief response was "I thought we already were Open and Affirming!" Some observed that now they can hand GLBT friends an actual policy statement to prove that they will be welcomed in our church, and find an accepting place to hear and share the Gospel of Christ. All questions and statements were focused and respectful. It seems we are well on our way to embracing our 209 year legacy of welcome to all with this official vote to come Sunday, January 4th.
ReplyDeleteA few of our members are not in agreement with this move. We must not question their Christian love. This issue requires viewing some portions of scripture through a lense unfamiliar to some. I do not question their faith, or their care and affection for our friends and our church. I pray that our bond in Christ will not be severed over this issue. Still, West Bloomfield Congregational Church UCC is living up to its history. Let's faithfully commit to the hearing of all voices and a deeper, wiser understanding of our shared faith!
As his brother, Corey knows my passion for GLBT issues. It is the last social group it is "okay to hate" in our nation's collective mind.
ReplyDeleteWitness California, which votes a majority to place a mixed-race man in the presidency, yet votes to deny marriage to homosexuals.
I understand and strive to respect the misgivings of others, but struggle to understand how those who have experienced bigotry, animosity- mistreatment because they are categorized under the label of a social minority can in turn practice that same bigotry toward another.
For me, I long for a world where it is most people's instinct to tolerate, learn about, then embrace others different from themselves as the norm in the human race. I oppose any degradation of another for any superficial reasons.
During the onset of the aids crisis in America, I heard so many of my fellow citizens paraphrase Dickens' Ebenezer Scrooge, "Well, if they are going to die, let them do it and decrease the surplus population", saying in essence, "They're gay. Why should I care?" I knew some perfectly lovely people who were gay and died awfully from aids.
I know that people are the sum total of every aspect of their lives, characters and deeds. It should not be that anyone judge them on one aspect of their selves- their sexuality- and condemn them wholesale.
At the very least, in memory of Andy Myers, I will speak out at every turn for the rights of GLBT citizens to equal access to society and humanity, and to the attention and aid of our government and social institutions. I dated Andy's sister in the 70's. He was like another little brother to me. A funny, loving, fine young man.
As an occasional ‘attender’ to your congregation I must say how moved an appreciative I am of your amazing pastor and the congregation that has the wisdom and grace to support his ministry.
ReplyDeleteIt has been an extraordinarily long journey for me to get where I am today. The path that God has created for me has allowed me to enjoy the great joys of life and experience the overwhelming pain of man’s inhumanity to man. I am a creation of God… as we all are.
I am gay. I have known that since I was very young. I had long wondered why God would have made me this way. He must have known that terrible things would be said about me (to my face, behind my back, to my friends, and to my family). He must have known that I would suffer because of who I am. I tired not to listen and become someone else. This was far worse. It took a very long time to clearly hear God and become comfortable with the path that was created for me.
Each time I became comfortable with who I thought God wanted me to be, I was challenged.
My first week in college saw a friend severely beaten because he walked out of a gay bar. I questioned God.
I continued my journey of discovery and reflection. I met a man who would become my partner. We could never show our relationship or our love.
Years later I began working with college students. One young man was told by his parents that to be gay was as good as being dead. Alan ended his life in his bedroom using his father’s gun. I questioned God.
I continued to work with college students. I lived a good and moral life. I was a positive role model for gay and straight students. I showed straight students that being gay was a part of who I was. I showed gay students (most of whom were closeted) that it was possible to be gay, Christian, loved, and loving.
During the early 90’s a very dear friend fell ill with AIDS. His family had long shunned and abandoned him, so his new “family” was all he had. He was such a wonderful, joyful, happy, and caring man. He became too sick to work. He lost his job and his home. He had no choice but to mov back into his parent’s home… a home that did not love him. Derek died blind and alone at his parents home. I questioned God.
It was a very long time before I ‘forgave” God and all those that he created who hated me and people like me (Alan, Derek, and so many more). I wondered why he made our lives such a challenge. I wondered why anyone would think that being gay was a choice that could be turned off OR on. It is part of God’s plan. It took a long time before I appreciated how God made me. It was a long time before I appreciated the gifts and talents that God allowed me to develop.
I believe that my path, my journey, is much like yours. I was created to be kind and loving (not always easy for me). I was created to help others realize their potential.
I am gay. I am a man. I am a Christian (UCC, hooray!). I have experienced love. I have experienced pain and hatred. I have helped others. I am just like you.
It was me who talked to Corey a while ago about the fact that there were many churches ‘out there’ that wanted me(by that I mean “all of me”). I would not be able to join a church whose doors were open for some, but not others. I couldn’t be a member of a church that ‘tolerated’ my individuality… but did not extend the full blessings of Jesus’ teachings. I have never wanted to be treated “special.” I just wanted to be treated, respected, and embraced just like any ‘straight’ person.
I still hope to find that ‘special guy’ who wants a family. I still hope to be able to publicly and legally get married in my church. I want to be just like you.
I still question God. However, not with as much pain and angst. Age does bring some level of wisdom and peace.
I applaud your church for continuing the journey of being one of the most forward thinking and socially engaged churches that I know. There are many of “us” out there who look for the beacons of light that help show the way to love and full acceptance. We are looking for churches that not only ‘talk the talk,’ but also ‘walk the walk.’ We are all looking for churches like WBCC. Thank you for considering the opportunity of being a shining light for all of God’s children!
With much love and affection,
Jeffrey Platt (Judi’s brother and Heidi’s uncle… and more)
Ah, Jeff. What a beloved brother you are to me. A year or two ago you set me straight with the simplest phrase: "you are not welcoming if those you claim to welcome don't know you are welcoming," you said. I thank you, brother, for the Word in season. You showed me God's will for me. It was the time you took and the words you spoke that left me open to truly hear the experiences, struggles, hopes and needs of people just like me except for one irrelevant difference. I've long had great relationships with GLBT high school friends, colleagues, bosses and others. I was finally brought to see God's plan for me to pick up and promote what has been God's will all along. It's all about Peace to God's People on Earth...
ReplyDeleteOnce again, this is Claudette, experiencing more computer troubles.
ReplyDeleteIt must have been a very hard journey, Jeff, and my thoughts, love, and prayers are with you and all others who have experienced prejudice. I am happy for you for accepting who you are, even though others may not. That takes a lot of courage.
You have to have self-respect to form a strong, healthy relationship. I think that might be one reason why some fear those who are homosexual and seek the right to marry. It takes a lot of faith in your partner and yourself to fight certain religious groups, prejudice, hatred, violence, and the law for a marriage contract. Sometimes I wonder --- how many heterosexual couples who look down on gays would fight tooth and nail, for years, to make that commitment to each other? I think that when people say they fear homosexuality, they really fear people who are willing to be themselves, no matter what.
If you live your life trying to conform, anyone who spends their life trying to discover who they really are is a threat. Those who pretend to have all the answers lose their power when people start asking questions.
You're brilliant, Claudette. Amen on all points!
ReplyDelete