♫2, 4, 6, 8, time to excommunicate!♫
May. 6th, 2012 12:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
captainsblogWell, not yet. Certainly not likely on the action of anyone from my own congregation. I came, they saw, they accepted. Not even the pastor (who usually "sabbaths" on Fridays to prepare the Sunday service) had seen the email we both received late that day containing the gloating from a local minister who opposed the change in doctrine. But as soon as he saw what I was wearing, he knew what I was saying and why I was saying it.
"What I was wearing" turned out to be this:
I changed to the rainbow motif, rather than a straight pink triangle, after sorting out the comments to my last entry, a few of which suggested it as more appropriate for an ally of the cause. I also went with the rectangle because it fit nicely into one of the nametag holders left over from That Thing Wot I Did last weekend. If opposition surfaces from outside our four walls, I can always peel a corner back into something at least scalene-triangly.
All in all, it was preaching to the choir today. I got many signs of support, and more signs of people not really understanding the issue or why I feel so strongly about it. I did not say anything about it from the lectern, because, as it turned out, I didn't need to. Rich had assigned me this Epistle reading- not from that ol' homophobe Paul, but from the first letter of John.
Hear these words, General Conference:
16bGod is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19We love because he first loved us. 20Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
As I say in court, "emphasis added." As I said at the end of this passage, "This is the Word of the Lord."
"What I was wearing" turned out to be this:
I changed to the rainbow motif, rather than a straight pink triangle, after sorting out the comments to my last entry, a few of which suggested it as more appropriate for an ally of the cause. I also went with the rectangle because it fit nicely into one of the nametag holders left over from That Thing Wot I Did last weekend. If opposition surfaces from outside our four walls, I can always peel a corner back into something at least scalene-triangly.
All in all, it was preaching to the choir today. I got many signs of support, and more signs of people not really understanding the issue or why I feel so strongly about it. I did not say anything about it from the lectern, because, as it turned out, I didn't need to. Rich had assigned me this Epistle reading- not from that ol' homophobe Paul, but from the first letter of John.
Hear these words, General Conference:
16bGod is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them. 17 Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness on the day of judgement, because as he is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear; for fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not reached perfection in love. 19We love because he first loved us. 20Those who say, ‘I love God’, and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen. 21The commandment we have from him is this: those who love God must love their brothers and sisters also.
As I say in court, "emphasis added." As I said at the end of this passage, "This is the Word of the Lord."
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no subject
Date: 2012-05-06 05:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-06 05:48 pm (UTC)As another LJ-and-FB friend of mine has noted recently, the world needs to know that "Christian" does not equate with "narrow-minded", "intolerant", or "homophobic".
As past president of our local PFLAG chapter, mother of a gay son and a bi daughter, and a United Methodist, I applaud your willingness to make some waves.
no subject
Date: 2012-05-06 07:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-06 10:09 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-05-07 01:09 am (UTC)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ezQjNJUSraY&feature=player_embedded
I highly recommend you set aside 1 hr+ and watch what this kid has to say in this very powerful presentation (given in a Methodist church, no less).
And then maybe highly recommend that each and every one of those delegates who were at the Methodist conference watch it too.
And bravo for your stand today! You done good, kid!