We'll be showing Fish Out of Water tonight at 9:15 at Wesley Church. This innovative film uses clever animation and interviews with theologians and biblical scholars to dissect the passages in Scripture used against LGBT folks. Watch the trailer below and we'll see you tonight for the film, a brief discussion, and, of course, free popcorn!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Good news, Everyone!
The Committee here at GA on Church Orders and Ministry have passed out of committee an overture to remove B, the section used as a club against GLBT candidates, and replaced it with appropriate language emphasizing that rigorous examination of candidates is appropriate and in order. Let us pray that General Assembly concurs with the committee and that the presbyteries do, too!
-Matt Voytek
-Matt Voytek
Let's Move This Mountain Together
Welcome (R)evolution Team Member Jeannine Oakes testified before the Church Orders and Ministry Committee of the General Assembly yesterday in favor of open ordination standards. Here is the text of her testimony:
For several years I resisted my call to ordained ministry in this church because of the ordination standards in our constitution. I even thought about leaving the church to seek ordination in a more welcoming denomination.
But it was while I was interning with a UCC congregation that I realized that the Presbyterian Church is my home. I strongly believe that in order to fulfill my call I do not need to leave the church that I love and I am not alone in this struggle.
Never have I been in the presence of more qualified, passionate, and talented candidates for ministry than when I gather with gay candidates to minister to one another.
We have not left.
We are still here.
We are active in the mission and ministry of this church
This church still speaks to us.
Yesterday in worship we confessed: “You give yourself freely to us but we have held ourselves back from you and from others.” Friends, it’s time to stop holding Presbyterians back from their call in the church. The same Spirit that has called so many gay Presbyterians to ministry is calling us to live into full inclusion.
Yesterday in worship Bruce Reyes Chow urged us to consider the mountains we are making to tremble. Friends today, let’s move this mountain together.
Fun event a friend of TAMFS is doing!
Liberating The Artists in your Community (and yourself)
What if art was not about the product? What if it wasn't about being perfect or talented? What if it was about the process? What if art-making was a deeply nurturing spiritual practice that
invited you to participate in creation and reflection? Or a way of worshiping with your whole self, your head and heart, your hands and body?
Join us for a workshop and become the artist for the afternoon.
Join us for a moment of peace and reflection in the midst of a busy week. Liturgical Artist Shawna Bowman (and friend of the Welcome (R)evolution), painter in the GA opening worship, will lead us in a Spiritual Art Practice and share tips and information about creating art in and for worship. No experience in art is necessary and supplies will be provided!
Wednesday, July 7th from 4-6pm
In the Westminster Presbyterian Church courtyard
What if art was not about the product? What if it wasn't about being perfect or talented? What if it was about the process? What if art-making was a deeply nurturing spiritual practice that
invited you to participate in creation and reflection? Or a way of worshiping with your whole self, your head and heart, your hands and body?
Join us for a workshop and become the artist for the afternoon.
Join us for a moment of peace and reflection in the midst of a busy week. Liturgical Artist Shawna Bowman (and friend of the Welcome (R)evolution), painter in the GA opening worship, will lead us in a Spiritual Art Practice and share tips and information about creating art in and for worship. No experience in art is necessary and supplies will be provided!
Wednesday, July 7th from 4-6pm
In the Westminster Presbyterian Church courtyard
I Asked a Woman for a Cigarette
I asked a woman for a cigarette. It was just before the Fourth of July fireworks
and I was expecting our interaction to end right after she granted my request.
Aside from getting the cigarette I requested, the exact opposite happened.
This woman asked me when I realized that I was gay. I told her I had pretty
much always known. She told me that she herself had numerous lesbian sexual
experiences in her life and even had a long-term relationship with a woman
whom she deeply loved.
At this point in the conversation I was thinking I was speaking with an ally. I
couldn’t have been more wrong. She told me that one morning she woke up
and looked at her girlfriend and thought to herself “what am I doing?” She left
her girlfriend and ended up marrying the man who is now her husband. She had
three children whom she loves deeply. Had she not come to this realization,
she told me of how she would not have been blessed with her own biological
children. “God gave you the parts to make children… why don’t you want to use
them for that?” was the question she followed with. I could have used tons of
scientific terms, but I chose to just hear her out. I did, though, tell her that I had
been a sperm donor for a lesbian couple and that that would have been a way
for me to have a biological child. I didn’t get much of a response to that, but the
conversation just continued. She wondered why I wouldn’t consider changing
my sexual orientation. Basically, I find it hard to defend myself to someone who
claims to have “changed” their sexual orientation.
I took quite a bit away from this conversation, but the biggest thing I feel is that
God was telling me to stop smoking.
and I was expecting our interaction to end right after she granted my request.
Aside from getting the cigarette I requested, the exact opposite happened.
This woman asked me when I realized that I was gay. I told her I had pretty
much always known. She told me that she herself had numerous lesbian sexual
experiences in her life and even had a long-term relationship with a woman
whom she deeply loved.
At this point in the conversation I was thinking I was speaking with an ally. I
couldn’t have been more wrong. She told me that one morning she woke up
and looked at her girlfriend and thought to herself “what am I doing?” She left
her girlfriend and ended up marrying the man who is now her husband. She had
three children whom she loves deeply. Had she not come to this realization,
she told me of how she would not have been blessed with her own biological
children. “God gave you the parts to make children… why don’t you want to use
them for that?” was the question she followed with. I could have used tons of
scientific terms, but I chose to just hear her out. I did, though, tell her that I had
been a sperm donor for a lesbian couple and that that would have been a way
for me to have a biological child. I didn’t get much of a response to that, but the
conversation just continued. She wondered why I wouldn’t consider changing
my sexual orientation. Basically, I find it hard to defend myself to someone who
claims to have “changed” their sexual orientation.
I took quite a bit away from this conversation, but the biggest thing I feel is that
God was telling me to stop smoking.
The Church Is In Good Hands
This morning, I stood in line to testify in the committee that will be voting on the ordination standards that currently exclude queer people from ministry in our church.
Broadening our ordination standards is hugely important to me. When I started seminary, I had no plans to fight this battle. I came close to leaving for the UCC, but each time I met Presbyterians, or went to a Presbyterian service, or as I learned about Presbyterian polity, I realized that this is my church, and I am a Presbo through and through.
As I stood in line, I heard some affirming and powerful testimonies, and I heard others that were filled with (self-)hatred and ignorance. I did my best not to listen to the painful stuff, as I was getting ready to speak, and instead I thought of my favorite place on earth -- the chapel at Union Seminary. I remembered feeling affirmed in my call to ministry, supported by my community, and I remembered some of my brilliant colleagues, who are also excluded from ordination.
I kept these friends on my heart as I stepped up to testify. I told the committee that I know some people are worried about the future of the church, but I could assure them that the church is in good hands. I know what passionate, talented, and Spirit-filled hands will lead our church into its future. But, I told them, so many of them -- of us -- are queer. Almost none of us look exactly like what we're used to. The church is in great hands, as long as we can trust God enough to ordain the leaders that God calls.
Kate LeFranc
Broadening our ordination standards is hugely important to me. When I started seminary, I had no plans to fight this battle. I came close to leaving for the UCC, but each time I met Presbyterians, or went to a Presbyterian service, or as I learned about Presbyterian polity, I realized that this is my church, and I am a Presbo through and through.
As I stood in line, I heard some affirming and powerful testimonies, and I heard others that were filled with (self-)hatred and ignorance. I did my best not to listen to the painful stuff, as I was getting ready to speak, and instead I thought of my favorite place on earth -- the chapel at Union Seminary. I remembered feeling affirmed in my call to ministry, supported by my community, and I remembered some of my brilliant colleagues, who are also excluded from ordination.
I kept these friends on my heart as I stepped up to testify. I told the committee that I know some people are worried about the future of the church, but I could assure them that the church is in good hands. I know what passionate, talented, and Spirit-filled hands will lead our church into its future. But, I told them, so many of them -- of us -- are queer. Almost none of us look exactly like what we're used to. The church is in great hands, as long as we can trust God enough to ordain the leaders that God calls.
Kate LeFranc
Monday, July 5, 2010
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