Comments for Coming Out Strong http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog brought to you by kaleidoscope - a program of BMC Fri, 21 Nov 2008 17:32:06 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 Comment on Remembering Lawrence King by Cal http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2008/03/07/remembering-lawrence-king/#comment-39 Cal Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:09:01 +0000 http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2008/03/07/remembering-lawrence-king/#comment-39 Well said Carol. It's time for us all to assume responsibility for the violence that is done out of ignorance. And it's time for the Church to understand that welcome without acceptance is no welcome at all, and only serves to reinforce otherness. It's hypocrisy to bemoan physical violence in the same breath that asserts that homosexual love is sin (to say nothing, as you've said, about trans or bisexual love). Violence is violence - whether by misguided kids in school, or by a misguided Church where violence is committed erringly out of a desire to serve God. To commit that error is understandable, it's human. But what I don't understand is the refusal to respond with openness and integrity when the error is exposed. Well said Carol. It’s time for us all to assume responsibility for the violence that is done out of ignorance. And it’s time for the Church to understand that welcome without acceptance is no welcome at all, and only serves to reinforce otherness. It’s hypocrisy to bemoan physical violence in the same breath that asserts that homosexual love is sin (to say nothing, as you’ve said, about trans or bisexual love). Violence is violence - whether by misguided kids in school, or by a misguided Church where violence is committed erringly out of a desire to serve God. To commit that error is understandable, it’s human. But what I don’t understand is the refusal to respond with openness and integrity when the error is exposed.

]]> Comment on We have what they need by linscheid http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2008/01/22/we-have-what-they-need/#comment-34 linscheid Sun, 02 Mar 2008 20:24:56 +0000 http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2008/01/22/we-have-what-they-need/#comment-34 I agree that we know something (or are learning some things). But hang the "pain and annoyance of trying to convince them that we have something they need." When we create forums and spaces where we start exploring with each other what an embodied sexual morality (unboxed) means in each of our lives and start learning from one another, those who need it will come to us. I trust them to figure out what they need. But as long as we sit around trying to convince what ever "them" we select, that "they" need something--we'll end up spending all our time on that and never get to the good stuff. I'm sure I betray my age when I say, "just do it." Those who need it will gather. I agree that we know something (or are learning some things). But hang the “pain and annoyance of trying to convince them that we have something they need.” When we create forums and spaces where we start exploring with each other what an embodied sexual morality (unboxed) means in each of our lives and start learning from one another, those who need it will come to us. I trust them to figure out what they need. But as long as we sit around trying to convince what ever “them” we select, that “they” need something–we’ll end up spending all our time on that and never get to the good stuff. I’m sure I betray my age when I say, “just do it.” Those who need it will gather.

]]> Comment on On the Separation of Church and State by maggie http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/08/16/on-the-separation-of-church-and-state/#comment-10 maggie Tue, 21 Aug 2007 00:16:14 +0000 http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/08/16/on-the-separation-of-church-and-state/#comment-10 http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-mike-gravel/hillary-chooses-states-ri_b_60351.html Gravel's comments made me feel, at least for a short amount of time, that someone with a sense of power shared my feelings about Clinton. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-mike-gravel/hillary-chooses-states-ri_b_60351.html

Gravel’s comments made me feel, at least for a short amount of time, that someone with a sense of power shared my feelings about Clinton.

]]> Comment on Richardson’s Gaffe by On the Separation of Church and State » Young Anabaptist Radicals http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/08/15/richardsons-gaffe/#comment-9 On the Separation of Church and State » Young Anabaptist Radicals Fri, 17 Aug 2007 00:07:42 +0000 http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/08/15/richardsons-gaffe/#comment-9 [...] it’s been quiet here for the last few days. If you need more context, you might check out the previous post on the BMC blog about the Human Rights Campaign/Logo Presidential Forum that j alan meyer mentioned here a while [...] […] it’s been quiet here for the last few days. If you need more context, you might check out the previous post on the BMC blog about the Human Rights Campaign/Logo Presidential Forum that j alan meyer mentioned here a while […]

]]> Comment on Stories of boldness and risk by Kaleidoscope http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/07/05/stories-of-boldness-and-risk/#comment-7 Kaleidoscope Thu, 12 Jul 2007 18:35:10 +0000 http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/07/05/stories-of-boldness-and-risk/#comment-7 Welcome to the blog Jason, I hope your time here is helpful in your work. Welcome to the blog Jason,

I hope your time here is helpful in your work.

]]> Comment on Response to LTS, HTS by Luke http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/06/13/response-to-lts-hts/#comment-6 Luke Tue, 19 Jun 2007 01:53:44 +0000 http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/06/13/response-to-lts-hts/#comment-6 Oh look! Our first troll. The delicious irony: I know David personally, and not only is he NOT white, he happens to be FROM the global south. Oh look! Our first troll. The delicious irony: I know David personally, and not only is he NOT white, he happens to be FROM the global south.

]]> Comment on Response to LTS, HTS by debbie http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/06/13/response-to-lts-hts/#comment-5 debbie Sat, 16 Jun 2007 00:37:44 +0000 http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/06/13/response-to-lts-hts/#comment-5 Let me guess - you are white. This is such a rich, white person's agenda. How many churches of color or Anabaptist churches in the global south support this agenda? Let me guess - you are white. This is such a rich, white person’s agenda. How many churches of color or Anabaptist churches in the global south support this agenda?

]]> Comment on Intro to David by Kaleidoscope http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/06/12/intro-to-david/#comment-4 Kaleidoscope Wed, 13 Jun 2007 22:09:59 +0000 http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/06/12/intro-to-david/#comment-4 Welcome to the blog David. I'm looking forward to hearing more from you as time goes on. Anyone else want to join in? email me at the BMC office: kaleidoscope@bmclgbt.org Welcome to the blog David. I’m looking forward to hearing more from you as time goes on.

Anyone else want to join in? email me at the BMC office: kaleidoscope@bmclgbt.org

]]> Comment on intro to Katie by Kaleidoscope http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/06/01/intro-to-katie/#comment-3 Kaleidoscope Tue, 05 Jun 2007 15:06:19 +0000 http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/06/01/intro-to-katie/#comment-3 Welcome Kirsten, I'm glad you are enjoying the soap-box, that's what we're here for. I'd love to hear more of your thoughts on the exclusionary policies breaking down but not yet being replaced with welcoming. Does it seem to you this is happening in your congregation? conference? Mennonite Church Canada? Does it seem to be coming from internal change (from inside the church) or external change (from society around the church)? I must say, it's been hard for me lately to see the slow movement forward in Mennonite Church USA. I am also trying to stay hopeful and stay involved. As the saying goes, "history is made by those who show up." I plan to show up, radically. I'll be posting more on this later. I also encourage others to try out the soap-box as well. Welcome Kirsten, I’m glad you are enjoying the soap-box, that’s what we’re here for.

I’d love to hear more of your thoughts on the exclusionary policies breaking down but not yet being replaced with welcoming. Does it seem to you this is happening in your congregation? conference? Mennonite Church Canada? Does it seem to be coming from internal change (from inside the church) or external change (from society around the church)?

I must say, it’s been hard for me lately to see the slow movement forward in Mennonite Church USA. I am also trying to stay hopeful and stay involved. As the saying goes, “history is made by those who show up.” I plan to show up, radically. I’ll be posting more on this later.

I also encourage others to try out the soap-box as well.

]]> Comment on intro to Katie by Kirsten http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/06/01/intro-to-katie/#comment-2 Kirsten Mon, 04 Jun 2007 20:21:23 +0000 http://www.bmclgbt.org/blog/2007/06/01/intro-to-katie/#comment-2 What a great idea Katie. With blogs and various forms of online communities becoming more common, I think BMC is a natural fit for using this kind of tool. I remember when I was taking my first steps towards coming out, the BMC website was a wonderful resource. It took me a few months to get brave enough to send an email to my local BMC group. (Of course they're the unscariest bunch of people I've ever had the privilege of knowing!) This blog could be one more way to reach queer people looking for a safe faith space. It could also be a great way for far-flung BMCers to feel connected. To echo Katie's post, I'm also a young Anabaptist who likes to think I'm radical. At the moment I'm a social worker in South-western Ontario. In the fall I'll be moving to Winnipeg, Manitoba, for a term of Mennonite Voluntary Service. One thing I find interesting, is how as "the church" slowly moves towards accepting lgbtq individuals in their midst, often the right hand doesn't know what the left hand is doing. The church's exclusionary policies and practices are breaking down, but have not yet been replaced with welcoming ones. This seems to mean that decision-making responsibilities get down-loaded to indiviudals. Individuals who will make decions about welcoming or excluding queer people based on their personal opinions, beliefs and biases. We all understand the discrimination that can occur in this kind of set-up, without a larger body (congregation, denomination) to hold accountable. On the other hand, when a queer-friendly individual happens to be in one of these decision-making positions, wonderful things can happen despite the church's official stance. So I am left confused, wondering if I should be happy or angry with my conference's and congregation's lack of a strong stance. Most of the time I try to be hopeful that Christians everywhere will remember what Jesus said about neighbours. Hey, having a soap-box is kinda fun - someone else should try it. What a great idea Katie. With blogs and various forms of online communities becoming more common, I think BMC is a natural fit for using this kind of tool.

I remember when I was taking my first steps towards coming out, the BMC website was a wonderful resource. It took me a few months to get brave enough to send an email to my local BMC group. (Of course they’re the unscariest bunch of people I’ve ever had the privilege of knowing!)

This blog could be one more way to reach queer people looking for a safe faith space. It could also be a great way for far-flung BMCers to feel connected.

To echo Katie’s post, I’m also a young Anabaptist who likes to think I’m radical. At the moment I’m a social worker in South-western Ontario. In the fall I’ll be moving to Winnipeg, Manitoba, for a term of Mennonite Voluntary Service.

One thing I find interesting, is how as "the church" slowly moves towards accepting lgbtq individuals in their midst, often the right hand doesn’t know what the left hand is doing. The church’s exclusionary policies and practices are breaking down, but have not yet been replaced with welcoming ones. This seems to mean that decision-making responsibilities get down-loaded to indiviudals. Individuals who will make decions about welcoming or excluding queer people based on their personal opinions, beliefs and biases. We all understand the discrimination that can occur in this kind of set-up, without a larger body (congregation, denomination) to hold accountable. On the other hand, when a queer-friendly individual happens to be in one of these decision-making positions, wonderful things can happen despite the church’s official stance.

So I am left confused, wondering if I should be happy or angry with my conference’s and congregation’s lack of a strong stance. Most of the time I try to be hopeful that Christians everywhere will remember what Jesus said about neighbours.

Hey, having a soap-box is kinda fun - someone else should try it.

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