by Karen Favreau
The Protestant Bible is composed of 66 books, which are divided into 1,189 chapters. Those 1,189 chapters are divided into 31,173 verses, six or seven of which remotely refer to certain homosexual acts. Yet, the interpretation of those six or seven verses has irrevocably impacted the lives of gay and lesbian Christians who have been pushed to the margins of the Church and labeled “outcasts” in a manner that rivals anything doled out by the Pharisees in Jesus’ day. For The Bible Tells Me So, a provocative new documentary directed by Dan Karslake, explores the contentious issue of religion and homosexuality through interviews, home movie snippets, news clips, music, and even animation.
While theological heavyweights such as Peter Gomes, Desmond Tutu, and Laurence Keene offer profound insights about the historical and cultural context in which those six or seven Bible verses were written, it is the interviews with five Christian families with gay children that are at the heart of the film. Jake and Britta Reitan, a mild-mannered Lutheran couple from the Midwest, talk about the initial pain and fear they felt upon learning that their son, Jake, was gay. Their pain was eventually transformed into social activism that challenges groups such as James Dobson’s Focus on the Family to stop spreading the misconception that homosexuality is a disorder that must be treated as an illness. Former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and his wife Jane explain that they love their lesbian daughter Chrissy unconditionally, regardless of voters’ views about homosexuality, and in spite of the Roman Catholic teachings on sexuality with which Chrissy was raised. Imogene & Victor Robinson, parents of the Rt. Reverend Gene Robinson, weep when discussing their worries that Gene would be assassinated during his consecration as Bishop of New Hampshire. Brenda and David Poteat, African-American pastors at a conservative, non-denominational church in Haw River, North Carolina, share the ongoing, difficult faith journey they’ve embarked upon since learning that their daughter Tonia is a lesbian. Mary Lou Wallner, who was raised in a fundamentalist congregation, never could accept homosexuality as compatible with Christianity until after her lesbian daughter, Anna, committed suicide.
The documentary is tragic and funny, painful and joyous, and completely unforgettable—fellow audience members and I experienced an exhausting spectrum of emotions during the 95-minute movie. While the animated “Gay 101” segment made me laugh out loud, the portion of the film which examined the hate mail sent to Gene Robinson brought me to tears, as did the clip in which a teenage boy brags about how much fun it is to beat gay men. Simply put, the emotions evoked by the documentary are as complex as the issues it examines. Regardless, I left the theater feeling hopeful and optimistic—Cindy Lauper’s beautiful, a cappella rendition of “True Colors” during the closing credits certainly helped.
Perhaps what’s even more powerful than the film itself is the fact that both the December 8th and January 12th screenings of For The Bible Tells Me So at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem sold out—a third screening has been added on February 23rd to meet overwhelming demand. Clearly, then, the “Scripture and homosexuality” issue is one that men and women in the Triad want to explore and better understand.
Because Episcopalians have been in the midst of the “Scripture and homosexuality” conversation for quite some time, we are uniquely qualified to reach out and share what we’ve learned thus far with other Christians who are just beginning this difficult conversation. We also have an opportunity to reach out to gay men and lesbians who have been spiritually abused and abandoned by their churches and welcome them into our own faith communities. I had the privilege of viewing For The Bible Tells Me So with a gay friend who was involved in Exodus International’s ex-gay ministries for ten years due to the intense shame and self-hatred she felt regarding her sexuality. She says, “I’m striving to maintain spiritual integrity and honesty about my sexual orientation and find a quality of life that includes both of these.” Because my dear friend has found a home in the Episcopal Church, she is able to live out her faith in a loving community without feeling “less than” others in the congregation. Jesus never mentioned homosexuality in his parables and teachings; he did, however, talk a great deal about welcoming outcasts to the table and embracing them as beloved children of God.
If you are unable to attend a screening in your hometown, For the Bible Tells Me So will be available on DVD on February 19th. I strongly urge clergy and congregants to consider purchasing the DVD and showing it in their respective churches so that meaningful and challenging discussions can take place. For more information about the movie, visit <http://www/forthebibletellsmeso.org/film.htm>.
[Reprinted from THE NORTH CAROLINA DISCIPLE, The Newspaper of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, Vol. 19, No. 3, March 2008. To view this issue visit http://images.acswebnetworks.com/1/507/Disciple0308_final.pdf]
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Why Do THEY Need Their Own Ministry?
by Karen Favreau
A few months ago, I was asked to speak about my faith journey to a group of students at a local college. They are part of a nascent Episcopal/Lutheran campus ministry group that is overseen by a radical, ex-hippie Episcopal priest and a kindly, white-haired, Lutheran minister. I told the students that, once I’m ordained as an Episcopal deacon, I want to work with GLBT Christians as part of my ministry. “We already welcome them into our churches,” the kindly Lutheran minister sighed in response to my statement. “Why do they need their own ministry?”
Yes, it’s true—Episcopalians, Lutherans, and other mainline Protestants do welcome GLBT Christians into their churches. Some of these denominations even ordain openly gay and lesbian clergy and perform same-sex blessings. As an Episcopalian, I am proud of my chosen denomination for “walking the walk” with regard to Jesus’ message of embracing the outcast and inviting the marginalized to the table. Yet, because of the unique experiences of GLBT Christians, simply opening the door may not go far enough.
Mental health professionals have long recognized the toll that societal oppression and self-hatred takes on an individual’s psyche. Miller & Striver speak of something called “condemned isolation” in which marginalized men and women are “locked out of the possibility of human connection.” That is, when individuals are repeatedly treated as “the other,” they often carry within themselves a deep sense of shame, develop a belief that they are somehow defective, and engage with others inauthentically as a means of survival.
Many of the LGBT congregants who have been welcomed into our churches still wrestle with feelings of shame and guilt regarding their sexuality. Some may have dealt with these feelings by joining organizations, such as Exodus International, that try to “convert” gay people by subjecting them to unethical, dangerous, and highly dubious therapeutic techniques. Others may have been kicked out of the churches of their childhood, disowned by “Bible believing” parents and siblings, or fired from jobs simply for trying to live an authentic life. As a result, they are deeply wounded and desperately in need of healing.
I am not angry at the Lutheran minister for his comments. I imagine that he has struggled long and hard in trying to reconcile his understanding of Christ’s teachings with regard to homosexuality. Perhaps he’s simply tired of constantly reading about the brouhaha over same-sex marriages, gay bishops, and lesbian priests in the Episcopal Church. Or maybe he fears that his own beloved denomination will be rocked and forever altered now that it too has begun honestly addressing the issue of gay clergy and the role of GLBT individuals in the life of the Church. It is not up to me to judge him—all I can do is try to educate.
So why do THEY need their own ministry? For the simple reason that people feel a need to ask the question.
A few months ago, I was asked to speak about my faith journey to a group of students at a local college. They are part of a nascent Episcopal/Lutheran campus ministry group that is overseen by a radical, ex-hippie Episcopal priest and a kindly, white-haired, Lutheran minister. I told the students that, once I’m ordained as an Episcopal deacon, I want to work with GLBT Christians as part of my ministry. “We already welcome them into our churches,” the kindly Lutheran minister sighed in response to my statement. “Why do they need their own ministry?”
Yes, it’s true—Episcopalians, Lutherans, and other mainline Protestants do welcome GLBT Christians into their churches. Some of these denominations even ordain openly gay and lesbian clergy and perform same-sex blessings. As an Episcopalian, I am proud of my chosen denomination for “walking the walk” with regard to Jesus’ message of embracing the outcast and inviting the marginalized to the table. Yet, because of the unique experiences of GLBT Christians, simply opening the door may not go far enough.
Mental health professionals have long recognized the toll that societal oppression and self-hatred takes on an individual’s psyche. Miller & Striver speak of something called “condemned isolation” in which marginalized men and women are “locked out of the possibility of human connection.” That is, when individuals are repeatedly treated as “the other,” they often carry within themselves a deep sense of shame, develop a belief that they are somehow defective, and engage with others inauthentically as a means of survival.
Many of the LGBT congregants who have been welcomed into our churches still wrestle with feelings of shame and guilt regarding their sexuality. Some may have dealt with these feelings by joining organizations, such as Exodus International, that try to “convert” gay people by subjecting them to unethical, dangerous, and highly dubious therapeutic techniques. Others may have been kicked out of the churches of their childhood, disowned by “Bible believing” parents and siblings, or fired from jobs simply for trying to live an authentic life. As a result, they are deeply wounded and desperately in need of healing.
I am not angry at the Lutheran minister for his comments. I imagine that he has struggled long and hard in trying to reconcile his understanding of Christ’s teachings with regard to homosexuality. Perhaps he’s simply tired of constantly reading about the brouhaha over same-sex marriages, gay bishops, and lesbian priests in the Episcopal Church. Or maybe he fears that his own beloved denomination will be rocked and forever altered now that it too has begun honestly addressing the issue of gay clergy and the role of GLBT individuals in the life of the Church. It is not up to me to judge him—all I can do is try to educate.
So why do THEY need their own ministry? For the simple reason that people feel a need to ask the question.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Don't miss SOUTHERN BAPTIST SISSIES (recommended for mature audiences)
Southern Baptist Sissies, an award-winning play by Del Shores, will be presented by the Theatre Alliance of Winston-Salem February 15 - 17 and 22 - 24. Performances will be at SECCA's Dunn Auditorium, 750 Marguerite Drive. For ticket information visit http://www.wstheatrealliance.org/, or call 336-768-5655.
The play is a dramatic comedy about four young men who grew up together in a Baptist church in Texas in the 1990s, and how each deals with his homosexuality in the midst of an unaccepting church. Southern Baptist Sissies opened in Los Angeles in 2000, and is scheduled for release as a feature film in 2009.
The play is a dramatic comedy about four young men who grew up together in a Baptist church in Texas in the 1990s, and how each deals with his homosexuality in the midst of an unaccepting church. Southern Baptist Sissies opened in Los Angeles in 2000, and is scheduled for release as a feature film in 2009.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
