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  1. <?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:blogger='http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd="http://schemas.google.com/g/2005" xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318</id><updated>2024-03-13T14:46:33.969-07:00</updated><category term="equality"/><category term="9th Circuit Court"/><category term="Abraham"/><category term="California"/><category term="Carlton Pearson"/><category term="Civil RIghts"/><category term="HRC"/><category term="Hanukah"/><category term="Jewish"/><category term="Julian Bond"/><category term="LGBTQ"/><category term="Marriage Equality"/><category term="Martin Luther King Jr."/><category term="Prop. 8"/><category term="Yvette Flunder"/><category term="advocacy"/><category term="devar torah"/><category term="holiday"/><category term="homily"/><category term="marriage"/><category term="miracle"/><category term="queer"/><category term="religious freedom"/><category term="torah study"/><title type='text'>Faith Matters</title><subtitle type='html'>The Community of Welcoming Congregations is an Oregon and SW Washington interfaith ministry and association of religious and spiritual communities working for the full inclusion and equality of transgender, lesbian, gay and bisexual persons.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>CWC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01185980989093334504</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gOiRHxhQ9VE/SWrYx_Xml2I/AAAAAAAAABA/6yZuqCdJrs8/S220/CWC+%26+Pflag.jpg'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>21</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>25</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-4619026882725032536</id><published>2012-05-21T00:57:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2012-05-21T00:57:22.587-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Open letter to Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church</title><content type='html'>Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori,&lt;br /&gt;
  2. &lt;div dir=&quot;ltr&quot;&gt;
  3. &lt;br /&gt;
  4. Nicole, I and
  5. our daughter Hannah have been members of St. Mary&#39;s Episcopal Church in Eugene,
  6. Oregon, since 1999.  Since then, we have had the pleasure of serving as Lay
  7. Eucharistic Ministers, teaching Sunday School, serving on the Vestry and the
  8. pastoral care team.  Several years ago, St. Mary&#39;s Vestry voted to become a
  9. welcoming congregation, and we joined the Community of Welcoming Congregations,
  10. a statewide organization in Oregon representing approximately 125
  11. interdenominational congregations who welcome LGBTQ people of faith.  Victoria
  12. is currently Co-Chair of their Board of Directors.&lt;br /&gt;
  13. &lt;br /&gt;
  14. (Incidentally, we&#39;re
  15. also quite proud here in Oregon to claim you as our own and, well, Corvallis is
  16. really close to Eugene, right?!)&lt;br /&gt;
  17. &lt;br /&gt;
  18. President Obama&#39;s statement last week
  19. in favor of same-sex marriage equality was obviously historic.  Yesterday&#39;s
  20. NAACP vote to support it was no less so, particularly in light of the strongly
  21. divergent opinion on this matter held by many in the black churches nationwide.  
  22. In the wake of these historic events, it is time for the leadership of the
  23. national faith communities to make a stand in favor of the freedom to marry and,
  24. as chief pastor of our Episcopal Church, we call upon you to stand up and make a
  25. public proclamation in favor of marriage equality.&lt;br /&gt;
  26. &lt;br /&gt;
  27. We much enjoyed your
  28. Huffington Post interview published March 27, 2012.  You certainly imply support
  29. for the direction the marriage equality movement is heading, and you pointedly
  30. mention the possible (probable?) adoption of same-sex blessing rites at this
  31. summer&#39;s General Convention.  Thank you for that.  It&#39;s not enough.  Please let
  32. us make two points about why.&lt;br /&gt;
  33. &lt;br /&gt;
  34. First, our home church St. Mary&#39;s is a
  35. fairly liberal church, but that&#39;s not what we like best about it.  What we like
  36. best is that we are a mix of Democrats and Republicans, liberals and
  37. conservatives, LGBTQ folks and those people in the congregation who have still
  38. never quite accepted that we are an openly welcoming congregation.  Those folks
  39. aren&#39;t that comfortable with Nicole and I.  But you know what?  They still come
  40. to the table with us every week.  They cook pancakes beside us on Shrove
  41. Tuesday, and we recite the Nicean Creed in unison.  Holding that tension is the
  42. beauty of the Episcopal Church.&lt;br /&gt;
  43. &lt;br /&gt;
  44. Secondly, we were riding back from
  45. Portland to Eugene last night, having a long conversation with a mostly secular
  46. LGBTQ activist.  She wanted to know where the mainline Christian national
  47. leadership is.  We immediately jumped in to defend everything our churches are
  48. doing on a grassroots level, and remind her that the Episcopal Bishop of Oregon
  49. has publically come out in favor, both in print and by marching in Portland&#39;s
  50. Gay Pride parade.  She said, &quot;No, I mean the NATIONAL church. If they care about
  51. social justice, where ARE they?&quot;  And we had to sit back for a minute because we
  52. realized, that in trying to support the range of opinions within the Episcopal
  53. Church, you&#39;ve been tacitly silent in failing to make a true, affirmative
  54. statement.  As our friend reminded us, failing to make a stand can be nothing
  55. short of complicity.&lt;br /&gt;
  56. &lt;br /&gt;
  57. In our political climate, where the religious right
  58. is controlling the moral arguments in the press, we are consistently hearing
  59. only from secular supporters in favor of marriage equality.  Marriage is civil
  60. right, a human right and a sacrament.  The national Episcopal Church through
  61. it&#39;s various efforts devotes years of staff time and millions of dollars
  62. defending the human rights of people around the world.  It&#39;s part of our
  63. Episcopal Christian mission.  We know we don&#39;t like to take political stands in
  64. the Episcopal Church, but defending the human rights of oppressed minorities is
  65. an Episcopal imperative.  It&#39;s time to tend to the rights of our own house, here
  66. in our own country.  &lt;br /&gt;
  67. &lt;br /&gt;
  68. The Episcopal people look to you for moral
  69. guidance.  While we maintain the support of our members to form their own
  70. political party views, pastorally there is in fact a moral imperative when it
  71. comes to human rights.  Most Rev. Jefferts Schori, it&#39;s time to stand with us
  72. publically and declare unequivocal support for the freedom to
  73. marry.&lt;br /&gt;
  74. &lt;br /&gt;
  75. I&#39;ve attached below an article from CNN&#39;s Belief Blog written by
  76. an Episcopal professor of law.  He makes the argument that Peter handled the
  77. first major crisis in the emerging Christian Church (if non-Jews should be &quot;let
  78. in&quot; and, if so, whether adult men should be circumcised) by supposing that the
  79. old law of Leviticus essentially didn&#39;t apply to all people, equally, at all
  80. times.  If that&#39;s the case, if the man who walked and talked and dined with
  81. Jesus could suppose such a thing, how much more so can we assume that the
  82. Leviticus condemnation of LGBTQ is inapplicable now.  It&#39;s an argument I&#39;ve
  83. never heard quite that way, in quite that context, and I hope you find it as
  84. fascinating and compelling as we have. &lt;br /&gt;
  85. &lt;br /&gt;
  86. Thank you so much for taking
  87. your valuable time to read a lengthy email.  May you have a blessed
  88. day.&lt;br /&gt;
  89. &lt;br /&gt;
  90. My Take: The Christian case for gay marriage&lt;br /&gt;
  91. Editor&#39;s Note: Mark
  92. Osler is a Professor of Law at the University of St. &lt;br /&gt;
  93. Thomas in Minneapolis,
  94. Minnesota.&lt;br /&gt;
  95. By Mark Osler, Special to CNN&lt;br /&gt;
  96. &lt;br /&gt;
  97. I am a Christian, and I am
  98. in favor of gay marriage. The reason I am for &lt;br /&gt;
  99. gay marriage is because of my
  100. faith.&lt;br /&gt;
  101. &lt;br /&gt;
  102. What I see in the Bible’s accounts of Jesus and his followers is
  103. an &lt;br /&gt;
  104. insistence that we don’t have the moral authority to deny others the
  105. &lt;br /&gt;
  106. blessing of holy institutions like baptism, communion, and marriage.
  107. &lt;br /&gt;
  108. God, through the Holy Spirit, infuses those moments with life, and it is
  109. &lt;br /&gt;
  110. not ours to either give or deny to others.&lt;br /&gt;
  111. &lt;br /&gt;
  112. A clear instruction on
  113. this comes from Simon Peter, the “rock” on whom &lt;br /&gt;
  114. the church is built. Peter
  115. is a captivating figure in the Christian &lt;br /&gt;
  116. story. Jesus plucks him out of a
  117. fishing boat to become a disciple, and &lt;br /&gt;
  118. time and again he represents us all
  119. in learning at the feet of Christ.&lt;br /&gt;
  120. &lt;br /&gt;
  121. During their time together, Peter is
  122. often naïve and clueless – he is a &lt;br /&gt;
  123. follower, constantly
  124. learning.&lt;br /&gt;
  125. &lt;br /&gt;
  126. After Jesus is crucified, though, a different Peter emerges,
  127. one who is &lt;br /&gt;
  128. forceful and bold. This is the Peter we see in the Acts of the
  129. Apostles, &lt;br /&gt;
  130. during a fevered debate over whether or not Gentiles should be
  131. baptized. &lt;br /&gt;
  132. Peter was harshly criticized for even eating a meal with those who
  133. were &lt;br /&gt;
  134. uncircumcised; that is, those who did not follow the commands of the
  135. Old &lt;br /&gt;
  136. Testament.&lt;br /&gt;
  137. &lt;br /&gt;
  138. Peter, though, is strong in confronting those who
  139. would deny the &lt;br /&gt;
  140. sacrament of baptism to the Gentiles, and argues for an
  141. acceptance of &lt;br /&gt;
  142. believers who do not follow the circumcision rules of
  143. Leviticus (which &lt;br /&gt;
  144. is also where we find a condemnation of
  145. homosexuality).&lt;br /&gt;
  146. &lt;br /&gt;
  147. His challenge is stark and stunning: Before ordering
  148. that the Gentiles &lt;br /&gt;
  149. be baptized Peter asks “Can anyone withhold the water for
  150. baptizing &lt;br /&gt;
  151. these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we
  152. have?”&lt;br /&gt;
  153. &lt;br /&gt;
  154. None of us, Peter says, has the moral authority to deny baptism
  155. to those &lt;br /&gt;
  156. who seek it, even if they do not follow the ancient laws. It is the
  157. &lt;br /&gt;
  158. flooding love of the Holy Spirit, which fell over that entire crowd,
  159. &lt;br /&gt;
  160. sinners and saints alike, that directs otherwise.&lt;br /&gt;
  161. &lt;br /&gt;
  162. It is not our
  163. place, it seems, to sort out who should be denied a bond &lt;br /&gt;
  164. with God and the
  165. Holy Spirit of the kind that we find through baptism, &lt;br /&gt;
  166. communion, and
  167. marriage. The water will flow where it will.&lt;br /&gt;
  168. &lt;br /&gt;
  169. Intriguingly, this rule
  170. will apply whether we see homosexuality as a sin &lt;br /&gt;
  171. or not. The water is for
  172. all of us. We see the same thing at the Last &lt;br /&gt;
  173. Supper, as Jesus gives the
  174. bread and wine to all who are there—even to &lt;br /&gt;
  175. Peter, who Jesus said would deny
  176. him, and to Judas, who would betray him.&lt;br /&gt;
  177. &lt;br /&gt;
  178. The question before us now is
  179. not whether homosexuality is a sin, but &lt;br /&gt;
  180. whether being gay should be a bar to
  181. baptism or communion or marriage.&lt;br /&gt;
  182. &lt;br /&gt;
  183. The answer is in the Bible. Peter and
  184. Jesus offer a strikingly inclusive &lt;br /&gt;
  185. form of love and engagement. They hold
  186. out the symbols of Gods’ love to &lt;br /&gt;
  187. all. How arrogant that we think it is ours
  188. to parse out stingily!&lt;br /&gt;
  189. &lt;br /&gt;
  190. I worship at St. Stephens, an Episcopal church in
  191. Edina, Minnesota. &lt;br /&gt;
  192. There is a river that flows around the back and side of
  193. that church with &lt;br /&gt;
  194. a delightful name: Minnehaha Creek. That is where we do
  195. baptisms.&lt;br /&gt;
  196. &lt;br /&gt;
  197. The Rector stands in the creek in his robes, the cool water
  198. coursing by &lt;br /&gt;
  199. his feet, and takes an infant into his arms and baptizes her
  200. with that &lt;br /&gt;
  201. same cool water. The congregation sits on the grassy bank and
  202. watches, a &lt;br /&gt;
  203. gentle army.&lt;br /&gt;
  204. &lt;br /&gt;
  205. At the bottom of the creek, in exactly that
  206. spot, is a floor of smooth &lt;br /&gt;
  207. pebbles. The water rushing by has rubbed off the
  208. rough edges, bit by &lt;br /&gt;
  209. bit, day by day. The pebbles have been transformed by
  210. that water into &lt;br /&gt;
  211. something new.&lt;br /&gt;
  212. &lt;br /&gt;
  213. I suppose that, as Peter put it,
  214. someone could try to withhold the &lt;br /&gt;
  215. waters of baptism there. They could try to
  216. stop the river, to keep the &lt;br /&gt;
  217. water from some of the stones, like a child in
  218. the gutter building a &lt;br /&gt;
  219. barrier against the stream.&lt;br /&gt;
  220. &lt;br /&gt;
  221. It won’t last,
  222. though. I would say this to those who would withhold the &lt;br /&gt;
  223. water of baptism,
  224. the joy of worship, or the bonds of marriage: You are &lt;br /&gt;
  225. less strong than the
  226. water, which will flow around you, find its path, &lt;br /&gt;
  227. and gently erode each wall
  228. you try to erect.&lt;br /&gt;
  229. &lt;br /&gt;
  230. The redeeming power of that creek, and of the Holy
  231. Spirit, is &lt;br /&gt;
  232. relentless, making us all into something better and
  233. new.&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/4619026882725032536/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=4619026882725032536' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/4619026882725032536'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/4619026882725032536'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2012/05/open-letter-to-katharine-jefferts.html' title='Open letter to Katharine Jefferts Schori, the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church'/><author><name>Christine</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10715026682722780181</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-8964966896825105246</id><published>2012-05-21T00:48:00.002-07:00</published><updated>2012-05-21T00:48:59.718-07:00</updated><title type='text'></title><content type='html'>&lt;br /&gt;
  234. &lt;div align=&quot;right&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: right;&quot;&gt;
  235. &lt;a href=&quot;http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KLeShVDy8hg/T7nzCMPqEuI/AAAAAAAAABI/8Jk2S34BoUM/s1600/CWCpageheader.png&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; height=&quot;72&quot; src=&quot;http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KLeShVDy8hg/T7nzCMPqEuI/AAAAAAAAABI/8Jk2S34BoUM/s400/CWCpageheader.png&quot; width=&quot;400&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;For Immediate Release&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  236. &lt;img align=&quot;left&quot; hspace=&quot;12&quot; src=&quot;file:///C:/Users/CHRIST~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image002.jpg&quot; v:shapes=&quot;_x0000_s1026&quot; /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
  237. &lt;div align=&quot;right&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: right;&quot;&gt;
  238. &lt;a href=&quot;file:///C:/Users/CHRIST~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image002.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img align=&quot;left&quot; border=&quot;0&quot; hspace=&quot;12&quot; src=&quot;file:///C:/Users/CHRIST~1/AppData/Local/Temp/msohtml1/01/clip_image002.jpg&quot; v:shapes=&quot;_x0000_s1027&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  239. &lt;div align=&quot;right&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: right;&quot;&gt;
  240. Contact:&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Rev. Tara Wilkins &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  241. &lt;div align=&quot;right&quot; class=&quot;MsoFooter&quot; style=&quot;text-align: right;&quot;&gt;
  242. 503-665-8741 (office)&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  243. &lt;div align=&quot;right&quot; class=&quot;MsoFooter&quot; style=&quot;text-align: right;&quot;&gt;
  244. 503-484-3609 (cell)&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  245. &lt;div align=&quot;right&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: right;&quot;&gt;
  246. &lt;a href=&quot;mailto:tara@welcomingcongregations.org&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black;&quot;&gt;tara@welcomingcongregations.org&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  247. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoFooter&quot;&gt;
  248. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  249. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  250. &lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Calibri;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  251. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  252. &lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt;&quot;&gt;PRESS RELEASE&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;u&gt;______________________________________________________&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/u&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  253. &lt;div align=&quot;right&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: right;&quot;&gt;
  254. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  255. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  256. &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;May 10, 2012&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  257. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  258. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  259. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  260. &amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  261. &lt;div align=&quot;center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
  262. &lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 14pt;&quot;&gt;Faith
  263. Leaders around the State Applaud President Obama’s support of the Freedom to
  264. Marry&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  265. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  266. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  267. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  268. &lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;(GRESHAM, OREGON) -&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;Faith leaders today celebrate President Obama’s announcement of his view
  269. on the freedom to marry.&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;&quot;The President&#39;s
  270. support for marriage equality is not just good news for the same-sex couples in
  271. our congregation as well as this community and throughout our nation, it is
  272. good news for all members of God&#39;s family concerned about equal rights for
  273. their brothers and sisters regardless of their sexual orientation or gender
  274. identity,&quot; said the Rev. Dr. Daniel E. H. Bryant, Senior Minister,&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  275. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  276. &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;First
  277. Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) in Eugene. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;“&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;As
  278. a person of faith, I am grateful to President Obama for coming out this week on
  279. the side of marriage equality.&amp;nbsp; In our church we look forward to
  280. celebrating the day when all families, straight and LGBTQ, will share the same
  281. human rights”, states the Reverend Pamela Shepherd of First Congregational
  282. United Church of Christ in Ashland.&amp;nbsp; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  283. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  284. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  285. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  286. &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;Faith
  287. Leaders across tradition support President Obama’s evolution in his
  288. understanding of the freedom to marry for lesbian and gay couples.&amp;nbsp; Rabbi Michael Cahana, Senior Rabbi of
  289. Congregation Beth Israel in Portland commented, “I am thrilled to see the
  290. President of the United States clearly endorse the values of faith commitment
  291. and marriage for all.” Likewise Rabbi Ariel Stone of Congregation Shir Tikvah
  292. celebrates, “I salute President Obama&#39;s clear support of marriage equality
  293. today. As a Rabbi I represent a tradition which celebrates the idea of evolving
  294. understanding. Religion is essentially the practice of doing kindness&amp;nbsp;and
  295. justice.”&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  296. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  297. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  298. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  299. &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;While
  300. some congregations oppose the freedom to marry, many congregations have been
  301. working for equality for years.&amp;nbsp; Trinity Episcopal
  302. Cathedral’s The Right Reverend Bill Lupfer acknowledges that while President
  303. Obama states his support, we are not there yet.&amp;nbsp;
  304. “As a Cathedral community, we have been working towards marriage
  305. equality for some time and we are very pleased that President Obama is joining
  306. us in this effort.&amp;nbsp; We will continue to work and pray until marriage
  307. equality is available to all.”&amp;nbsp; Rabbi
  308. Debra Kolodny of P’nai Or concurs, “I welcome with delight and appreciation
  309. President Obama’s recognition that honoring the commitment of same sex couples
  310. with all of the rights and responsibilities that marriage entails is just,
  311. ethical and morally correct. I look forward to the day when I can serve as a
  312. msaderet kedushin, a wedding officiant, for couples in the state of Oregon, and
  313. have their civil status as a married couple be recorded.”&lt;br /&gt;
  314. &lt;br /&gt;
  315. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  316. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  317. &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;Faith
  318. leaders acknowledge the challenge of the widening of an understanding of
  319. marriage that includes lesbian and gay couples has been a journey.&amp;nbsp; People of faith in Oregon and Washington have
  320. been instrumental to both states enacting legislation that protects all
  321. citizens.&amp;nbsp; Measure 36 changed the Oregon
  322. State Constitution that now defines marriage in Oregon as between one man and
  323. one woman.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp; Support for marriage
  324. equality has grown since then.&amp;nbsp; Recent
  325. polls indicate that the majority of Americans, including the majority of
  326. Catholics now support the freedom to marry.&amp;nbsp;
  327. And earlier this year, Washington’s legislature voted for the freedom to
  328. marry.&amp;nbsp; The President’s statement is an
  329. important milestone and reflects the movement of the country.&amp;nbsp; “The idea that President Obama has
  330. &quot;evolved&quot; over the past few years to recognize that ALL Americans
  331. deserve to have their committed relationships recognized as Marriage is a
  332. momentous occasion for people of faith and those who love them,” states The
  333. Rev. Dennis j Parker from St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  334. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  335. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  336. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  337. &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;As
  338. the country shifts, so do denominational policies.&amp;nbsp; President Obama’s support sends a message
  339. that we are all equal.&amp;nbsp; “Our hope is that
  340. the President’s message of support of the freedom to marry will help set a tone
  341. that will lead to changes that help keep our LGBT children safer and that will
  342. protect all families from discriminatory practices,” states the Reverend Tara
  343. Wilkins, Executive Director of the Community of Welcoming Congregations and a
  344. United Church of Christ minister.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  345. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  346. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  347. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  348. &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;The
  349. Rev. Bill Sinkford, former President of the Unitarian Universalist Association
  350. now senior minister at First Unitarian Church in Portland declares, “President
  351. Obama’s personal support for Marriage Equality is historic. I celebrate his
  352. conclusion, but I also appreciate the candor with which he describes the
  353. development of his opinion over time. There can be no more hopeful news than
  354. that change is possible, even for our President...even for us all.”&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  355. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  356. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  357. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  358. &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;Rabbi
  359. Ariel concludes, “God created each of us in the Divine Image,&amp;nbsp;and created
  360. in us many diverse ways of being. As we mature as a human race, may we continue
  361. to deepen our respect for all the forms of love which bless us.”&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  362. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  363. &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  364. &lt;div align=&quot;center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
  365. &lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Calibri;&quot;&gt;#####&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  366. &lt;div align=&quot;center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
  367. &lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Calibri;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  368. &lt;div align=&quot;center&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-align: center;&quot;&gt;
  369. &lt;/div&gt;
  370. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  371. &lt;span style=&quot;font-family: Calibri;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;
  372. &lt;br /&gt;
  373. &lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;
  374. &lt;span style=&quot;font-size: 12pt;&quot;&gt;The
  375. Community of Welcoming Congregations is an interfaith association of religious
  376. and spiritual communities who work for the full inclusion and equality of those
  377. who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning.&amp;nbsp; We represent more than 119 members of over 20
  378. denominations and traditions.&amp;nbsp; For more
  379. information, see &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.welcomingcongregations.org/&quot;&gt;www.welcomingcongregations.org&lt;/a&gt;.&amp;nbsp;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/8964966896825105246/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=8964966896825105246' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/8964966896825105246'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/8964966896825105246'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2012/05/for-immediate-release-contact-rev.html' title=''/><author><name>Christine</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/10715026682722780181</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KLeShVDy8hg/T7nzCMPqEuI/AAAAAAAAABI/8Jk2S34BoUM/s72-c/CWCpageheader.png" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-8423110094877944046</id><published>2012-01-12T20:00:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2012-01-13T13:37:13.932-08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Carlton Pearson"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Civil RIghts"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="HRC"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Julian Bond"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Marriage Equality"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Martin Luther King Jr."/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Yvette Flunder"/><title type='text'>Gay Rights, Civil Rights and Martin Luther King Jr.</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;a href=&quot;http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2ggj6_bKGE/Tw-TuqTT6LI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/ZLd0p6mADnw/s1600/martin-luther-king-jr-2012-day.jpg&quot; imageanchor=&quot;1&quot; style=&quot;clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;&quot;&gt;&lt;img border=&quot;0&quot; height=&quot;225&quot; src=&quot;http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2ggj6_bKGE/Tw-TuqTT6LI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/ZLd0p6mADnw/s320/martin-luther-king-jr-2012-day.jpg&quot; style=&quot;cursor: move;&quot; width=&quot;320&quot; /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;This weekend across the United States - churches, civil organizations and non-profits will provide various opportunities to celebrate and honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.&amp;nbsp; Dr. King is a spiritual hero of mine, and having been inducted into the (MLK)&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;http://revdavida.blogspot.com/2009/03/press-release-rev-david-to-be-honored.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Board of Preachers at Morehouse College in 2009&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;remains a humbling honor and thrilling highlight of my life. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;One of the ways I&#39;ve traditionally celebrated MLK Day has been to attend the local MLK Celebration at one of the larger African American churches in town. &amp;nbsp;They hold an annual festival, traditionally broadcasted on local public radio. &amp;nbsp;It is an all day gospel extravaganza featuring amazing music, speeches and special presentations. &amp;nbsp;I truly enjoy it. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;However, I am not sure that I&#39;ll attend this year. &amp;nbsp;Due to a flurry of recent events I&#39;ve begun to reflect even more deeply on Dr. King&#39;s Dream and how we celebrate it today. &amp;nbsp;I recently learned that the minister of the church that puts on this event has been reported to have included anti-gay messages in his sermons. &amp;nbsp;The news came on the heels of my heavy involvement in posting comments on a series of blogs about the role of the Black Church regarding fight for Equal Rights in the LGBTQ community. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;It all started when my friend&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.huffingtonpost.com/monique-ruffin&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Monique Ruffin&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;posted an article on Huffington Post entitled&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.huffingtonpost.com/monique-ruffin/gay-civil-rights_b_1168897.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;&quot;It&#39;s Official, Gay is the New Black.&quot;&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp; Needless to say the article caused quite a stir. &amp;nbsp;I chose to become involved in several comment threads both on the blog site and on Facebook, and what became clear is that the black church community is divided on the issue of Gay Rights/Marriage Equality. &amp;nbsp;This was not news to me - but rather a topic of sincere curiosity. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;You see, I serve on the board for The&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;http://welcomingcongregations.org/&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Community of Welcoming Congregations&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;and we have experienced a struggle to have any meaningful involvement or support from leaders in the black church community on this very important civil rights issue. &amp;nbsp;I struggle to understand why.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;Now, let me say up front that the generalization of &quot;the black church community&quot; is a difficult one to make. &amp;nbsp;Across the nation I know African American clergy and church leaders who are on the side of LGBTQ Equality. &amp;nbsp;I am fortunate enough to call Bishops&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.livingprophetseries.com/page4/page5/index.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Carlton D. Pearson&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;and&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.livingprophetseries.com/page4/page8/index.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Yvette Flunder&lt;/a&gt;&amp;nbsp;among those friends and allies. &amp;nbsp;But by and large the majority of the &quot;black church community” (by which, I mean traditionally evangelical, Baptist, Pentecostal, Holiness, and Non-denominational African American congregations) do not take a favorable, and in some cases takes an actively adversarial, position on Gay Rights. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;Yet, the NAACP* and the late Coretta Scott King have taken a stand for LGBTQ Equality, deeming it the civil rights issue of our day.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;So why then are so many black churches (not all) either silent or adversarial to the cause?&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px; text-decoration: underline;&quot;&gt;This seems to be the case for (at least) 2 reasons:&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;1. Theology - &quot;for the Bible tells me so&quot;&lt;/b&gt;... many black churches, just like many white churches - believe that scripture is clear on the subject of homosexuality and that it is a sin. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;This issue is really a “red herring” - I&#39;ll address it in a post at the end of the month on Equality Sabbath, Jan. 29th. &amp;nbsp;For now, I&#39;ll refer you to the words of Bishop John S. Spong on this topic in one of my&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;http://revdavida.blogspot.com/2009/10/bishop-spongs-manifesto.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;previous posts (Bishop Spong&#39;s Manifesto)&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
  380. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;The arguments used here are the same used in all-white churches - or any church that fights (actively or passively) against Marriage Equality. &amp;nbsp;Assuming we are able to agree to disagree on scriptural interpretation, the&amp;nbsp;&lt;i&gt;issue at hand is that of Civil Rights - not religious ones.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;b&gt;2. Cultural tradition &quot;Don&#39;t usurp The Civil Rights Movement!&quot;&lt;/b&gt;&amp;nbsp;... it seems that many are upset at the perceived effort by the gay community to usurp the original&amp;nbsp;&lt;i&gt;intent&lt;/i&gt;&amp;nbsp;of the movement thereby diminishing the focus on equality issues that remain in the black community. &amp;nbsp;Certainly there are still issues of inequity and discrimination which affect the African American community as a whole.&amp;nbsp; But does the recognition of this fact warrant the apparent silence from the black church when it comes to the discrimination of our LGBTQ brothers and sisters?&amp;nbsp; (Are they mutually exclusive issues?)&amp;nbsp; It was Dr. King that taught us that silence in the face of oppression and discrimination is just as much a sin as the behavior of the opressor. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;color: black; letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;An argument could be made that &quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;occasion and context informs intent.&quot; &amp;nbsp;Under this lens the Civil Rights movement rose from the extreme inequities and moral injustices facing African Americans and thus the intent of the movement was to right the wrongs of civil injustice. &amp;nbsp;But Dr. King and those around him did more than seek to right the wrongs of the current conditions. &amp;nbsp;Dr. King had a Dream. &amp;nbsp;A dream that we would as a nation “&lt;i&gt;rise up and live out the true meaning of our creed, that all men are created equal&lt;/i&gt;.”&amp;nbsp;He called us to the high American moral standards of Equality and Justice for ALL. &amp;nbsp; And while his message began with boycotts of buses and sit-ins at lunch counters (righting wrong conditions) - his intent clearly expanded over the years to include speaking out on issues of justice for immigrant farm workers, economic injustices and the moral efficacy of the vietnam war. &amp;nbsp;Yes, Dr. King understood that context gives rise to message - but he also powerfully understood that what emerges from this is Principle. &amp;nbsp;If a Principle is to have any validity at all - it must transcend the context from which it was uncovered, and be applicable in others. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;There are those who would say, and have done so on the blog threads, &amp;nbsp;that the plight of the LGBTQ community cannot come under the banner of the Civil Rights Movement because they do not have the history of 300 years of oppression, slavery and discrimination. &amp;nbsp;There are those who would say, &quot;it is not the same&quot; because black folks can&#39;t &quot;blend-in&quot; the way gay folks can. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;But how much discrimination must a people endure to qualify?&amp;nbsp; How much suffering does it take? &amp;nbsp;Must the discrimination be visible for all to see? &amp;nbsp;Isn&#39;t hidden racism and discrimination just as insidious as the visible kind?&amp;nbsp; &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;Dr. King called on us to transcend labels and understand that at our core we are all human beings, and for that fact alone are deserving of basic rights and equal treatment under the law. &amp;nbsp; The black church community has traditionally been the champion of both the Civil Rights Movement and the &quot;Keepers of the Dream&quot; of Dr. King. &amp;nbsp;Now, the LGBTQ community is calling the champions of equality and justice for all to come to their aide. &amp;nbsp;But rather than pick up the phone and answer the call, many leaders of back church community seem to let the call go straight to voicemail - with an outgoing message saying: &quot;we&#39;re sorry, we can&#39;t take your call right now, our theology won&#39;t let us.&quot; &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;Dr. King taught us that the church, white or black, has a role in the social sector.&amp;nbsp; That role is to stand up for the oppressed and discriminated and to call on our political leaders to remember the inherent dignity of all human beings when shaping public policy. &amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;blockquote class=&quot;tr_bq&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;font-size: large;&quot;&gt;&lt;span class=&quot;Apple-style-span&quot; style=&quot;color: #333233;&quot;&gt;&quot;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;The church should be the headlights rather than the tail lights on loving first, best and most, all people inclusively.”&amp;nbsp; -&amp;nbsp;&lt;a href=&quot;http://www.livingprophetseries.com/page4/page5/index.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot;&gt;Bishop Carlton D. Pearson&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;Dr. King’s Dream of Equality has always been a call to action, to rise to the occasion of our most honorable intentions toward one another, whether or not we are in agreement and whether or not we even like one another.&amp;nbsp; The Dream of equal treatment under the law is not reserved for just one people.&amp;nbsp;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;Dr. King’s Dream is for everyone.&amp;nbsp;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
  381. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;color: #333233; font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
  382. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;letter-spacing: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;separator&quot; style=&quot;clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;&quot;&gt;*&lt;iframe allowfullscreen=&#39;allowfullscreen&#39; webkitallowfullscreen=&#39;webkitallowfullscreen&#39; mozallowfullscreen=&#39;mozallowfullscreen&#39; width=&#39;320&#39; height=&#39;266&#39; src=&#39;https://www.youtube.com/embed/zq1MN1FYa4M?feature=player_embedded&#39; frameborder=&#39;0&#39;&gt;&lt;/iframe&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;font: normal normal normal 16px/normal Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; min-height: 19px;&quot;&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
  383. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
  384. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;- Rev. David Alexander is senior minister at New Thought Center for Spiritual Living (www.newthoughtcsl.org) and serves on the Board of Directors for CWC.&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div style=&quot;color: #1800b1; font: normal normal normal 17px/normal &#39;Lucida Grande&#39;; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;&quot;&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/8423110094877944046/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=8423110094877944046' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/8423110094877944046'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/8423110094877944046'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2012/01/gay-rights-civil-rights-and-martin.html' title='Gay Rights, Civil Rights and Martin Luther King Jr.'/><author><name>Rev. David F. Alexander</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/07826903479140581732</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><media:thumbnail xmlns:media="http://search.yahoo.com/mrss/" url="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q2ggj6_bKGE/Tw-TuqTT6LI/AAAAAAAAAEQ/ZLd0p6mADnw/s72-c/martin-luther-king-jr-2012-day.jpg" height="72" width="72"/><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-1215549951619944856</id><published>2011-04-25T13:40:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-04-26T12:32:58.436-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Bullies--No Joking Matter</title><content type='html'>&lt;!--StartFragment--&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;On March 10&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt;, the White House hosted a conference on “Bullying Prevention,” including remarks by President Obama and the First Lady.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;“Bullying can have destructive consequences for our young people,” President Obama said. “And it’s not something we have to accept. As parents and students, teachers and communities, we can take steps that will help prevent bullying and create a climate in our schools in which all of our children can feel safe.”&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;The White House also unveiled a new website, &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.stopbullying.gov/&quot;&gt;http://www.stopbullying.gov&lt;/a&gt; that includes tips, resources and help for teens, young adults, parents and educators.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;What is one of the primary themes for bullies? Many children are bullied over gender identity issues and sexual orientation.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;The conference also marked the reintroduction of anti-bullying and nondiscrimination legislation in Congress. U.S. Rep. Jared Polis (D-Colo.) and U.S. Sen. Al Franken (D-Minn.) reintroduced the Student Non-Discrimination Act, legislation that would ban discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity in public schools. Also, U.S. Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) and Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D-N.J.) introduced the Tyler Clementi Higher Education Anti-Harassment Act, which would require higher education institutions receiving Federal student aid to develop bullying policies that draw specific attention to harassment fueled by bias against race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and other characteristics.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;blockquote&gt;“The alarming increase in teen suicides has shown us just how far we are from making our children’s schools safe spaces,” Polis said. “We must take action to protect the safety of our students and enshrine the values of equality and opportunity in our classrooms. My legislation puts LGBT students on an equal footing with their peers so they can attend school and get a quality education free from fear.”&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Statistics continue to show that LGBT youths have a much higher school dropout and suicide rates than other teens—as well as frequently being the targets of violent and persistent school bullying.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;All of us are different—but most of us are not required to defend our differences on the playground, in class or at Sunday school. Most of us can conduct our lives in freedom. Let’s make sure that all of our children can enjoy this same freedom. Education is a right for all children in America. Let’s make sure that schools and churches can provide this education in an environment of encouragement and safety.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;For more information and a wealth of tools for parents, educators and clergy, go online to: &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.stopbullying.gov/&quot;&gt;http://www.stopbullying.gov&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Rev. Larry King, Senior Minister&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Portland Center for Spiritual Living&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;!--EndFragment--&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/1215549951619944856/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=1215549951619944856' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/1215549951619944856'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/1215549951619944856'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2011/04/bullies-no-joking-matter.html' title='Bullies--No Joking Matter'/><author><name>Larry King</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05664569231792537030</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-4108794269279377062</id><published>2011-03-24T19:49:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2011-04-25T15:12:42.298-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Killing Me Softly With His Psalm</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 18px; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-size: 12px; font: normal normal normal 13px/19px Georgia, &#39;Times New Roman&#39;, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, Times, serif; padding-top: 0.6em; padding-right: 0.6em; padding-bottom: 0.6em; padding-left: 0.6em; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; max-width: 640px; &quot;&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; &quot;&gt;I have to admit, one of my guilty pleasures had been listening to podcasts of Joel Osteen. Although we differ in our approaches to God, although we differ in the themes we explore as ministers—he’s irresistibly positive. What a relief to have a positive message by an eager man who exudes such simple and easy kindness.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; &quot;&gt;It was good to see him in another forum—outside of his 16,000 seat sanctuary—when Whoopi Goldberg interviewed him on the View. Among many questions she asked him: “How do you feel about folks that are gay…” and “Are gay folks welcome at your church?”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; &quot;&gt;In his kindest voice Joel said,&lt;/p&gt;&lt;blockquote style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; font-size: 16px; font-style: italic; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; &quot;&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; &quot;&gt;“Of course, they are all welcome. But I come from that value system of scripture that homosexuality is not God&#39;s best… I just try to love them and treat everybody with respect.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/blockquote&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; &quot;&gt;I almost missed it—he said it with such sweetness: “Not God’s best.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; &quot;&gt;Then I got mad. Not because Joel has a different opinion. Not because of the power he holds to sway others’ opinions. I got made because he so sweetly uses scripture to back up his ideas of social engineering.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; &quot;&gt;I love scripture—the Hebrew and Christian Bibles, in particular, are important to me. They help me better understand the timeless truth of the Divine. They help me get closer to God. But scripture is certainly not a good blueprint for modern social engineering. If we are to treat homosexuals as inferior based on scripture, what about all the other scriptural issues that we cheerfully ignore:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;ul style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: square; list-style-position: initial; list-style-image: initial; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 24px; margin-left: 1.5em; &quot;&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; &quot;&gt;We freely mix fibers in our clothing (forbidden in Leviticus 19:19)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; &quot;&gt;We associate with women during their period (forbidden in Leviticus 15:19-20)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;li style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; &quot;&gt;We do all sorts of things on Sunday (forbidden in Exodus 20:8)&lt;/li&gt;&lt;/ul&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; &quot;&gt;This is just the tip of the iceberg on items prohibited by scripture—and we cheerfully ignore most of them. Surely the time has come when we can evaluate scripture for its spiritual content and leave the 2,000+ year-old social customs, caste systems and dietary laws behind? When I use scripture it’s to empower. When I read scripture it’s to elevate.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; &quot;&gt;I feel a bit hoodwinked. I confused Joel’s manner for his message. I wanted Joel to like me, I guess! Instead, I feel like singer Roberta Flack in her 1973 hit Killing Me Softly. No matter how sweetly someone may sing, I will not permit anyone “Killing me softly with his song.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; &quot;&gt;Each of us is “God’s Best.” Now and forever. God doesn’t create anything less than perfection. Each of us may fully embody our Divine nature without worry or shame about who we are.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; &quot;&gt;Rev. Larry King, Senior Minister&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-family: Georgia, &#39;Bitstream Charter&#39;, serif; color: rgb(68, 68, 68); line-height: 1.5; font-size: 16px; margin-bottom: 24px; &quot;&gt;Portland Center for Spiritual Living&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/4108794269279377062/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=4108794269279377062' title='3 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/4108794269279377062'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/4108794269279377062'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2011/03/killing-me-softly-with-his-psalm.html' title='Killing Me Softly With His Psalm'/><author><name>Larry King</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05664569231792537030</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>3</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-5249981686982638899</id><published>2011-02-11T15:08:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2011-02-11T15:08:21.729-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The 10 Commandments: A Call For Inclusion</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;The story of the 10 Commandments is one of my favorites in the torah.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;The storyline could not be better – it begs for popcorn and a blanket next to a good fire.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;A people, once enslaved and now free, is wandering in the desert looking for a path to a new homeland.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;They stop at a mountain and their leader disappears.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Suspense ensues.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Moses has gone up the mountain!&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;When he returns, he is expected to bring down the 10 Commandments and to begin a new journey as a people committed to a vision of living a holy life.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;I questioned as a child why God would bring all the Israelites out in to the middle of nowhere to give the 10 Commandments.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Why not just take them to Israel on a direct route and give the Law over at that time?&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;It didn’t seem to make sense.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;What lesson could possibly be learned by three months of wandering around in the middle of the desert? Interestingly, the Mehilta Derebbe Yishma’el, an early commentary on the Bible, offers us a clue that I believe speaks to the radical inclusiveness that exists within pieces of biblical tradition.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;The Mehilta teaches that “The Torah was given in public, openly, in a free place.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;For had the Torah been given in the land of Israel, the Israelites could have said to the nations of the world: You have no share in it.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;But since it was given in the wilderness, publicly, and in a place that is open to all, everyone wishing to accept Torah may come and accept it.”&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;What a beautiful teaching!&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;To me it is akin to my colleague and friend, Rev. Tara Wilkins, a UCC minister, who often says that religion should have a “y’all come” mentality – a sense that everyone has a seat at the table.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;And for an ancient text like this to offer an opening to rethink the giving of torah, to show us a path in when it may appear that some are to be left out – that is a true thing of beauty.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;The real question remains – so what?&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;So what if torah is open to all?&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;The idea of an open access policy feels important to me because it forces the issue of inclusive religion.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;It mandates that all are accepted if they freely choose to be part of this sacred community – or in the language of our torah portion – to be part of the kingdom of priests and a holy nation.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;The teaching of the Mehilta offers us an insight into what the ancients thought society and religion ought to look like.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;Sometimes the journey is just an aid for a juicy retelling.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;But every so often the journey is about something more than just the average attention span of a member of the faith community – sometimes it reaches beyond in search of a deeper truth.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;The truth offered here, in this journey is that everyone, regardless of gender or sexual identity, is offered a seat at the table of biblical tradition.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;But that kind of radical inclusion is not without its challenges or burdens.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;It places the burden for inclusion squarely on communities and institutions by rooting the value of inclusiveness and equality in one of our most ancient midrashic texts.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;It offers a challenge to the institutions of the faith community to build structures, both physical and metaphysical, that support the inclusion valued here.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;But it also places the burden of seeking religion out on the individual – one me and on you.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;It challenges us to use the values of our midrashic tradition to demand our seat at the table from all branches of religious life and community.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
  385. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
  386. &lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/5249981686982638899/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=5249981686982638899' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/5249981686982638899'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/5249981686982638899'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2011/02/10-commandments-call-for-inclusion.html' title='The 10 Commandments: A Call For Inclusion'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-5980996283577027067</id><published>2011-01-26T21:34:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2011-04-25T15:13:25.953-07:00</updated><title type='text'>When Popular Culture Notices The Truth</title><content type='html'>&lt;!--StartFragment--&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Much of the time I ignore popular culture. Whether it’s in the news, on TV or in the magazines at the checkout stand—most of what I see is about people making bad choices. Popular American culture seems to take great delight in things gone wrong—especially for the rich or famous. I also expect that much of what I see may be “made up” for publicity or to knock people off the pedestal of movie stardom.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;I couldn’t help but notice how singer Elton John has been in the news lately. The checkout stand is all a-buzz. Sir Elton John (and his longtime partner, David Furnish) had a baby. This is not so amazing in this time of adoption and surrogate parentage. What is amazing is the tabloids are not sending Sir John to purgatory over it. They’re not even evaluating his anticipated parenting skills. They’re on his side by saying that America needs to better tolerate, support and understand non-traditional families.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;In USA Today, when Sir John was asked to comment on some of the recent violence against the LGBTQ community he replied:&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Calibri;&quot;&gt;“We’ve come so far, with a black president, it’s mystifying that this can still be going on.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Calibri;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;margin-top:0in;margin-right:.5in;margin-bottom:0in; margin-left:.5in;margin-bottom:.0001pt&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family:Calibri;&quot;&gt;“Jesus Christ taught tolerance. That’s the example we should follow. We should forgive, understand, be compassionate. We’re not all the same. Thank God! It would be so boring.”&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Two days ago he hosted his annual Elton John AIDS Foundation benefit. He was honoring the memory of AIDS activist Ryan White. The teen died of AIDS 20 years ago and helped combat prejudice and ignorance associated with the disease at the time. Sir John said White was an &quot;amazing boy who had no prejudice, no bitterness ... God do we need that kind of thing in America at this moment.&quot;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;It’s not surprising that Elton John stands for inclusion, tolerance and support for the LGBTQ community. After all, he was one of the early celebrities to self-identify as gay. He knows what exclusion can feel like—and he works to end it in his charitable endeavors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;What is wonderful to me is that this is newsworthy. Does the media really understand that we need to embrace all of our human family? Are the Associated Press, Reuters and TV media just in love with Elton John—or are we experiencing a time when even popular culture must recognize that everyone is worthy of love, life, compassion and their own unique brand of happiness?&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Rev. Larry King, Senior Minsiter&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Portland Center for Spiritual Living&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;!--EndFragment--&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/5980996283577027067/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=5980996283577027067' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/5980996283577027067'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/5980996283577027067'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2011/01/when-popular-culture-notices-truth.html' title='When Popular Culture Notices The Truth'/><author><name>Larry King</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/05664569231792537030</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-8586245041217654911</id><published>2011-01-17T21:42:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2011-01-17T21:42:23.578-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Building the Dream</title><content type='html'>Yesterday our congregation honored the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in part, by affirming Rev. King’s call as a follower of Jesus.  His words rang out as his speech was read and the Gospel proclaimed.  The Christian call, a call to justice, requires firmaments of hope and faith focused on the Light of God’s ever present love.&lt;br /&gt;
  387. &lt;br /&gt;
  388.     More than the oppression that burdened him, Rev. King’s passion for justice burned from the witness of Jesus and a discerning ear that listened for the voice of God’s revelation to ground him.  He said, “To be a Christian without prayer is no more possible than to be alive without breathing”.  His deep connection to God inspired his actions and his words and what became a legacy.&lt;br /&gt;
  389. &lt;br /&gt;
  390.     Sister Joan Chittister has been moved by that legacy.  She asserts that in Rev. King we see a glimpse of the face of God.  In times of adversity, we look to those who can lead us out of darkness into the light.  Sister Joan writes, “In their eyes burn the eyes of a God who sees injustice and decries it, sees poverty and condemns it, sees inequality and refuses it, sees wrong and demands that it be set right. These are people for whom the Law above the law is first in their lives. These are people who did not temporize with the evil in one system just because another system could have been worse. These are people who saw themselves clearly as the others&#39; keepers. They are the people who gave themselves entirely to the impulses of God for the sake of the world.”&lt;br /&gt;
  391. &lt;br /&gt;
  392.     Rev. King eloquently imparted his dream, his vision for a promised land.  He prayerfully conveyed the words and images that inspired a movement.  He spoke not only in articulated principles, but with the acknowledgement of the hard work that was necessary to realize them.  He knew that the dream alone is not enough.  It requires our participation.  It requires many of us to bear witness to it.  “Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable... Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.”&lt;br /&gt;
  393. &lt;br /&gt;
  394.     I believe that Rev. King would have been inspired by President Obama.  I like to think that he would have been deeply moved, as I was, when the President bore witness to the call for peace and civility at the Memorial Service in Tucson.  We HAVE come a long way.  &lt;br /&gt;
  395. &lt;br /&gt;
  396.     “And so we still have a long, long way to go before we reach the promised land of freedom. Yes, we have left the dusty soils of Egypt, and we have crossed a Red Sea that had for years been hardened by a long and piercing winter of massive resistance, but before we reach the majestic shores of the promised land, there will still be gigantic mountains of opposition ahead and prodigious hilltops of injustice. We still need some Paul Revere of conscience to alert every hamlet and every village of America that revolution is still at hand. Yes, we need a chart; we need a compass; indeed, we need some North Star to guide us into a future shrouded with impenetrable uncertainties.”&lt;br /&gt;
  397.     &lt;br /&gt;
  398.     Today we pause to remember what the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. ’s legacy means for us, in this time, in this moment of history.  As I listen to all of the political rhetoric infusing our airwaves, progressive rhetoric, conservative rhetoric, outrageous, hostile and crazy rhetoric, I keep thinking do people really believe that we can live into the American dream, that we can solve our problems of poverty and war and education and healthcare by making enemies of one another.  Do we think we further our progress and evolution by projecting our frustrations and fears onto others?  &lt;br /&gt;
  399.     &lt;br /&gt;
  400.     I think our biggest challenge is not the tea partiers, the conservatives or the progressives.  The biggest challenge is in thinking that someone else is going to solve our problems.  As long as we sit on the sidelines and complain about our President or minimize the concerns of those who are different from ourselves, then we have no right to demand that anything be different.  If we refuse to muster that Paul Revere of conscience, then all we have is dream.  To live into the dream, Rev. King’s dream, the American dream, the dream of God’s kin-dom, is to actively become a part of it.  Rev. King said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase”.  My prayer on this day is that we take a new path, a different step, a kinder, bolder step toward justice that proclaims the Holy in each of us as we together live in to the dream.  Amen.&lt;br /&gt;
  401. &lt;br /&gt;
  402. Rev. Tara</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/8586245041217654911/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=8586245041217654911' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/8586245041217654911'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/8586245041217654911'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2011/01/building-dream.html' title='Building the Dream'/><author><name>CWC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01185980989093334504</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gOiRHxhQ9VE/SWrYx_Xml2I/AAAAAAAAABA/6yZuqCdJrs8/S220/CWC+%26+Pflag.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-3687782020128476742</id><published>2011-01-03T15:22:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2011-01-03T15:22:24.487-08:00</updated><title type='text'>The Exodus Story - A Chance to Rebel!</title><content type='html'>&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;The early part of the Book of Exodus has always been one of my favorite sections of the Bible.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Although I was a bit young to really appreciate Charlton Heston’s portrayal of Moses in “The 10 Commandments,” (I do remember believing, however, that Moses did come down from Mt. Sinai with the tablets in one hand and a machine gun in the other!) I can still recall seeing the movie on TV as a child and my parents reminding me that this was our story.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;My grandfather (&lt;i&gt;may his memory be a blessing&lt;/i&gt;) even once threatened to make us watch the entire film during a Passover &lt;i style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-style: normal;&quot;&gt;seder&lt;/i&gt;!&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;This story of the Israelite people is the story of all peoples who have faced oppression.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Although it remains the core foundational story of the Jewish people, the translesbigay community can and should see itself within this core myth and use the lessons therein as one path forward.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;The rebellion of the Israelites against its leadership and Moses’ liberation from his Egyptian upbringing makes this a compelling argument.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Rebecca Alpert, writing in The Queer Bible Commentary, makes a convincing case for this vision by noting that, “…we look forward to a time when with whom we choose to have sex and to live and to love and the ways in which we choose to express our gender identity will no longer be marked by any members of society as sinful, illegal or disgusting.”&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;But first we must rebel.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Just as the Israelites rebelled both against Pharaoh and later against Moses and Aaron we too must be rebel against the forces of oppression and also be willing to rebel against our leaders when they act in ways that are unacceptable.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;We should rebel in small ways; by subverting the hetero-normative aspects of our texts and traditions and by questioning and queering the texts.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;We should write new &lt;i style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-style: normal;&quot;&gt;midrashim&lt;/i&gt; and weave new stories that speak to the community of queer and allied folks.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;We need to be willing to take that step of approaching Pharaoh, the source of oppression, and demand an end to bullying and tormenting and to be let go to live a life of self-expression.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;We must also be willing to rebel in larger ways when our government fails us through inaction or intolerance; we should advocate and push our elected leaders to do what is right and just.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;We should demand equality for all people.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;And we should do it from a place of deep faith and understanding of those values within our biblical and contemporary traditions.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;We should demand changes to our laws to protect our youth from homophobic attack and bullying.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;We need to be willing to take that step of approaching our own leadership and demand that they do what is right.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;In my desire to get fired up and to rebel, it is easy to forget the simple truth here.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;The story of the Exodus is not just a communal story of a people enslaved to Pharaoh and the rebellion of the Israelites. &lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp;&lt;/span&gt;It is the story of an individual child; a baby placed into a reed basket and sent along the Nile to a new family.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Moses is raised with a hidden identity as an Israelite and is brought up in a position of power from Pharaoh’s palace.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;As he grows he realizes that something about him is different from his Egyptian family and he begins to question.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Only later in his life after a long journey does he discover, through an encounter with a burning bush, that he is not part of the majority culture.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;Our rebellion for equality is in service of those young people who, like Moses, are struggling to come out of the closet and into the fullness of their identities.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;We hold the memories of those children and young adults who were murdered by intolerance in recent months and we offer up a vision of equality to let those who are still here know that it does get better, that people do find themselves and that we will leave this place of oppression and go to a land flowing with equality and justice.&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent: .5in;&quot;&gt;And although we are just at the beginning of the story it is clear where we will end.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;God has demanded that the Israelites be set free to live lives of meaning.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;We just have yet to fulfill that vision in our time.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;May that ancient vision, the freedom of an open society rich with the fullness of human expression, be granted to us, speedily and in our days.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun: yes;&quot;&gt;&amp;nbsp; &lt;/span&gt;Amen. &lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;
  403. &lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/3687782020128476742/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=3687782020128476742' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/3687782020128476742'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/3687782020128476742'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2011/01/exodus-story-chance-to-rebel.html' title='The Exodus Story - A Chance to Rebel!'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-5593761626869465171</id><published>2010-12-07T14:50:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-12-07T14:58:36.370-08:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="9th Circuit Court"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="California"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="equality"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Hanukah"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="holiday"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Jewish"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="marriage"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="miracle"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Prop. 8"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="religious freedom"/><title type='text'>Love and Marriage: It&#39;s Not Just For Straight Maccabees Anymore!</title><content type='html'>&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hanukah &lt;/i&gt;is this week and Jews across the world are trying to bring light in to a world that is so often filled with darkness.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The Maccabees, a group of zealous Jews some 2100-years ago, fought and won the right to practice their religious traditions and live in the way their hearts desired.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;In recognition of that great achievement, the story of long-lasting oil was born to help reflect the importance of dedication to a cause of religious freedom and the pursuit of justice. &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;The Kedushat Levi, a &lt;i style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-style: normal&quot;&gt;Hasidic&lt;/i&gt; commentary on the Torah, asks the question, &quot;What is &lt;i&gt;Hanukah&lt;/i&gt;? . . . They only found one flask of oil which contained only enough [to light the &lt;i&gt;menorah&lt;/i&gt;] for one day. And a miracle happened that they lit from the flask for eight days. The next year the sages established eight days to praise and thank God.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Why did the sages establish the holiday for eight days?&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;If there was already enough oil in the flask to last one day, the miracle was only seven days long.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The real miracle of Hanukah was that there were two forms of joy.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;So, although the miracle [of the oil] was only seven days long, the sages added an additional day to commemorate the second reason for rejoicing [namely, the recognition that the miracle is a reflection of God’s presence in the world].”&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;An interesting argument, right?&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;To say that the real miracle of &lt;i&gt;Hanukah &lt;/i&gt;is our recognition of God giving us the miracle – of our understanding of God’s presence in the world, is pretty bold.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Yet it is true and it helps us to continually find new meanings for this wonderful holiday season.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;For me this year, &lt;i&gt;Hanukah &lt;/i&gt;has been wrapped up in the marriage equality debate happening in California’s 9&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; Circuit Court.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;After two years of the darkness of oppression and bigotry it seems as though we are on the cusp of the first Federal Court decision to recognize the sanctity of all relationships.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;I watched the oral arguments on CSPAN intently and I am hopeful for an outcome that would fulfill our country’s promise of acceptance and equality.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;To put it in ancient words; I believe that a great miracle will also happen here.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;I believe that, much like the Maccabees of old, that the court will soon grant the religious freedom of our generation; to allow people to marry their beloveds and to allow religious denominations and clergy to marry same-gender couples and to have those marriages recognized as equal and valid.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;In this time of great darkness, we light candles to bring light back in to the world.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;They are candles of love, truth, faith and justice.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;They are stories of partnerships and families.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;As we approach the end of &lt;i&gt;Hanukah &lt;/i&gt;and reach that 8&lt;sup&gt;th&lt;/sup&gt; candle which celebrates the true miracle of &lt;i&gt;Hanukah&lt;/i&gt;, I hold the teaching of the Kedushat Levi in my heart.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The real miracle of &lt;i&gt;Hanukah &lt;/i&gt;is our recognition of God’s presence here at this very moment.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It is the recognition that God willing, one day soon, we will be able to stand with pride and tell our children, “&lt;b style=&quot;mso-bidi-font-weight:normal&quot;&gt;One day a great miracle happened HERE!” &lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Love and Marriage: It’s Not Just For Straight Maccabees Anymore!&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;I wish all of you a joyous &lt;i&gt;Hanukah &lt;/i&gt;and holiday season.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;    &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;&lt;i&gt;Hag Urim Same&#39;ah&lt;/i&gt; (A happy and light-filled holiday season),&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNoSpacing&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;Rabbi James&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/5593761626869465171/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=5593761626869465171' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/5593761626869465171'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/5593761626869465171'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2010/12/love-and-marriage-its-not-just-for.html' title='Love and Marriage: It&#39;s Not Just For Straight Maccabees Anymore!'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-4014259195547000738</id><published>2010-11-24T18:35:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-11-24T18:35:39.733-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Pausing for Thanksgiving</title><content type='html'>Friends of CWC,&lt;br /&gt;
  404. &lt;br /&gt;
  405. The Hebrew and Christian Scriptures are speckled with moments of giving thanks.  Prayers are offered, songs are sung, dances are danced and blessings are received.  Even our ritual of Holy Communion relives Jesus pausing to give thanks to God before he serves and feeds and nurtures.  Ritualized or not, the act of pausing in gratitude IS a spiritual practice.&lt;br /&gt;
  406. &lt;br /&gt;
  407. The American culture often identifies itself through political lenses.  We see each other not as fellow humans on a journey, but as red or blue humans either living right or wrong depending on your persuasion.  And now we have moved directly from election season to shopping season.  In the midst of these secular waves, it can be difficult to settle ourselves enough to have a spiritual practice or to notice some inner sense of connection.&lt;br /&gt;
  408. &lt;br /&gt;
  409. Christian communities are about to embark on an Advent journey searching for peace and love, as we await the birth of hope.  But somewhere between the Christmas music on the radio, door buster sales and news reports of traveling hazards, we have an opportunity to pause.  We have an opportunity to create some space to acknowledge all that we have, to observe the connection we have with one another, and to offer thanks to a Higher Power, whom I call God for the gift of creation.&lt;br /&gt;
  410. &lt;br /&gt;
  411. Amid the gatherings this weekend, the football, turkey, family &quot;stuff&quot;, even among the shopping, may we pause to give thanks.  Light a candle, say a prayer, let us make some space to allow ourselves to be filled with awe and wonder for our blessings.  Monday we can focus on where we need to go, but for now, let&#39;s pause and be grateful we are on the journey in the first place.&lt;br /&gt;
  412. &lt;br /&gt;
  413. I am grateful for the ministry of CWC, for the lives that we touch, for the people who pray for us, donate their treasure for us, and who provide leadership.  And this weekend, I especially give thanks for all those who are courageous enough to live into who they&#39;ve been created to be.  I thank God for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and allied community! &lt;br /&gt;
  414. &lt;br /&gt;
  415. May you be touched this weekend and know that you are loved.  May you have a blessed Thanksgiving!&lt;br /&gt;
  416. &lt;br /&gt;
  417. In Peace,&lt;br /&gt;
  418. &lt;br /&gt;
  419. Rev. Tara</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/4014259195547000738/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=4014259195547000738' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/4014259195547000738'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/4014259195547000738'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2010/11/pausing-for-thanksgiving.html' title='Pausing for Thanksgiving'/><author><name>CWC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01185980989093334504</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gOiRHxhQ9VE/SWrYx_Xml2I/AAAAAAAAABA/6yZuqCdJrs8/S220/CWC+%26+Pflag.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-4053049318206407409</id><published>2010-09-30T20:02:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-09-30T20:14:14.347-07:00</updated><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="Abraham"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="advocacy"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="devar torah"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="equality"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="homily"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="LGBTQ"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="queer"/><category scheme="http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#" term="torah study"/><title type='text'>Devar Torah (Homily) On The Story of Abraham and Sarah</title><content type='html'>&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt&quot;&gt;The early part of the story of Avram and Sarai tells us of their journey into the unknown path.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;After hearing a call from God telling them to “get up and go,” they take their nephew, Lot, and begin the mythic history of the Israelite people.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Although surely there is much to focus on in this &lt;i&gt;sedrah (section of the Torah)&lt;/i&gt;, I want to take us to one small word in chapter 14 and the ensuing commentary.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Genesis 14:13 notes that during an intertribal conflict, an escaped prisoner came &lt;i&gt;le’avram ha’ivri&lt;/i&gt;, to Avram the Hebrew, to inform him that Lot had been captured.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;i&gt;Ha’&lt;/i&gt;i&lt;i&gt;vri&lt;/i&gt;, that notion of Hebrew peoplehood, also begins its long journey through history at this moment.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt&quot;&gt;But why note here that Avram was a Hebrew?&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It seems to be an unnecessary detail.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;A comment from Genesis Rabbah, an early collection of homiletical midrash (extra-biblical stories), teaches that Rabbi Judah said: &lt;i&gt;Ha’ivri &lt;/i&gt;signifies that the whole world was on one side while he was on the other side.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Rashi, a famous eleventh-century commentator, has the same question and answers that the root letters of the Hebrew word &lt;i&gt;ivri&lt;/i&gt; (&lt;i&gt;ayin, bet, resh)&lt;/i&gt; should be understood as “other.”&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Avram the other.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt&quot;&gt;Just as Avram and Sarai go out with little assurance, it is often easy for members of the LGBTQ community to feel alone in individual journeys toward identity.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Whether it is harassment in schools, bigotry, violence or intolerance in public and private spaces, it can often seem like being queer means being “the other.”&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;And moments of breaking free from the closet and coming out are points of intense emotion and fear.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  S&lt;/span&gt;o often there is enormous risk in that first moment of journeying toward a true self.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;But we are blessed with a tradition that embraces that otherness and cherishes it.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Sarai and Avram’s journey is one reminder of the power of journey and it teaches that we should love that journey and embrace it.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt&quot;&gt;The question remains about where Avram and Sarai are journeying to.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;For us, we might reframe that question and ask instead, how can we as a Jewish community create a place for everyone?&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;How can we make a spiritual home for people to journey toward as opposed to a home that we only leave?&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Just as God enters into a covenant with these new Hebrews, faith communities across the world should enter into covenants of equality internally and covenants of advocacy externally.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt&quot;&gt;For Avram, the internal covenant is about getting up and going.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;As Reb Kaplan previously taught in a commentary for Jewish Mosaics, &lt;i&gt;Leh Leha&lt;/i&gt; is about “going to yourself.”&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The act of moving and getting your soul committed to the journey is no small task.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The external covenant is the act of circumcision.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;For us the internal covenant is about creating welcoming communities that celebrate the journey and the destination of LGBTQ folks with the fullness of our rituals, traditions and celebrations.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The external covenant comes from publicly affirming our commitment to the fullness of expressions of identity and to advocating a religious case for marriage and social equality.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;text-indent:.5in&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:12.0pt&quot;&gt;I believe that if we do these things, we will find that the journeying will be a source of blessing for the Jews we encounter at the destination and along the way.&lt;span style=&quot;mso-spacerun:yes&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/4053049318206407409/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=4053049318206407409' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/4053049318206407409'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/4053049318206407409'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2010/09/devar-torah-homily-on-story-of-abraham.html' title='Devar Torah (Homily) On The Story of Abraham and Sarah'/><author><name>Unknown</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='https://img1.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-886728020734027560</id><published>2010-08-04T23:05:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2010-08-04T23:07:08.545-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Oregon and SW Washington Religious Leaders Applaud District  Court Ruling Overturning Prop 8</title><content type='html'>Clergy and religious leaders celebrate California’s District Court decision declaring Proposition 8 to be unconstitutional.  “It’s a prophetic moment when all loving families are recognized, honored and celebrated”, said Rabbi James Greene of Temple Beth Sholom and Chair of the Board of Directors for the Community of Welcoming Congregations.  “This is the day that God has made, let us rejoice in it”, he continues.  The Rev. Dr. Brooks Brandt of First Congregational United Church of Christ in Vancouver said, “For my church, the court’s ruling is a celebration, a moment in which our values are reflected in the policies and decisions of our country”.  The Rev. Natasha Brubaker-Garrison, priest at the Episcopal Church of the Resurrection in Eugene concurs. “I am delighted by Judge Walker’s ruling.  His decision lives into the spirit of our country where there is equal protection for us all.”  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Rev. Dana Worsnop, minister at Atkinson Memorial Church in Oregon City states, “As a Unitarian Universalist and as a human being, I am thrilled that more and more people are seeing more and more clearly that the right to marry who we love is a basic human right.  When two people who love each other choose to marry, something new and holy arises in the world.”  The Rev. Tara Wilkins, a United Church of Christ minister and executive director of the Community of Welcoming Congregations declares, “This is a victory for all those who work on the front lines to ensure equality.  As a Christian, I must stand on the side of love, while insisting on justice.  Civil marriage is separate from religious marriage and should not be denied for religious reasons.”  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;The Community of Welcoming Congregations (CWC) is an interfaith advocacy nonprofit working for the full inclusion and equality of LGBTQ persons.  Currently CWC has 110 members across Oregon and SW Washington each of whom have adopted a position to be intentionally inclusive of lesbian and gay families.</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/886728020734027560/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=886728020734027560' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/886728020734027560'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/886728020734027560'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2010/08/oregon-and-sw-washington-religious.html' title='Oregon and SW Washington Religious Leaders Applaud District  Court Ruling Overturning Prop 8'/><author><name>CWC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01185980989093334504</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gOiRHxhQ9VE/SWrYx_Xml2I/AAAAAAAAABA/6yZuqCdJrs8/S220/CWC+%26+Pflag.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-1655913591196961769</id><published>2009-01-11T22:29:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2009-01-11T23:53:53.692-08:00</updated><title type='text'>Sunday Evening Post</title><content type='html'>&lt;meta equiv=&quot;Content-Type&quot; 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priority=&quot;72&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Colorful List Accent 4&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;73&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Colorful Grid Accent 4&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;60&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Light Shading Accent 5&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;61&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Light List Accent 5&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;62&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Light Grid Accent 5&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;63&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Medium Shading 1 Accent 5&quot;&gt; 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name=&quot;Medium Grid 3 Accent 5&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;70&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Dark List Accent 5&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;71&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Colorful Shading Accent 5&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;72&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Colorful List Accent 5&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;73&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Colorful Grid Accent 5&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;60&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Light Shading Accent 6&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;61&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; 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priority=&quot;67&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Medium Grid 1 Accent 6&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;68&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Medium Grid 2 Accent 6&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;69&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Medium Grid 3 Accent 6&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;70&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Dark List Accent 6&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;71&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Colorful Shading Accent 6&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;72&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Colorful List Accent 6&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;73&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; name=&quot;Colorful Grid Accent 6&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;19&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; qformat=&quot;true&quot; name=&quot;Subtle Emphasis&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;21&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; qformat=&quot;true&quot; name=&quot;Intense Emphasis&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;31&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; qformat=&quot;true&quot; name=&quot;Subtle Reference&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;32&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; qformat=&quot;true&quot; name=&quot;Intense Reference&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;33&quot; semihidden=&quot;false&quot; unhidewhenused=&quot;false&quot; qformat=&quot;true&quot; name=&quot;Book Title&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;37&quot; name=&quot;Bibliography&quot;&gt;   &lt;w:lsdexception locked=&quot;false&quot; priority=&quot;39&quot; qformat=&quot;true&quot; name=&quot;TOC Heading&quot;&gt;  &lt;/w:LatentStyles&gt; &lt;/xml&gt;&lt;![endif]--&gt;&lt;style&gt; &lt;!--  /* Font Definitions */  @font-face {font-family:&quot;Cambria Math&quot;; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1107304683 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:&quot;Brush Script MT&quot;; panose-1:3 6 8 2 4 4 6 7 3 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:script; 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mso-default-props:yes; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} .MsoPapDefault {mso-style-type:export-only; margin-bottom:10.0pt; line-height:115%;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.0in 1.0in 1.0in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --&gt; &lt;/style&gt;&lt;!--[if gte mso 10]&gt; &lt;style&gt;  /* Style Definitions */  table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:&quot;Table Normal&quot;; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:&quot;&quot;; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:&quot;Calibri&quot;,&quot;sans-serif&quot;; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} &lt;/style&gt; &lt;![endif]--&gt;&lt;!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;&lt;xml&gt;  &lt;o:shapedefaults ext=&quot;edit&quot; spidmax=&quot;1027&quot;&gt; &lt;/xml&gt;&lt;![endif]--&gt;&lt;!--[if gte mso 9]&gt;&lt;xml&gt;  &lt;o:shapelayout ext=&quot;edit&quot;&gt;   &lt;o:idmap ext=&quot;edit&quot; data=&quot;1&quot;&gt;  &lt;/o:shapelayout&gt;&lt;/xml&gt;&lt;![endif]--&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 115%;font-size:14;&quot; &gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;“Every person needs a day away”, writes poet and author Maya Angelou.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;We all need time away to reflect and recharge our batteries.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;We need time to lose ourselves in ourselves.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;I look at time away as a sort of pit stop on our journey.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It’s easy to dedicate all of our nonworking hours to other things, other people.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;It is important, though, to schedule ourselves into our own busy calendar.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Sometimes we are so busy serving our own community; we lose sight of our individual path.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;We cannot effectively live out all we are called to do and be if we don’t stay connected to the Source.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;My prayer for this week is that we all take time this week to be away, to visit the Source and to connect with awesome power that comes from your incredible spirit.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;May we all clearly hear the “still small voice”!&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Blessings, &lt;span style=&quot;;font-family:&amp;quot;;&quot; &gt;Tara&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 115%;font-size:14;&quot; &gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 115%;font-size:14;&quot; &gt;&lt;o:p&gt;
  420. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if gte vml 1]&gt;&lt;v:shapetype id=&quot;_x0000_t75&quot; coordsize=&quot;21600,21600&quot; spt=&quot;75&quot; preferrelative=&quot;t&quot; path=&quot;m@4@5l@4@11@9@11@9@5xe&quot; filled=&quot;f&quot; stroked=&quot;f&quot;&gt;  &lt;v:stroke joinstyle=&quot;miter&quot;&gt;  &lt;v:formulas&gt;   &lt;v:f eqn=&quot;if lineDrawn pixelLineWidth 0&quot;&gt;   &lt;v:f eqn=&quot;sum @0 1 0&quot;&gt;   &lt;v:f eqn=&quot;sum 0 0 @1&quot;&gt;   &lt;v:f eqn=&quot;prod @2 1 2&quot;&gt;   &lt;v:f eqn=&quot;prod @3 21600 pixelWidth&quot;&gt;   &lt;v:f eqn=&quot;prod @3 21600 pixelHeight&quot;&gt;   &lt;v:f eqn=&quot;sum @0 0 1&quot;&gt;   &lt;v:f eqn=&quot;prod @6 1 2&quot;&gt;   &lt;v:f eqn=&quot;prod @7 21600 pixelWidth&quot;&gt;   &lt;v:f eqn=&quot;sum @8 21600 0&quot;&gt;   &lt;v:f eqn=&quot;prod @7 21600 pixelHeight&quot;&gt;   &lt;v:f eqn=&quot;sum @10 21600 0&quot;&gt;  &lt;/v:formulas&gt;  &lt;v:path extrusionok=&quot;f&quot; gradientshapeok=&quot;t&quot; connecttype=&quot;rect&quot;&gt;  &lt;o:lock ext=&quot;edit&quot; aspectratio=&quot;t&quot;&gt; &lt;/v:shapetype&gt;&lt;v:shape id=&quot;Picture_x0020_0&quot; spid=&quot;_x0000_s1026&quot; type=&quot;#_x0000_t75&quot; alt=&quot;Rabbi Aryeh.jpg&quot; style=&quot;&#39;position:absolute;margin-left:366.75pt;&quot; wrapcoords=&quot;-349 0 -349 21467 21647 21467 21647 0 -349 0&quot;&gt;  &lt;v:imagedata src=&quot;file:///C:\DOCUME~1\THEMOM~1\LOCALS~1\Temp\msohtmlclip1\01\clip_image001.jpg&quot; title=&quot;Rabbi Aryeh&quot;&gt;  &lt;w:wrap type=&quot;tight&quot;&gt; &lt;/v:shape&gt;&lt;![endif]--&gt;&lt;!--[if !vml]--&gt;&lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 115%;&quot;&gt;A great loss&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 115%;font-size:14;&quot; &gt; &lt;/span&gt;-- This week the community lost a great man.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Rabbi Aryeh Hirschfield left us on Jan. 6 unexpectedly.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Every once in while we meet extraordinary people who transcend the human experience and give us a glimpse into the heart of God.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Rabbi Aryeh embodied love and peace and joy.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The grief at his loss is huge.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;But the memory of his spirit fills us with hope and love and peace.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Our prayers are with his family, the P’nai Or Congregation and the community at large.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;On Monday, people will gather for his Memorial Service at 12:30 pm at Congregation Neveh Shalom.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;(See P’nai Or website &lt;a href=&quot;http://www.pnaiorpdx.org/&quot;&gt;www.pnaiorpdx.org&lt;/a&gt; for more details)&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 115%;font-size:14;&quot; &gt;
  421. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 115%;&quot;&gt;What you need to know &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 115%;font-size:14;&quot; &gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;–&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt; &lt;/b&gt;&lt;/span&gt;Equality Sabbath Materials have gone out.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;We’ll post them to the website early this week.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Please join us January 25-27 to prayerfully unite during your regular Sabbath observances.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 115%;font-size:14;&quot; &gt;
  422. &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;line-height: 115%;font-size:14;&quot; &gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:130%;&quot;&gt;You are invited&lt;/span&gt; &lt;/span&gt;-- &lt;/b&gt;Join us on February 28 at 6:00 pm at Central Lutheran Church in Portland for our Annual &lt;b style=&quot;&quot;&gt;&lt;i style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Celebration Dinner and Silent Auction&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The Portland Lesbian Choir will sing and our special guest will be Dr. Bernie Schlager from the Center for Lesbian &amp;amp; Gay Studies in Religion and Ministry.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt; &lt;/span&gt;Donations of silent auction items are being accepted.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Contact Karen Kulm (&lt;a href=&quot;mailto:lk.kulm@gmail.com&quot;&gt;lk.kulm@gmail.com&lt;/a&gt;) for more information.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Tickets are on sale now for $40 each or reserve a table for a discount $375.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Call the CWC office 503-665-8741 if you have questions.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt; &lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  </content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/1655913591196961769/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=1655913591196961769' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/1655913591196961769'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/1655913591196961769'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2009/01/sunday-evening-post.html' title='Sunday Evening Post'/><author><name>CWC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01185980989093334504</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gOiRHxhQ9VE/SWrYx_Xml2I/AAAAAAAAABA/6yZuqCdJrs8/S220/CWC+%26+Pflag.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-1839352201777993408</id><published>2008-10-11T13:21:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2008-10-11T13:21:48.234-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Today is National Coming Out Day</title><content type='html'>&lt;span xmlns=&#39;&#39;&gt;&lt;p&gt;Today is National Coming Out Day.  It is also my eldest daughter&#39;s 25th birthday.  25 years.  A quarter century.  In the wake of the death of my mother and grandmother, I realize how very proud I am of the woman she has become.  She&#39;s had her ups and downs, her challenges and her triumphs.  She gave birth to two of the most special grandchildren in existence.  I see my own hurdles and celebrations when I hear her get impassioned about the latest issue.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Perhaps because of this sense of nostalgia, I reflect on the last 25 years in the gay rights movement.  25 years ago, Cleve Jones (whose birthday is also today), began the San Francisco AIDS Foundation and a few years later began the NAMES Project Memorial Quilt.  25 years ago Cleve stepped up and stood in his truth about who he was to respond to an epidemic that no one was paying attention to.  He embodied, like so many others, what it means to be out, living in authenticity.  He said, &quot;If AIDS had taught us anything, it was that we must be true to ourselves if we are to survive.&quot;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our community was experiencing genocide and public health officials and politicians, immersed in their own form of bigotry and homophobia, stalled in their response.   And people like Cleve, stood up, organized and wrapped their arms around a community overwhelmed by death and grief.  Cleve understood back then, the importance of claiming your power.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Matthew Shepherd was murdered 10 years ago this week and earlier this year, Lawrence King was murdered in California for being who they were created to be.  Their deaths are symbols for all those who are victims of hate crimes, who die by suicide or who die from the inside out in their closets.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Sure, National Coming Out Day is a day to celebrate the gifts and achievements of our community.  It is a day to look back and acknowledge how much we have been through.  But is also a call to come out as people of faith.  A call to listen, to be present, to affirm and understand.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;In the coming days, when we meet each other on the street, let us pause and remember.  Let us pause and connect.  Let us affirm for one another what a gift we really are.  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Blessed Be.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rev. Tara&lt;/p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/1839352201777993408/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=1839352201777993408' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/1839352201777993408'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/1839352201777993408'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2008/10/today-is-national-coming-out-day.html' title='Today is National Coming Out Day'/><author><name>CWC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01185980989093334504</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gOiRHxhQ9VE/SWrYx_Xml2I/AAAAAAAAABA/6yZuqCdJrs8/S220/CWC+%26+Pflag.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-3766278938635562137</id><published>2008-10-08T14:29:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2008-10-08T14:48:27.085-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Challenging Ourselves</title><content type='html'>In Sunday&#39;s Oregonian, an editorial caught my eye.  Becky Ohlsen wrote, &quot;Portland, Get Over Yourself: Wrapped in self-satisfaction, city snoozes on the issues&quot;. The article begins:&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;p style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;&quot;Every few years, in lefty mags like the Utne Reader, someone declares yet again that Portland is a bastion of &quot;livability,&quot; a wonder of civic planning and a model of progressive politics. And, to some degree, it is all of those things. But when you&#39;ve lived there for a while and then left, as I have, you start to wonder if Portland isn&#39;t more like one of those willfully anachronistic Amish or Mennonite communities: idyllic but isolated, utopian but irrelevant. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;With few exceptions, Portlanders inhabit perfect liberal values. They recycle with a vengeance. They&#39;re into slow food. They shop at organic grocers and farmers markets, or they grow their own vegetables in a community garden. They don&#39;t think it&#39;s rude to ask the waiter if the salmon on the menu is farm-raised or wild; if it&#39;s farmed, the diner will opt instead for the salad of locally grown beets and wild greens picked in the meadows of nearby Mount Hood. Being vegan is cool, not annoying. Portlanders drink organic beer and wine (except for the dregs of the demimonde, who insist on Pabst Blue Ribbon and are mocked for it). They bicycle to work, and they frown at cars as they pedal by. Those who must drive are forgiven if they own a Prius or if their vehicle flaunts a BIODIESEL sticker across the back. Public transport works well here, and people use it. Gay rights and racial equality are taken for granted as goals, if perhaps not yet total achievements. Everyone does yoga; serenity is a family value. &lt;/p&gt; &lt;p&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;So what&#39;s the problem? Isn&#39;t this a virtuous and exemplary way to live?...&lt;/span&gt;&quot;   For the full article, see:       &lt;b&gt;http://tinyurl.com/4fyb24&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;What struck me about her main assertion was that even progressives must do their inner work to stay relevant.  It reminds me of a common dynamic in the welcoming church movement.  Many &quot;progressive&quot; congregations and denominations fall into the trap of &quot;we did that&quot;, &quot;we took that vote years ago&quot; or &quot;my tradition has been a leader on LGBTQ issues&quot;.   While those specific things are often true, many times congregations don&#39;t move beyond that point.  CWC offers a workshop called, &quot;So we are Open &amp;amp; Affirming, now what?&quot; for just that purpose.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Letters have been coming in to the Oregonian by people stating that her opinion doesn&#39;t represent their view of Oregon.  And I think the author was trying to motivate and encourage people to get engaged and not to just say, &quot;we did that&quot;.  And regardless of how we feel about Portlanders and their seeming (or not) self-centeredness....I think there is a kernel of truth that communities in the &quot;welcoming church movement&quot; might do well to consider.   We all can do more in terms of expanding our own individual ideas on inclusion and equality.  We can do more individually...and as communities.  We must not rest on our laurels and say....oh yeah...that inclusive stuff, we did that.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Does the article strike you that way too?  I&#39;d like to know.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Peace and joy,&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Rev. Tara&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/3766278938635562137/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=3766278938635562137' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/3766278938635562137'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/3766278938635562137'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2008/10/challenging-ourselves.html' title='Challenging Ourselves'/><author><name>CWC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01185980989093334504</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gOiRHxhQ9VE/SWrYx_Xml2I/AAAAAAAAABA/6yZuqCdJrs8/S220/CWC+%26+Pflag.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-3928339589347384873</id><published>2007-11-27T22:58:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2007-11-27T23:00:23.187-08:00</updated><title type='text'>We Pause to Give Thanks</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style=&quot;color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:100%;&quot;&gt;Dear  Friends,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;As we pause to give thanks this year for our many blessings, I  am keenly aware of the impact you have made on our journey this year.  From  &lt;span style=&quot;font-style: italic;&quot;&gt;Trans&lt;/span&gt;forming Faith, making our presence  to be known in Salem, PRIDE celebrations, to singing about Faith and Freedom,  you have been there boldly sharing your faith!   Your courage, deep conviction  and passion for justice has inspired me and our Board of Directors.  We are  deeply grateful for your partnership.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Yesterday we remembered those  across the gender spectrum and the loss that many have known.  Our transgender  brothers and sisters continue to lead us with their prophetic voice and faithful  witness as they challenge us to get real regarding our own social constructs and  the institutional bias that accompanies them.  We give thanks for the gifts  shared with us by our Trans friends.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Some of our lesbian sisters have  been in the struggle for voice and equality for many years.  Since our nation  was founded, strong women have stood up for the voiceless, rooted in deep faith,  claiming their power to effect change.  Our feminist and womanist sisters have  taught us to organize, to speak out, to question authority  and to expand the  circle until we are all included. For our lesbian sisters, we give  thanks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Our brothers who are gay men, we applaude your witness, your  strength and your ability to get things done.   You remind us that there are  many ways to be a man, and that sensitivity and masquilinity are beautiful  things.  Your creative spirit helps us to remember that beauty and justice work  aren&#39;t mutually exclusive.  We give thanks for all that you bring to our  community.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Our bisexual brothers and sisters are often undervalued.   Caught in our own hypocracy, we often shun those who aren&#39;t at the extremes of  the sexual orientation spectrum.   You remind us that sensuality cannot always  be confined to one expression and that in the end it&#39;s about who you love.  For  your voices and your openness, we give thanks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;For our allies, our Pflag  parents, and our clergy leaders, we are appreciative of your presence, your  support and your willingness to stand with us in the heat of the moment.  You  recognize that discrimination is wrong even if it&#39;s not happening to you.  You  demand that justice come.   And you remind us, even when we didn&#39;t hear it from  our own families, that we are all worthy of love.  Thank you for nurturing us,  for working so hard for all of us, for this we give thanks.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Working for  the full inclusion and equality of those across spectrums of gender and sexual  expression is demanding and challenging work.   It&#39;s work though that brings us  closer together.  As we share our faith, our gratitude, and our bounty, we are  mindful of the contributions you have made that help us to share the truth that  we are each loved by our Creator.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;On behalf of the Board of Directors and  staff of the Community of Welcoming Congregations, we offer prayers of  Thanksgiving for you, your faith community and all those who have touched us.   And as we break bread with our loved ones, we pray that all will be nurtured and  find spiritual home.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Thank you for the Blessing that you are!  Happy  Thanksgiving!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;In joy and gratitude,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Rev.  Tara&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/3928339589347384873/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=3928339589347384873' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/3928339589347384873'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/3928339589347384873'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2007/11/we-pause-to-give-thanks.html' title='We Pause to Give Thanks'/><author><name>CWC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01185980989093334504</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gOiRHxhQ9VE/SWrYx_Xml2I/AAAAAAAAABA/6yZuqCdJrs8/S220/CWC+%26+Pflag.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-8383260167973742571</id><published>2007-10-11T11:54:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-10-11T11:56:38.628-07:00</updated><title type='text'>National Coming Out Day</title><content type='html'>&lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Friends,&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: &amp;quot;Times New Roman&amp;quot;;&quot;&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;&quot;&gt;October 11 is National Coming Out Day.  Today we celebrate the call to be our authentic selves.   Today is a day to recognize all of the challenges and joys of coming out.  The faith journey we each take is marked with milestones of courage, moments of recognition and experiences of transformation.   For those who are transgender, lesbian, bisexual and gay and for the people who love us, coming out is a necessary step in our physical, emotional, and spiritual development.   &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Coming out requires the courage to be who we are created to be.  Our journey towards wholeness, health and healing reminds us that we cannot live lives according to other people&#39;s expectations.   We must be bold in our conviction to be all of who we are, bringing our whole selves to our relationships, our places of employment and our religious and spiritual communities.   &lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;&quot;&gt;We are each created in the image of the Divine, so let us not be afraid of the love and light that image reflects.  Tonight CWC invites you to pause, to light a candle or offer a prayer.  Consider who you have been created to be.  Consider where you have closets that need to be opened.  Remember that we each have a unique gift to share and that you are never completely alone in the struggle for equality.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;&quot;&gt;We are a wonderfully diverse people.   Tonight let us celebrate the fullness of who we are and the potential we each have to create a world full of justice, hope and peace.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Shalom,&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;&quot;&gt;Rev. Tara&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--&gt; &lt;!--[endif]--&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/8383260167973742571/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=8383260167973742571' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/8383260167973742571'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/8383260167973742571'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2007/10/national-coming-out-day.html' title='National Coming Out Day'/><author><name>CWC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01185980989093334504</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gOiRHxhQ9VE/SWrYx_Xml2I/AAAAAAAAABA/6yZuqCdJrs8/S220/CWC+%26+Pflag.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-7155495080998029674</id><published>2007-09-27T12:37:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-09-27T14:33:50.775-07:00</updated><title type='text'>CWC challenges House of Bishop&#39;s position</title><content type='html'>&lt;p  class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;font-family:verdana;&quot;&gt;The Episcopal Church USA’s House of Bishops met in New Orleans and released a statement on Tuesday.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;They met with the hope of “mending the tear in the fabric” between various factions within the Anglican Communion.&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p  class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;font-family:verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p  class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;font-family:verdana;&quot;&gt;I think it is important to lift this example up as so many denominations struggle with living out an inclusive Gospel. Their statement, and others like it, is religiously, indeed theologically offensive.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;It denies our humanity and wholeness as people of God.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p  class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;font-family:verdana;&quot;&gt;They concur: As all parties agreed to exercise restraint by not consenting to the consecration of any candidate whose manner of life presents a challenge to the wider church and as they pledged as a body to NOT authorize public rites for the blessing of “same sex unions”.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;They affirm their position from March, “We proclaim the Gospel of what God has done and is doing in Christ, of the dignity of every human being, and of justice, compassion and peace.”&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;And then call for the “unequivocal and active commitment to the civil rights, safety and dignity of gay and lesbian persons.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p  class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;font-family:verdana;&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p  class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot; style=&quot;font-family:verdana;&quot;&gt;It is a contradiction to on one hand state that we are one in Christ and we are full and equal participants in the life of the church, and then to state that the church cannot affirm our families.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;It is a contradiction to “proclaim the justice of Christ” and then to deny it.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The theological position that we are all one in Christ but not in Christ’s church is offensive.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;The position that gay and lesbian people are included in every way in the life of the church as long as we deny who God created us to be is immoral, destructive and spiritually violating.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p face=&quot;verdana&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p face=&quot;verdana&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;The House of Bishops call for the justice and dignity of gay and lesbian persons.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;They state, “It is of fundamental importance that, as we continue to seek consensus in matters of human sexuality, we also be clear and outspoken in our shared commitment to establish and protect the civil rights of gay and lesbian persons, and to name and oppose at every turn any action or policy that does violence to them, encourages violence toward them, or violates their dignity as children of God.”&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p face=&quot;verdana&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;They oppose any action or policy that does violence to us, except for their own.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;Committing spiritual violence is more debilitating than physical violence.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;Do they not see the log in their own eyes?&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;They violate our dignity as children of God and then condemn that position.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p face=&quot;verdana&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;So my question is, “What is the pastoral message to the gay and lesbian community?” &lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;I affirm and acknowledge that this is church politics and is not the demeanor of many local congregations.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;I know there is strong leadership in the Episcopal Church working on behalf of all of us.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;But I have a deep concern for those Episcopalians who are gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender AND the people who love them.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;This sort of verbal and theological abuse is not okay.&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;The Episcopal Church is not alone.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;The Presbyterians recently presented a report entitled, “Peace, Unity, and Purity”, which took a similar view.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;The Lutherans (ELCA) recently voted to defrock a gifted beloved pastor for being who God created him to be.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;  &lt;/span&gt;My intent is not to call out the Episcopal church per se.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;My intent is to challenge us with two questions.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;The first is always, &lt;b&gt;&lt;i&gt;What is the pastoral response to the LGBTQ community?&lt;/i&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;And next, are we complicit in the abuse if we are not actively doing something to counter it?&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;&lt;!--[if !supportEmptyParas]--&gt; &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/p&gt;  &lt;p style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;For those of us in denominations who are actively working for the full inclusion and equality of all persons, CWC is with you.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;Our prayers are with you, our support is with you.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;This is not easy work.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;And for those congregations who are actively proclaiming inclusive faiths, you go!&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;We stand in solidarity with you and &lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot;&gt;will do whatever we can to lift up your message of love and hope and peace. &lt;/span&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-family: verdana;font-size:100%;&quot; &gt;And for those who are lone beacons modeling the peace of Christ, challenging exclusive policies, providing the prophetic word, know that you are not alone.   We are all in this together!&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/p&gt;    &lt;p style=&quot;font-family: verdana;&quot; class=&quot;MsoNormal&quot;&gt;Let us pray for the spiritual protection of all those who may hear the rhetoric of church politics within and outside the church.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;Let us pray for healing for those who have been wounded.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;And let us turn our faith into action by actively working for the full inclusion and equality for all.&lt;span style=&quot;&quot;&gt;   &lt;/span&gt;Blessed Be.&lt;/p&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/7155495080998029674/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=7155495080998029674' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/7155495080998029674'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/7155495080998029674'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2007/09/cwc-challenges-house-of-bishops.html' title='CWC challenges House of Bishop&#39;s position'/><author><name>CWC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01185980989093334504</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gOiRHxhQ9VE/SWrYx_Xml2I/AAAAAAAAABA/6yZuqCdJrs8/S220/CWC+%26+Pflag.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-592710395801574471</id><published>2007-09-27T12:35:00.000-07:00</published><updated>2007-09-27T12:37:26.538-07:00</updated><title type='text'>From Morningbear</title><content type='html'>Perusing the S-J in Salem, there was an article on how the city was prepared to deal with hate crimes, listing the usual groups against which such crimes are directed, although the subjects of the Civil Union legislation and Equal Rights legislation were noticably absent. We have worked hard to get this legislation on the books and now we are threatened by various fundementalist and evangelical groups that wish to strike down these liberating laws. How does the message of Jesus Christ and his life allow professing Christians to be hateful and deny others protections they would go ballistic about if they were denied them? I also noted in the paper that one town in Oregon has problems like Jenna, LA, focusing on its Latino population. Hate crimes are alive and well in Oregon and without legal protections for all Oregon citizens, some will feel obliged to express their hatred in some pretty pernicious ways. It is up to the spiritual community to encourage ethical thinking and inclusion in law and in politics.&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Walk the Blessing Way&lt;br /&gt;Swim the Blessing River&lt;br /&gt;Soar in the Blessing Light&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Morningbear Mercer</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/592710395801574471/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=592710395801574471' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/592710395801574471'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/592710395801574471'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2007/09/from-morningbear.html' title='From Morningbear'/><author><name>CWC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01185980989093334504</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gOiRHxhQ9VE/SWrYx_Xml2I/AAAAAAAAABA/6yZuqCdJrs8/S220/CWC+%26+Pflag.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12158318.post-6459386174846938090</id><published>2007-08-16T23:30:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2007-08-16T23:54:20.960-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Welcome to the conversation!</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style=&quot;color: rgb(153, 51, 0);font-family:verdana;font-size:100%;&quot;  &gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Friends,&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;We hope to expand our horizons and the discussion by exploring issues of faith and sexuality, life and spirituality in this new forum.  We invite you to join us!&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;Blessings,&lt;br /&gt;Rev. Tara&lt;br /&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;span style=&quot;font-size:85%;&quot;&gt;Executive Director&lt;/span&gt;&lt;br /&gt;&lt;/span&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/feeds/6459386174846938090/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=12158318&amp;postID=6459386174846938090' title='1 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/6459386174846938090'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/12158318/posts/default/6459386174846938090'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://welcomingcongregations.blogspot.com/2007/08/welcome-to-conversation.html' title='Welcome to the conversation!'/><author><name>CWC</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/01185980989093334504</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_gOiRHxhQ9VE/SWrYx_Xml2I/AAAAAAAAABA/6yZuqCdJrs8/S220/CWC+%26+Pflag.jpg'/></author><thr:total>1</thr:total></entry></feed>

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