Posts by pwsbuilder
The Courage To Be
Last week I wrote on hope, and the reason I wrote on hope was that I needed a bit of hope. I needed to be reminded that even my body carries the story of hope. And as we near the end of 2016 and stand in the liturgical season of Advent where we wait for…
Read MoreWhen Politics Gets Personal
Ever since November 9, I have been a in a state of disbelief, not because of the electorate’s decision to select the Republican Party’s candidate, as the President elect, but at the events that have occurred since. There have been a spike in hate crimes, even more divisive rhetoric being spoke and unfortunately there is…
Read MoreThe Courage To Turn Tables
Perhaps like many of you, I’m reeling and trying to wrap my head and heart around the election results. But maybe like fewer of you, I know this isn’t a new day or some new reality. I suspect that the level of violence we’re seeing would’ve happened regardless of the outcome. The sad and sorry…
Read MoreQueering Advent: Reflections On Hope
During the season of Advent, when Christians around the world prepare for the coming of Christ, our families and communities come together to reflect on our spirituality and our beliefs. This year at Believe Out Loud, we’re queering the season of Advent, considering traditional Advent themes as we reflect on our work ahead toward justice…
Read MoreDivine Doubt; Hope Abundant
“They tried to bury us; they didn’t know we were seeds” —Mexican Proverb Advent is that particular liturgical season in the Church when there is a focus on the coming of God, incarnate. For many LGBTQIA folks, the Church is not the place where they come for hope or participate in the anticipation of God…
Read MoreQueering Mary Magdalene
Many of the revolutionary women in my Holy Women Icons Project identify as queer in some way. Many are emboldening straight allies. And there are many whose sexuality we know nothing about. When it comes to some of the women in scripture, reading their stories through the lens of queer theory, or “queering” their stories,…
Read MoreMy Hope Is In Us
Advent is the great liturgical season of waiting. We yearn, we search, and we reach out, and we dream of Immanuel who will walk amoung us. We spend much time preparing our homes and our churches for the holiday, and we wait. This season of waiting with expectation is the perfect time to work on…
Read More“Stay Woke” This Thanksgiving!
As I prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, I am reminded of the autumnal harvest time’s spiritual significance. As a time of connectedness, I pause to acknowledge what I have to be thankful for. However, as one who resides at the intersections of multiple identities—gender, race, sexual orientation, class, to name a few—this Thanksgiving will be…
Read More10 Transgender Christians Share Their Journey Stories—Part III
As we honor and celebrate Trans Awareness Week, we pause today to honor the journeys of transgender and gender nonconforming people of faith by sharing the 10 journey stories below. These blogs are all written by transgender, genderqueer, non-binary, Two Spirit, and gender nonconforming people of faith, a majority of whom identify as Christian. While…
Read MorePainting Emily For Transgender Day Of Remembrance
Trigger Warning: description of depression and suicide Her name was Emily. As a pastor, I was always happy to have someone new visit the congregation. So I was particularly thrilled when Emily scheduled a meeting with me after visiting worship for the first time. During our meeting, Emily shared that she identified as transgender woman,…
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