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In honor of Pride, I am grateful for the chance to share a sermon given by Lourdes, mom of a gay son, who attended one of the Believe Out Loud workshops offered by Integrity, the LGBT-advocacy organization within the Episcopal Church. Our partners in other denominations offer similar workshops with the guidance of the Institute for Welcoming Resources,…
Read MoreTwo weeks into my seminary career, I was struggling. I was confronting the reality that essential components of who I was—my theological and political convictions, and especially my sexual identity—directly opposed the beliefs of my family and others who I loved. I lived in persistent fear that I would never feel safe or happy with…
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What a wild ride the last 24 hours have been. Actually, it started about two weeks ago for me. I’m a member of an online group for survivors of ex-gay therapy. We’ve been getting ready for the Lisa Ling Our America special that aired last night, June 20, 2013. We knew some of the people invited to…
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A rainbow scarf around my neck and 100 rainbow hearts emblazoned with “Jesus Loves Me” in hand, I set out for my first ever Gay Pride Parade. I expected a jovial and supportive crowd in New Paltz. I expected lots of support and rainbows. I also wondered about the possibility of a non-supportive protest—there was…
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The leadership of Exodus International has announced that they are shutting their doors after 3 decades of practicing so-called ‘ex-gay’ ministry. According to a statement on the group’s web site, the board of directors was finding ‘ex-gay’ work more and more difficult, given their anti-gay words and actions. “Exodus is an institution in the conservative Christian world, but…
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Do you know what the word “evangelical” means? Contrary to what many believe, it has nothing to do with judgment or dogma. The term stems from the Greek word eugangelion, meaning “gospel,” or the good news of Jesus and the redemption he brings to the world. Dave Ferrell is a tall white haired Texan. He…
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A “gay lobby” at the Vatican? My first reaction to the leaking of the words of Pope Francis was, “If this Vatican ‘gay lobby’ is supposed to be working for me and the LGBT movement, we ought to fire them immediately!” As a graduate of a Roman Catholic seminary and an admirer of progressive Catholic…
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I recently took a United Methodist History course and more than anything, I enjoyed reading the primary documents made available to us. The voices of women silenced not so long ago expressed the struggle they endured—a personal, theological and spiritual struggle where their calls did not jive with the institution of their time. Many, like…
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On an August afternoon last fall, I sat in front of my computer screen with tears streaming down my face. Maybe you did as well. Plastered all over my Facebook wall were photos of so many proudly eating a chicken sandwich in the name of American values, many in the name of Jesus. I’m guessing you saw…
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In just a few days, the U.S. Supreme Court will issue its ruling on Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). As public support for LGBT equality grows, there are many communities where change has yet to come. Our latest newsletter speaks to the diverse challenges and LGBT activism in the United States…
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