(It's a bit late, but this list member had trouble posting.)
Clare wrote,
What *is* it that gives us the arrogance to think that if someone doesn't live up to our expectations, or rules, or pattern of behaviour, that they can't belong in our world?
Thanks Clare, it's given me an opportunity to get some things of my chest.
I'm a Christian. I'm gay. Whether I'm a "practising" [How I hate that word!!!] homosexual man or not, is none of the church's business. I don't ask questions of members of the church about their sexual practices. I don't ask, "Are you a practising heterosexual person?" What gives anyone the right to question my sexual practices? - and just for the record - "homosexual" is an adjective - just as is "heterosexual."
So what "is" it that gives anyone to act in this way What is that gives certain sections of the church - namely EMU and RA - the right to villify and demonise gays and lesbians in the church and to "demand" that the church conforms to its way of thinking? As it is doing at present. If they are threatening to leave the church, why don't they just go and let the rest of us going on being "Church?" I sometimes wonder why we even bother with the terminally bigoted - whether it is in the church or in the larger community. Whatever happens they will continue to villify, verbally harrass and condemn because they believe they have to "God given" right to do so. Well, my God doesn't act in that way!
For "church in this context also read "the current Federal Government"
It's about time the Uniting Church accepted the fact that there are gays and lesbians in many many congregations around Australia. That they are exercising there God given gifts and talents ask requested in the Basis of Union and that they are not frightening the horses! And shock! horror! Some of them are even ordained Ministers of the Word and Deacons!!
There are far more important things for the church to be concerned about instead of wasting valuable time arguing over Resolution 84 and its implications. What about the unjust war in Iraq? What about the inequities in the latest budget? What about the detention of children? What about the refugees? What about? What about? The list goes on.
Read Michael Moore's book 'Hey Dude, Where's my Country?" Just substitute Howard's name for Bush. change the names of the people in power in the USA to the names of those in the current Australian Federal ministry and big business, and the story is the same
Even if "I'm not really your type of person" It's my church too - and I'm staying whatever the outcomes of all the discussion - which we've been having for 22 years as a Uniting Church and since the early 1960's in the churches who formed the UCA.
So thanks to Trevor for his piece. And to Clare for asking the question It is just what is happening - and what is the church doing about it? We've become a "NAICE" social elite and dare any homeless person, indigenous person, gay or lesbian person, drug affected person, alcoholic person etc etc, come and sit in "My" pew on a Sunday morning and interrupt the playing of the organ or the singing of the choir!
I've had my say. It's the first time I've responded to anything on the Inslights list. - It might just be my last!
M.
Clare Pascoe Henderson wrote:
Hi Trevor
Trevor Mattiske wrote:
Matriarch: "Well! What a surprise. You are something of a stranger to us these days."
Lawyer: "I'm sorry. I find it hard to attend every Sunday. I don't know - it's my work ... worship ... and everything else. I feel so very tired on Sunday mornings."
Matriarch: "I wouldn't worry about it, dear. It's for the best. You're not really our type of person."
I can just imagine it! It's only too unhappily a very likely scenario. And, of course, there are external parallels too - isn't it pretty much the same reasoning Howard uses to justify returning refugees?
What *is* it that gives us the arrogance to think that if someone doesn't live up to our expectations, or rules, or pattern of behaviour, that they can't belong in our world?
Clare *************************************************** Clare Pascoe Henderson http://www.clergyabuseaustralia.org Clergy Sexual Abuse in Australia Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] ***************************************************
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