Volume 17, Issue 5

Being God’s People

Cover Stories

The Law and How to Love It
By Rev. Candace Chellew
Jeremiah holds good news for LGBT believers — we are God’s people, with God’s law of love written deep in our hearts.

Coming-Out-to-Shawnee Syndrome
By Lori Heine
That crowd that won’t accept us, which lurks for so many years as a monster under the bed, may turn out to be a python. Or we may find out it’s just a dust-bunny.

What Religion Is This That Loves But Does Not Love?
By Rev. Stephen R. Parelli
I’m gay. I love. I’m present. I’m alive.

We Are All God’s People and What That Means for Christianity
By Dan Greshel
It’s not the sweet by and by or when we all get to heaven; it’s as close as your next breath waiting to bloom wherever it’s allowed to grow, not so much by words as by actions.

Shine the Light
By Simyona Deanova
Shine the light and trust in the Grace that Jesus gives; like him, we are sons and daughters of the Living God and He is well pleased with us.

Once Irreconcilable, Now Indivisible
By John H. Campbell
Wherever you are in your spiritual journey, never, ever allow anyone to accuse you of being “unacceptable” to God.

Features

Popes Out-of-Step with Their Times
By Warren J. Blumenfeld
I wonder how long it will take the Church to apologize for its longstanding marginalization and persecution of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people and its ultimate sanction of our relationships and our gender expressions.

Can “Lincoln” Still Happen Here and Now?
By Dr. Robert N. Minor
No matter how we want to believe that politicians will be moved by benevolence, logic, facts, the “good of the country” or “what’s best for citizens,” the reality is usually quite different.

Gay Marriage Tidewater
By Martin E. Marty
The tides rush on…

Distinguishing Religious Conservatives from Religious Fascists
By Rev. Dr. Jerry S. Maneker
Christians should be able to be counted on to help others, and not to seek to judge or exclude others from good will and good works.

From the Pulpit

Jesus and the IRS
By Gary Simpson
To God, your sexual orientation, your gender identification, and your gender expression are ways God uses to show you the richness of heavens’ grace.

Via Negativa: The Hunger Games / Hunger for Acceptance
By Rev. Candace Chellew
We are all a mix of light and dark — all a mix of good and evil — all a mix of right and wrong. The Holy invites us to accept that not just in the world around us — but within ourselves

Via Negativa: The Hunger Games / Hunger for Authenticity
By Rev. Candace Chellew
What Jesus is saying is this: “Don’t let anyone get between you and who God has created you to be.”

Via Negativa: The Hunger Games / Hunger for Absence
By Rev. Candace Chellew
Time after time, God constantly disappears and reappears, giving us the space we need to walk on our own.

Holy Humor

Safe in Church

Last Rites