Category Archives: The Church

St Mary Redcliffe Church, Bristol, UK

Growth, Violence and the Coming Religious Peace

Decades ago an Atlantic editor suggested an idea for an article which I somehow failed to produce. I recall him saying that the magazine rarely covered religion, but when it did, as it had in a recent feature article, it quickened an enormous response. Today,

Dove flying in Lisbon, Portugal

The ‘Duh!’ of a Disciple

A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But (Jesus) was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and (the disciples) woke him up and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that

Seedling

One at a Time

Over the decade I’’ve been out as a lesbian, I have learned a great deal about evangelical Christians. Most of what I’ve learned that’s proven to be worthwhile, that’s proven to be trustworthy, I’ve learned from my own, personal experience. Stereotypes and groupthink have proven

Man writing

An Open Letter to the LGBT Community

October 9, 2007 Now that the Church has had some time to absorb and consider the recent meeting of the House of Bishops in New Orleans and its response to the Anglican Communion, I’d like to share with you what I experienced at the recent

Tealight Candle on Human Palms

Canaries in the Mine

I’m going to make a seemingly odd claim. I think, nonetheless, that it’s a true one. The gift gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender believers bring, among so many others, is that of safeguarding the state – the overall health – of the Body of Christ

Tealight Candle on Human Palms

A More Spiritual Community

A few years back, during a town hall forum on marriage equality, an undergraduate student, possibly a freshman at the University of South Carolina, rose from the back row of a crowded auditorium to ask a question. Citing his background as a child growing up

Tealight Candle on Human Palms

Blessed Are the Excommunicated

With them he came down the hill and stood on a level spot. There was a great company of his disciples with him, and a large multitude of people from all Judaea, from Jerusalem, and from the cost of Tyre and Sidon, who had come

Tattooed man praying

Christianity and LGBT People: A Teaching Summary

Recently, I was asked to give an interview on a public listener sponsored radio station that largely has as its audience rather politically progressive people, most of whom can be expected to have an understandable disdain for anything “Christian.” Given the fact that most of