The Public Pool
Every day, in our society, we see examples of gross injustice. We bemoan what seems, to most of us, a growing trend. But we don’t quite know how to make sense of it. What the talking heads who comment on the problem all too often
Category Archives: The Church
How the Resurrection Ruined Christianity
“I need you to talk with an ordination candidate for moment. He has a question for you.” The voice on the phone was the pastor whose independent Atlanta-based church had ordained me just over a decade ago. “Sure,” I said, not at all sure that
Black Churches Divided over Same-Sex Marriage
Recently, Sightings picked up on some lines written by the influential Evangelical-oriented author, Eric Metaxas. “Not so fast,” he wisely enough cautioned those who consider legalized, same-sex marriage to be inevitable. And yet, hours after he posted this alert, the United States Supreme Court issued
There Must Be No Homophobic Churches
“O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err, and destroy the way of thy paths.” (Isaiah 3:12) “… he looked for judgment, but behold oppression; for righteousness, but behold a cry.” (Isaiah 5:7) About twenty years ago, I was asked by a
De-Escalating the Cycle of Fear
I have a particular fascination with the clash between the fundamentalist Christian worldview and the LGBT Christian community. You see, I grew up a fundamentalist Christian. By that I don’t meant that I grew up attending a fundamentalist church or that I was part of
Evangelical Ministry to Gays and Lesbians Admits It Caused Harm
Notice the tenses in Wikipedia’s entry on “Exodus International” posted only a day or two after events necessitated a change from the word “is” to “was”. Quote: “Exodus International was a non-profit interdenominational ex-gay Christian organization that sought to help people who wished to limit
Soulforce Commends Closing of ‘Ex-Gay’ Ministry Exodus International
News release After almost 40 years, Exodus International has closed its doors. It was the oldest Christian services organization of its type and the market leader in reparative/ex-gay/sexual orientation change therapy. Soulforce, an interfaith organization that works to free lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer
The Five Fundamentals of Welcoming LGBT People of Faith
“Of course you would be welcomed at our church!” began the email that I received from an Episcopal priest. My partner and I were moving from Atlanta to a small town in South Carolina in the same year that Gene Robinson was elected bishop of
Thoroughly Modern Millies
“There are those, I suppose, Think we’re mad, heaven knows The world has gone to rack and to ruin …” Opening lyrics to theme song from “Thoroughly Modern Millie” Fundamentalist Christians no longer call themselves by that name. They want to distance themselves from fundamentalists
A Brief Response to the Negative Comments About Gays in the Church
He hath shown thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God. (Micah 6:8) With the exception of relatively few denominations, lesbian, gay, bisexual, and