A Queer Pilgrim

Though weddings and marriages are not considered sacred rituals or sacraments in most Protestant denominations, there is a sense that, no matter what, it is a sacred moment when two (or three for those in polyamorous relationships), say “yes” or “I do.” Having been married twice--once to a woman and the second time to Christian Halstead--each wedding ceremony was special, remarkable, and memorable, including the build up to the wedding vows and exchange of rings on the day of the wedding. Music; wedding ceremony participants; Order of Worship of wedding itself (I am a minister, after all, and it must have a certain flow); space or place of the wedding ceremony; clothes and rings; and the marriage license, of course. Don’t forget the license! All of this matters, whether it is a heterosexual wedding or same sex wedding. And of course there are the events before the “big day,” as well as the reception afterwards, followed by a honeymoon. And why is it such a big affair? First, over one-t

It must be hard to be a Pope. Especially Pope Francis. After following the conservative Popes John Paul II and Benedict XVI, being a more liberal, progressive Pope would be hard. Both John Paul and Benedict put in place conservative cardinals who surprised us all with the election/selection of Francis.   From the outside of the Catholic Church looking in as an out gay Presbyterian minister, I’ve watched with awe and amazement the small, subtle moves that Francis has been making towards inclusion of women in leadership roles, as well as his friendliness towards LGBTQIA2S+ people, especially transgender people in Italy. I was well aware of his gay friends in Argentina, and how they have continued a friendship even when Cardinal Bergolio of Argentina became Pope Francis of Rome. He has withheld judgment towards gays, and defended blessing individuals in same sex coupled relationship, as long as it doesn’t look like a wedding in a church. While he has not changed dogma or doctrine regardin

Along with The United Methodist Church jumping into the 21st century in welcoming LGBTQIA2S+ people as ordained clergy, able and willing to be pastors/elders and deacons, along with allowing same sex weddings, and using funds from the pew to support LGBTQIA2S+ people and programs, there are individuals who have stood up and out in the last few weeks that need to be recognized. It is upon their shoulders that the next generation of queer clergy leaders will go and grow in their ministries. First is Rev. Dr. Beth Stroud. This is what David Crary of the Associated Press wrote about the events from last week, after the UMC changed its policies towards LGBTQIA2S+ people a week earlier: "T wenty years ago, Beth Stroud was defrocked as a United Methodist Church pastor after telling her Philadelphia congregation that she was in a committed same-sex relationship. On Tuesday night, less than three weeks after the  UMC repealed its anti-LGBTQ bans , she was reinstated. In a closed meeting of

Welcome, members of The United Methodist Church (UMC), who, this day, May 1st, 2024, joined the 21st century, affirming the presence and welcoming those of us who are LGBTQIA2S+ people to be ordained, to serve churches, to marry, and to officiate at other weddings of same sex couples. Heck, you can now even use funds from within the UMC to pursue funding programs that assist people who are LGBTQIA2S+ in being and becoming more of the body of Christ through the practices of Methodism. Imagine: You can now focus on other issues that are facing Christendom! Hunger. Poverty. Peace-making programs. Gun control. Global climate. Houselessness. You name it. Praise God. Here’s a link to the news:  https://religionnews.com/2024/05/01/united-methodists-strike-down-ban-on-ordination-of-gay-clergy/  This day was, indeed, a long way in coming. 1972 is when that horrible language was published as part of your Constitution. Richard Nixon was President. HIV/AIDS was not yet an issue.  I’ve been part of

As The United Methodist Church prepares to meet for the 2020 worldwide Quadrennial/General Conference meeting (it is being held in 2024 because of COVID, etc.), there was this article in Religiousnews.com, by my friend Yonat Shimron about the disaffiliation going on in the UMC within The United Methodist Churches (UMC) of NC. Yes,  the great dissolution and schism (call it what it is) of the UMC is finally taking place. Phew! They kicked the can down the road as long as they could, hoping that they wouldn’t be like every Protestant denomination when it came to LGBTQIA2S+ people in terms of schism. But, in the end, reality set in, and the schism is happening. The UMC in the state of NC is an interesting story unto itself. It is a microcosm of all that is happening throughout the country and world in the UMC. NC has two annual Conferences of the UMC: The North Carolina Conference, which is the eastern half of the state, and the Western NC Conference, which is the western half of the stat

I’ve been ordained for over 40 years. I’ve served 14 churches in various roles, from senior pastor, to simple pulpit supply, from MA to NC, WA to FL, NC to OR, and now NM. I’ve read too many books and articles to count about church growth. And none of them, zero, and no author has advocated excluding people as a way of growing a church numerically, let alone in the faith. And yet individual churches and denominations do this as a whole, and then wonder why they aren’t growing. This includes The United Methodist Church (you’ve changed nothing so far), to the Christian Reformed Church, Southern Baptists, Church of Christ. Include, of course, Church of God and the Roman Catholic Church, along with Orthodox churches. All of these churches are losing members and churches. And if they wonder why, one big reason is because of their exclusionary practices.  The first story is about the Church of God, based in Anderson, IN. A smaller denomination, it tends to be conservative theologically and i