Volume 3: Issue 2
September/October 1998
Books That Bless
Table Of Contents
Cover Story: Books That Bless:
These authors have, in their own ways, challenged, edified and uplifted my soul. Each of these divine bards has invited me to resist evil, to subdue the world and most importantly of all, to Be, in a very real and wonderful sense.
Amanda shares her annotated list of the best books for gay and lesbian Christians.
This book on mediations seemed to be written for me. I identified with every statement
that I read. I was amazed at how the great variety of material in the
book spoke directly to me, even though I had never even heard of many of
the sources that were quoted.
As a child my faith was constantly bolstered by stories, both fiction
and non-fiction, of those whose lives had been touched by Jesus.
The subtitle of this work "For Those on the Edge of Faith" is an apt indicator of the worth of this book. It may be helpful in guiding those in that position away from the edge of the abyss toward a firmer, well-grounded and informed faith.
Words or passages will become
highlighted and at times will 'demand' to be read again. They can assist us
on our Spiritual journey and help to 'unblock' the clutter that gets in the
way of coming closer to God.
Homospirituality:
The gay, lesbian community is dead spiritually. Through no fault of our own, but rather the "Christian Church" is killing us. The methodology of killing us through its lethargy and apathy, by tolerating and perpetuating institutions and patterns of death rather than life.
Gays and lesbians often add to the burden by
believing that they have to shed this "sin" of homosexuality in order for
God to love them and forgive them. I contend that God's love and
forgiveness wrapped up in grace doesn't require any such overhaul.
"Who do the crowds say that I am?" Louie, many. Mr. Crew, others. Dr. Crew, others (but only during day time hours: Dr. turns into a pumpkin at sunset). His Royal Highness Quean Lutibelle, my innercourt. Husband, Ernest alone. But Erman Crew? Only the feds call me that, and only on solemn occasions, now that my father has been dead for 16 years, the first Erman Crew.
I struggle with society's view of gay people, my spirituality, and myself. I asked myself, "Am I disgrace to my family? Am I a disgrace to you, God? Lord, is your salvation and grace beyond my reach because I'm gay?
I personally am well acquainted with the
wilderness. I was there for 22 years. I stayed there because I couldn't allow
myself to believe that you really could be a gay Christian.
We encounter constant disapproval and disrespect from society as a
whole. Despite the fact that Jesus saw through people and brought out
what is real from within, gay people are still forced to work through
the outright verbal, psychological, and spiritual abuse; and sometimes
outright rejection and condemnation churches habitually and mercilessly
put us through.
Special Report: The Lambeth Conference
Bishops attending the Anglican Communion's
once-a-decade Lambeth conference in Canterbury, England, rejected
gay sex as "incompatible with the scripture" and said only
celibate gays can be priests.
The Soulforce principles of relentless nonviolent
resistance (as taught by Jesus, Gandhi, and King) make one thing clear.
In
Gandhi's words, "It is as much our moral obligation NOT to cooperate with
evil
as it is to cooperate with good." The Lambeth decision is evil.
This letter is a sign of our
commitment to listen to you and reflect with you theologically and
spiritually on your lives and ministries.
A number of liberal bishops who were largely silent in debate as the
conference overwhelmingly rejected homosexual acts in any context as
"incompatible with Scripture," are speaking out strongly in the aftermath.
Features:
"Did you choose to be gay?" I ask him.
He laughs with chagrin. "Of course not. I've always known that I was gay,
ever since I was a child. I just kept it hidden, suppressed, hoping it
would go away."
 What's It To Me?
-- By: UTHUR from the Town by the Sea
I am not gay. But...do I have to be gay to be
concerned?
In the summer of 1968, one year prior to the Stonewall events, there was a
little-reported West Coast bar action and police confrontation which served to
galvanize gay activists in Los Angeles -- and initiated a chain of events
that directly led to the founding of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan
Community Churches (UFMCC).
Readers sound off on what they like and dislike about Whosoever.
Readers share their praises.
Family Values:
Your freedom in Christ includes your freedom to decide who your circle
of closest friends will be. Freedom to chose your "family" implies your
obligation to chose wisely. You can destroy a lot of your freedom by
making bad choices.
Parents who say one thing and do another are the
ones who are undermining "family values" by setting poor moral and
spiritual examples to their offspring.
Youth:
There are only a handful of young Christians in the GLBT movement. If you are reading this you either are one, or probably know one. Are you challenging them or yourself to be an Elihu?!
From The Pulpit:
I read recently that 43 percent of Americans have had some kind of mystical experience, the kind of experience that lies behind the story of the transfiguration. The
title of this sermon is indicative of the growing interest in such experience. It is the title of James Redfield's most recent work in new age spirituality.
As dreadful as physical homelessness is, I believe spiritual homelessness is even more devastating.
My excuses to avoid any of God's calls, whether it be to preach to you today, or start an internet ministry to gay and lesbian Christians, mirror those of Moses.
Bible Study and Inspiration:
God does not play favorites. If you take Jesus as your LORD and Savior and worship God in faith, you are the same as all other Christians. Our God is not a respecter of persons, he is a respecter of faith.
We all know those verses that are trotted out to `prove' the doctrinal soundness of the clamor for our exclusion from the assembly of the faithful - it's as if we were coming to that particular church or fellowship rather than to Jesus for salvation and spiritual succor.
Holy Humor!
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