I have attended countless church conventions as voting member (delegate), visitor/observer, or as vendor hawking my religiously-themed books. In this latter context, I became acquainted with a group of Wisconsin Methodist queer activists. In fact, when I penned Queer Clergy, a chronicle of the history of queer Christians seeking a place at the table, I featured two of them. Steve Webster was a principal organizer of the first gathering of queer Methodists in 1974 that became the first advocacy group within the Methodist church under the name of Affirmation. Pastor Amy DeLong successfully defended herself against the gatekeepers in a nationally-followed ecclesiastical trial in 2011. Their advocacy continues with others from Wisconsin and elsewhere as “Love Prevails.”
Following the wrenching rejection of the more liberal and moderate versions of Methodist plans to deal with long-standing, onerous provisions of the Methodist Book of Discipline in favor of the “traditionalist” plan that not only reaffirmed the anti-LGBT policies of the UMC but actually called for rigorous enforcement of the bans on queer clergy and queer marriages, “Love Prevails” expressed their frustration:
“It seems that all United Methodists are scared and fearful this morning about what’s going to happen today. This is what it feels like to be an LGBTQI+ United Methodist. This is what it feels like every moment of our lives, since 1972 when the United Methodist Church created these horrible policies that are killing us and destroying our lives. We’ve been the crosshairs this whole time.”
And more, in effect suggesting that “thoughts and prayers” offer a false balm that masks inaction.
Love Prevails demands a bridge between prayer and embodied proclamation, an exchange between the internal disposition of relationship with the divine and action in the external world of oppression, including the church.
In my travels, I met UCC Pastor Loey Powell, and her story is also featured in my book. Here is her take on the UMC actions this week:
I post this with love and with a bit of hesitation but not in any way to minimize the powerful, heartfelt prayers and words which have been spoken and shared to support our UMC lgbtqia siblings and allies. I, too, have offered prayers. I find myself, however, wondering about all the words telling those of us who are queer that God loves us. There are some who undoubtedly need to hear this because of the ways in which religion has, in some traditions, assumed an all too powerful place in life, a religious impetus driven by human failings and need to control other humans. “In the name of God….”, etc.
What I need to say is that those of us who are lgbtqia are strong, self-loving, and not in need of the approval of the straight community to be who we are. What I keep coming back to are the multiple subcultures in which we thrive, play, create, organize and stay healthy, subcultures the straight community is simply not aware of. Women’s/lesbian music – and music companies. Drag shows and clubs. Safe spaces we know about. Mentors, role models, churches and synagogues where we thrive, organizations that fight for our civil rights. And on and on. Artists, singers, authors, academicians, and theologians of all ethnicities and races and genders have been celebrating and authenticating our lives. So when someone says what has happened in the UMC will cause harm to us….yes, part of that is true but more than hurt, we are pissed. And being pissed does not come from a place of feeling less than, it comes from a place of strength. We are strong. We already know in the deepest parts of our beings that we are loved by a Love far greater than what we can comprehend. And we will always be singing for our lives even when silence is all there is. We will sing.
In the dark of night, dawn seems distant. Much of the UMC is grieving right now, and we sit shiva with them. And sing.
Several years ago a columnist in the New York Times published an essay whose theme highlighted a key benefit regarding sexuality. He noted that those who are lgbtqia or at that end of the spectrum benefit the country as a whole. That is, including those on that portion of the human sexuality includes them so that their gifts, taxes, and general participation contributes to society as a whole. That seems obvious to me but clearly not to those whose distaste and misinformed attitudes poison Methodists and Lutherans. The Roman Church appears to be caught in a cauldron of its own making as well.
My apprehension is that a younger generation sees the Church as a whole to be unnatural, blatantly opinionated, and cruel. Those seeking answers for the uncertainties of human life, particularly among those who see actions in churches like these, will say only, “Well, what did you expect? It’s not relevant to my life.”
The loss is incalculable. Those of us having Church membership may hope for God to intervene in some mysterious way. My fear is that God will be silent…
Michael Allen
Without prejudice….I do cringe when I hear/read the terminology of
“queer” when referring to our brothers regardless of what faith connected too, imagine what the children of these relationships must endure either private or publicly when attributed to their parents.
“Queer” is actually the preferred self-designation of much of the LGBTQIA community for several reasons. Most importantly, it turns around what was a derisive term–“you call me queer? Damn right, and I’m proud of it.” It is also a catch-all for the broad range non-binary sexuality. Lastly, it is gender neutral.