The Sanctity of Gay Clubs

In my early 20's I found the interior of the local gay clubs to be life-changing, a sacred place in fact. Perhaps I didn't have the words at the time, but what I experienced when entering the clubs was a sense of peace. I was free to be the man God had created me to be and I was safe from the harsh world outside the doors that sought to marginalize (or harm) me and others like me.

The clubs of my youth provided a rare sense of freedom and safety not found in other places. Sadly, that is no longer the case.

With more and more information being shared following the mass shooting at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, Florida, a shockwave is rippling across our nation and around the world.

Those that up until this weekend had sought the same sense of freedom and shelter within the walls of gay clubs are now carrying something within them, especially if they choose to enter the clubs again.

FEAR

It is the same fear that now fills our schools, our churches, our places of employment...a fear that has been felt in far too many homes and neighborhoods. It is a fear for our safety and the safety of those we love.

This shooting, the deadliest in our nation's history, adds exponentially to that fear.

At the time of writing this, 50 people are dead, many others are injured . 

50 PEOPLE ARE DEAD!!!!

50 people have been gunned down... in a place where just moments before they were enjoying the freedom and the safety that such a club provided, with the beat of the music in sync with the beat of their hearts.

And in an instant, one man's decision silenced those beats. 

Now an immediate response to this tragedy is of course to join our hearts in praying for those affected. Praying for their families and friends. Praying for the city of Orlando. Praying for the LGBTQ community. The Latino community. The Muslim community. Our nation. All affected by this devastating event.

But seriously... no matter how strong our faith may be, no matter what power we attribute to prayer... it is not enough. Yes, we must do as Paul wrote to the Thessalonians... we must PRAY WITHOUT CEASING. But it is not enough.

We must speak out!

We must stand up!

We must bring an end to the violence!

Let's stop talking about gun legislation and instead actually do something about it!

Let's stop being afraid of our neighbors, our gay neighbors, our trans neighbors, our Muslim, Jewish, mentally ill, drug addicted, chronically unemployed, homeless neighbors. 

Jesus was not afraid! Why are we?

We cannot give in to the fear!

Yes, it is ever-present. I carry it within me. 

I have it within me many times when I am out in public with my husband and our children. 

I have it within me many times when I step into the pulpit of our Open and Affirming church.

I have it within me many times when I live out my faith and speak the truth of the Gospel.

But it does not stop me! It will not stop me! And it should not stop you either!

Now, more than ever it is clear that our world is in desperate need of peacemakers... Gospel-living, kingdom-bringing, justice-seeking peacemakers that are determined in our work and ministry to bring about the change that will keep our families and our friends safe no matter where they are.

The feeling I had when I entered those clubs many years ago is the same feeling that I have now when I trust in my faith and God's work in my life. It is the same feeling I have when I focus on what it is that Jesus has taught us and how he served as a model for us all in how we are to live. 

I feel safe in my faith.

I feel free to live, trusting that God is ever-present with me.

But I also feel the nudge, stronger than before, to be a voice against the violence, against the injustice, against the absolute craziness in our world that would allow someone to gun down 50 strangers. 

Spend the necessary time in prayer... and then make a choice to do something.

Our voices must be strong! They must be heard! 

Far too many lives depend on it!

Here are a few organizations doing great work to bring about change. Consider getting involved with them.

Religious Coalition for a Violence-Free Rhode Island

Rhode Island State Council of Churches

Open and Affirming Coalition of the United Church of Christ

Two vigils have been planned for this week.

Tuesday, June 14 - 6pm

     Roger Williams National Memorial 

     282 North Main Street

     Providence

Wednesday, June 15 - 8:30pm

    Rose Larisa Memorial Park

    701 Bullocks Point Avenue

    Riverside

What shirt will you wear?

Facebook reminded me this morning that I shared THIS CARTOON one year ago today.

I really appreciated this a year ago. Still appreciate it today. As the data continues to flow in, those that work to discern God's dream for the church are seeing this shift. And led by the Holy Spirit, they are living the Gospel in unique and inviting ways that are making the church healthier than it has been for some time.

However, healthy today is not the same understanding of healthy 20, 30 or 50 years ago. Our foreparents in the faith lived in a very different time and the institution that we have created (and call the church) was different for them than it is for us today.

Jesus' message is still the same. Yet, over the years, some have drifted away from that message, contorted it to meet their own needs and in turn, have hurt others and hurt the church. It's up to us, those of us who love Jesus AND love the church to live the truth of the Gospel and work to prevent those that have been (are) causing harm from continuing to do so.

Christianity is not dying.
The church is not dying.

Do you know why? Because Jesus lives! His teachings are just as relevant today as they were 2000 years ago... maybe even more relevant.

What has changed? We have. Our desire to live independently as opposed to living within community. Our need for self-gratification as opposed to caring for the needs of others. Our self-centered, self-motivated living is counter to the Christian Gospel.

And that is what needs to change. That is what needs to die.

And then our faith, our lives... and just maybe the church... will be reborn...will be resurrected!

Have we gone so far as to stop believing in the God we worship and God's ability to make all things new?

Perhaps we're content worshiping a God that is made in our image... one that suits our needs, our desires...instead of worshiping the God who created all things, the God who re-creates still, the God who made US in God's image. Imago Dei!

If we do nothing, the church WILL die. It's like the wisdom shared by my childhood dentist in regard to my teeth; "If you ignore them... they'll go away." If we ignore the church...it will go away.

My sense is that not one of us want to simply do nothing. We want the church to exist. What we need to determine is for what purpose? Do we want the church to simply exist to meet our own needs? To be our private/primary social circle? To allow us positions of power that we couldn't (perhaps shouldn't) be invited to anywhere else in the community?

Or do we believe in the institution that was created to work collectively, meeting the needs of those in the world who lack the resources for daily living that we hold abundantly?

Make a decision!

If you want to call yourself a Christian, then put on the "Christian" shirt and invest yourself, your life in living Christ's Gospel.

Or...

Move aside. Align yourself more truthfully with the organizations in the world that will meet your needs. And let those of us who trust in God's Spirit guiding us to lead the way and bring about the change in the world to which God is calling us.

Step aside and let those whose hearts are filled with the life and teachings of Jesus Christ be about the work of the church. Watch from a distance if you must. And then when/if you are ready... ready to die to self and to get out of God's way, come back and join in the ministry to which Jesus points us.

But all in all, be truthful... truthful to yourself and truthful to God.

Where do you align yourself? What shirt will you wear from this day forward?