Christianity.....or God in My Life: a Look at a different Prospective
Altought I was raised in a very religious home by fundamentalists, somehow it never "took". I always asked too many questions, made the wrong statements and somehow seemed to always value thinking too much for most of those I was raised with. And that was BEFORE I came to know myself as a Gay Man and later as a Crossdressing Gay Man. Yikes, and they thought I was "bad" as a boy because I asked questions. From my side, most of what I heard seemed very very unloving and downright wrong headed...and against sense for that matter. The "fevor" also turned me off. Soooo for many years I refused to even say the word "Christian".
However things change. I still do not get on that well with Fundamentalists..and much of what is said on websites devoted to "Christian crossdressers" is a bit too "fundamentalistic" for me. However, having joined a church 3 or 4 years ago, I now find myself an elder in my neightborhood Presbyterian Church. Perhaps the time of leaving "values" and such to the conservatives is past. It is time for me and others like me to speak up.
My statement is that God has often guided me in my life journey and I am where I am due to that guidance. However, I question that the Bible was dictated by God from on hight as so many people seem to believe. I believe, in fact, that it is more accurately discribed as a record of a peoples stuggle to come to terms with the Divine as they preceived and experienced it. To believe in "inerrancy" is to believe in everything being true...so in my mind it is logically impossible to believe both that GLBT is acceptable and that the Bible is inerrant and entirely inspired (by which most fundamentalists seem to mean basically dictated) by God. Otherwise, one finds oneself having to explain why such and such is literally true, but this other item is not. Following are some links that in some cases will explain more about the more "progressive" Christianity that I prescipt to. In addition there are some links that may be presented that are just evidence of the fact that a Church can resolve this issue and grow as a result.
Woodland Presbyterian--the local congregation that I am part of (and Elder in). A wonderful statement of our position is on the "welcome" page. Check it out. And if ever in Nashville, especially East Nashville, consider checking us out. We are active in Aids Walk and Earth Day every year. There has been a crossdresser (that attended in femme) that attended ..and SHE was always welcomed by all. :)
2nd Presbyterian--another More Light Church across town from Woodland. They are a very supportive and active church, being involved in various kinds of "justice work".
United Church--This member of the UCC church is in my hometown of Cookeville, a very conservative area, with the exception of Tennessee Tech. My view of this is that if it can happen in redneck Cookeville, it can happen anyway. Sooo, there is hope. Yes, I have been there, and yes, they are open to the GLBT community.
More Light--The GLBT causus for the PCUSA demonination in which I am active as part of the Steering Committee for the local chapter.
No Longer Silent--A group of Clergy from several demoninations that are speaking out boldly and clearly in refuting the position that GLBT folk are somehow NOT loved by God...just as they are.
All God, All the Time--A wonderful article by James Carroll in Boston. Speaks clearly about what God is seen as versus what God actually is....and how we trivalize God for our own personal and political causes. In my opinion, a MUST read.
TCPC Network--A website for the Progrssive Christian or for anyone that finds more joy in the search than in the idea of an absolute grasp of what is true. Lists local congregations and people across the United States who find joy and love in the search and grown into what God would have us be...in our own time.
Cathedral of Hope--This is a Church in Dallas Tx with about 19,000 members. Whereas most mega-churchs tend to be very fundamentalist in their jargon, and one easily gets that GLBT folk would not be welcome, this church is different. While it is hard to know how "progressive" they are in terms of theology, certainly in terms of social issues, they are.
Mercy of God Community--a new look at "monastic" life that is inclusive of all, regardless of gender, affectional preference, ethic background etc. They are modeled after the teachings of St Francis of Assissi but without being tired to any particular demoninations. There are members in the group from a wide range of demoninations from Baptist to Catholic. An interesting concept and group.
Chris Glaser--the inspiring story of a man from my own Presbyterian Church who, altought denied ordination due to being gay, managed to conduct effective ministry within and to the church anyway.