Our Lady of Good Counsel Chapel
Sisters of Divine Compassion
White Plains, New York
Tuesday, April 23, 2024
Monday, April 22, 2024
White Plains Presbyterian Church - 4/21/24
White Plains Presbyterian Church
April 21, 2024
Thank you friends for inviting me to be with you on Sunday!
Truly a blessing to be with you!
Friday, April 19, 2024
Time to Talk: Lovingly Queer
Queer Love
"What's the problem?
April 14, 2024
PS. The hat says:
do justice
love mercy
walk humbly
Friday, April 12, 2024
Monday, January 17, 2022
MLK Day 2022 - Seeking Change
My thoughts on this "Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Weekend" begins here:
“My Dear
Fellow Clergymen: While confined here in the Birmingham city jail, I came
across your recent statement calling my present activities ‘unwise and
untimely.’ Seldom do I pause to answer criticism of my work and ideas. If I
sought to answer all the criticisms that cross my desk, my secretaries would
have little time for anything other than such correspondence in the course of
the day, and I would have no time for constructive work. But since I feel that
you are [people] of genuine good will and that your criticisms are sincerely
set forth, I want to try to answer your statement in what I hope will be
patient and reasonable terms.”
So began Rev. Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr.’s response to criticism from fellow clergy as he sat in
jail on April 16, 1963 for stirring up “good trouble” (as John Lewis often
exhorted us to do). His 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail' reflects a different
time, as well as a time of courage sorely absent today. (Read the Letter here: https://bit.ly/33s1DkJ)
I marvel at Dr. King’s
ability to engage others with forbearance, even after multiple arrests (he
would be arrested 29 times in his lifetime, including trumped-up charges on
infractions such as driving 30 mph in a 25 mph zone); after a nearly successful
assassination attempt in 1958; and numerous death threats against him and his
family. I truly marvel.
Given my own
resources, I cannot fathom how he could see and experience so much hatred,
violence and widespread mistreatment of people of color and their allies - and
still manage his responses with such grace and clarity and fire, now and then.
I am left with only a
truth that he believed so much in God’s call to him – that he just kept doing
what he did and refused to shrink; rather he grew in his God – and as a result
so did we and our nation.
As we celebrate his
birthday, even as we hear the echoes of lies from racist rallies during his
time and ours, I, too, believe we are people of good will, mostly. I believe
that we have the power to address our times as Dr. King and others did theirs.
There is no promise that we will be celebrated, admired, or that others will
even know our names. There is no guarantee of safety or earthly longevity when
we come to believe and live accordingly. Just a call to action and forbearance
in a way that does not cause us to shrink or cower, but to grow in courage and
strength, while refusing to be silenced; speaking in a voice that is clear and
can be heard because it is filled with courage and love.
There is a language like that. It is the language of the heart, the language of peace and justice, equality and fairness that reflects beliefs from deep in our souls. It “compels” us, as Dr. King says: “…to carry the gospel of freedom beyond our own home”. It transforms us into who it is we are meant to be. I
I believe we are meant to trust in God or a Power greater than ourselves by whatever name that may be known, if we are to practice such principles in all our affairs and our time on this planet - bringing the gospel of many traditions and their light to all. To believe in such a way is to know hope and trust that as Dr. King says in the closing of his letter, ”Let us all hope that the dark clouds of racial prejudice will soon pass away and the deep fog of misunderstanding will be lifted from our fear drenched communities, and in some not too distant tomorrow the radiant stars of love and [our shared humanity] will shine over our great nations will all their scintillating beauty.” May it be so. May we and those we call to lead us have the courage to make it so.
Post-script Commentary:
On
January 15th, the weekend honoring Dr. King’s birthday, former President Donald
J. Trump held his first rally of 2022. On the weekend in which we honor the
work of Dr. King and all who have followed him, the former president did not
mention Dr. King in his comments in this state, which was the last state in the
union to formally install the holiday. It is also one of the states in which extremists
embrace the passage of laws implementing voting-rights restrictions and
suppression; where many continue to embrace the “big lie”, reiterated again by
the former president at the event. Holding a rally on such a day in such a
place by such a person draws obvious connections to those who continue to
embrace not only “big lies” but a a rallying-cry that another president of
color should never again be elected. Many believe it was this prejudice and
racism that was the driving force behind the national movement that elected
Donald J. Trump as a response to former president Barak Obama. None of this and
more would be lost on those gathered and watching who want to “bring America
back” and place others in jail again, if that is what it takes.
Thursday, July 14, 2016
Muffling the Queer Voice
This General Assembly stepped away from one of those momentous opportunities. While the amended Overture 11-05 is being spun as a move forward, in the end it was a tepid "safe" response to to the original call for a strong acknowledgment of harms done to the queer community. What we discovered at this assembly is the growing conservatism and increased caution of progressive organizations. Organizations that will more readily side with the unity of the church and outside issues of public legislation than anything that might actually put the denomination boldly into the position of leadership. A leadership we have fought to attain in making a difference in the lives of queer people that show us as Christians in ways we abdicated long ago.
From the beginning of GA, there was every indication of what we should expect in terms of the leadership when outgoing moderator, Heath Rada lifted up Paul Determan of the Fellowship Community (formerly the Fellowship of Presbyterians) and Brian Ellison of Covenant Network as leaders who exemplified the ways within which that we could work together, especially surrounding controversial (read "queer") issues. It was a stunning rebuke to any of the organizations, That All May Freely Serve, included, which might be to left of Covenant Network on positions or legislative initiatives. It was as stunning a rebuke, I think, as well of The Lay Committee (The Layman), who is to the right of The Fellowship. And it was no surprise.
It was no surprise to hear conservative, cautious and insular references coming from Moderator Rada, who was intentionally distant from lifting up any of the changes for queer folk in the Presbyterian Church (USA) during his two years as moderator. So odd and frustrating, especially since his was the first moderatorial term during which the PCUSA stepped into the world with changes in place that identified us as one of the most welcoming and inclusive denominations on the face of the planet. One would think that such a witness and welcoming would be Good News to many, especially to our queer family. Yet, even some of our queer leadership found this a difficult voice to balance with being Presbyterian. So, quietly we went into the night after forty years of struggle. Add that, I guess, to the list of harms for the next round.
Sadly, what seems to have been totally lost is that which was always difficult to raise: the plight of queer folk outside of the church who are affected by the church's behavior and decisions. If there was ever a time to move more boldly into humble and honest solidarity it was at this assembly, just days after the heinous attack in Orlando. Instead, it was as if the world outside our church did not exist for those leading the opposition against 11-05. Just as disappointing was the way that the major opposition used its influence to persuade commissioners that theirs was the path of caution and careful language that would not alienate those who were once (and many, still are) our oppressors. If there is a "Beltway" in the PCUSA, we saw it in full display in these hearings and the final outcome on 11-05.
From the start, the arguments against 11-05 were weak and timid. It was not a debate of content, although we tried to make it so. Instead, it became a demonstration of who had more power and networking capabilities to persuade commissioners, to the point where even in the committee hearings, commissioners took the mic and said that the substitute motion of Covenant Network was the right way to go. I think more than a few folks were taken aback that CovNet had penetrated the committee to such an extent, despite all the other strategies they employed to table or dilute the overture, just in case it made it to the floor at the plenary session. Collegiality, mutuality and trust were set aside until after the vote, when those who succeeded attempted to shake hands, as though there was truly any sentiment beyond the requirement of doing so as might be considered good sportsmanship in another venue. This was never a contest.
The queer voice was shut down at GA222, with overtures that started out strong and eded up with language that regretted how we might have felt harmed (our fault, you see); or other actions that were so far off the radar that passage raised no eyebrows, at all (such as reparative therapy), but could be lifted up as a critical move forward by organizations fighting for their place in the future church.
Yes, the queer voice that expresses the real world beyond the strategies and agenda of the institution of the church was overwhelmed with an aggressive oppositional campaign by Covenant Network and the relative silence of More Light Presbyterians and others with regards to 11-05. Our role in ministry and history at a time of national grieving was woefully inadequate; perhaps even shameful. Words and laments will continue to be spoken about violence and the sadness and the need for change by all these organizations and a continuing request for funds to keep up the fight. However, at least at this GA, when the time came where voices and actions could really make a difference - well, in the end - as we have heard so often before, "It just wasn't time."
And, as we've said before, "Bull sh*t."
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author Ray Bagnuolo and do not reflect any other individuals or affiliations, unless they so choose to endorse these comments.
From the beginning of GA, there was every indication of what we should expect in terms of the leadership when outgoing moderator, Heath Rada lifted up Paul Determan of the Fellowship Community (formerly the Fellowship of Presbyterians) and Brian Ellison of Covenant Network as leaders who exemplified the ways within which that we could work together, especially surrounding controversial (read "queer") issues. It was a stunning rebuke to any of the organizations, That All May Freely Serve, included, which might be to left of Covenant Network on positions or legislative initiatives. It was as stunning a rebuke, I think, as well of The Lay Committee (The Layman), who is to the right of The Fellowship. And it was no surprise.
It was no surprise to hear conservative, cautious and insular references coming from Moderator Rada, who was intentionally distant from lifting up any of the changes for queer folk in the Presbyterian Church (USA) during his two years as moderator. So odd and frustrating, especially since his was the first moderatorial term during which the PCUSA stepped into the world with changes in place that identified us as one of the most welcoming and inclusive denominations on the face of the planet. One would think that such a witness and welcoming would be Good News to many, especially to our queer family. Yet, even some of our queer leadership found this a difficult voice to balance with being Presbyterian. So, quietly we went into the night after forty years of struggle. Add that, I guess, to the list of harms for the next round.
Sadly, what seems to have been totally lost is that which was always difficult to raise: the plight of queer folk outside of the church who are affected by the church's behavior and decisions. If there was ever a time to move more boldly into humble and honest solidarity it was at this assembly, just days after the heinous attack in Orlando. Instead, it was as if the world outside our church did not exist for those leading the opposition against 11-05. Just as disappointing was the way that the major opposition used its influence to persuade commissioners that theirs was the path of caution and careful language that would not alienate those who were once (and many, still are) our oppressors. If there is a "Beltway" in the PCUSA, we saw it in full display in these hearings and the final outcome on 11-05.
From the start, the arguments against 11-05 were weak and timid. It was not a debate of content, although we tried to make it so. Instead, it became a demonstration of who had more power and networking capabilities to persuade commissioners, to the point where even in the committee hearings, commissioners took the mic and said that the substitute motion of Covenant Network was the right way to go. I think more than a few folks were taken aback that CovNet had penetrated the committee to such an extent, despite all the other strategies they employed to table or dilute the overture, just in case it made it to the floor at the plenary session. Collegiality, mutuality and trust were set aside until after the vote, when those who succeeded attempted to shake hands, as though there was truly any sentiment beyond the requirement of doing so as might be considered good sportsmanship in another venue. This was never a contest.
The queer voice was shut down at GA222, with overtures that started out strong and eded up with language that regretted how we might have felt harmed (our fault, you see); or other actions that were so far off the radar that passage raised no eyebrows, at all (such as reparative therapy), but could be lifted up as a critical move forward by organizations fighting for their place in the future church.
Yes, the queer voice that expresses the real world beyond the strategies and agenda of the institution of the church was overwhelmed with an aggressive oppositional campaign by Covenant Network and the relative silence of More Light Presbyterians and others with regards to 11-05. Our role in ministry and history at a time of national grieving was woefully inadequate; perhaps even shameful. Words and laments will continue to be spoken about violence and the sadness and the need for change by all these organizations and a continuing request for funds to keep up the fight. However, at least at this GA, when the time came where voices and actions could really make a difference - well, in the end - as we have heard so often before, "It just wasn't time."
And, as we've said before, "Bull sh*t."
The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author Ray Bagnuolo and do not reflect any other individuals or affiliations, unless they so choose to endorse these comments.
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