Three Fingers Pointing Back

Our church is entering another round of overtures trying to change our constitution to be fully inclusive for our friends who are LGBT (like me! :)) There are many voices working for this change in a variety of ways. Thanks to our allies who have spoken for our community when it was so difficult for us to speak for ourselves. However, that can no longer be the sole voice. At this point in the struggle we need to be out and speak and let people get to know us as we are and as people who are LGBT. Yes. Out of the closet.

As long as we feel we have something to lose, we, as a community, will be less than we can be. Janis Joplin once sang, "Freedom is just another word for nothing left to lose." Once we are strong enough and trusting enough to become risk-takers instead of planners and strategists, alone - and we have nothing left to lose that is more important than being faithfully authentic and present, especially true for our leaders and emerging candidates for ministry - then amazing things will happen.

In the meantime, the continuing debate goes on and fingers are pointed.

If there is not enough courage in church leaders to be out regardless of the risk -- it seems that we're just waiting for the passing of generations to solve the injustice in which we are complicit. What's good for our sisters and brothers who do not identify as LGBT should be good for everyone. It's really not a debate. Either we are a church that includes or we are not. I believe we can be such a church by deleting the section of our constitution in question and opening our doors. Or we can be like milquetoast...not letting people know for sure who we are with three fingers pointing back at us.

So, are you in or out?