If every person who originally put their names down marched then there would have been 100 ministers marching in the Mardi Gras Parade, as an act of contrition. But as soon ecclesiastical and denominational hierarchies knew who was involved they threatened to excommunicate/defrock those who participated. For some, with families, mortgages etc to support the price was high and reluctantly they had to withdraw. Despite this, and pressure from the usual weird christian activists groups with their tiresome, clichéd arguments, 35 ministers made history and marched in this years Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras parade. (Some still with the threat of loosing their jobs hanging over their heads). Almost every news story around Australia and overseas mentioned the significance of the 100 Revs participating. Nearly 100 have now signed the apology and more names are being added. There have been emergency meetings this past week in some denominational headquarters to try and stop what has happened. But the project looks like it will take off overseas as well. I’ll be able to tell you more about this later.
We will be keenly watching the way various Christian denominations handle this and certainly make known those churches who take action against any of the ministers who marched or have put their names to the list. It seems inconceivable that some denominations are considering penalising their ministers for genuinely demonstrating love and grace. If they had been immoral or preaching a heresy, then it would be understandable. But to discipline ministers for getting close to the people they have been called to reach out to and for acknowledging publicly that their attitude and some actions have been unchristian makes one wonder if they have somehow forgotten the very essence of the Christian message. Anyone, either in or out of the church, who knows about the Jesus of the gospels, will see this for what it is.
Here is what two brave ministers had to say about their experience
It was a privilege to march in the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras to convey our apology to the Gay Community in a concrete and symbolic way. We were included in
the community section where there were several other Christian and religious groups as well as the armed forces and the police. Particularly noticeable was the contingent who were marching to drawing attention to the large number of laws which still discriminate against this one group of people even though we have other laws which legislate against discrimination! Amnesty International was there marching for Universal Civil Rights.
As we waited for the march to begin quite a number of people came up to us to thank us for what we were doing. Some friends made special opportunity to convey their heartfelt appreciation. Some went round our whole group shaking each person by the hand and saying ‘Thank you’. In some ways the hospitality of the Gay and Lesbian community was so gracious that we felt a rebuke as it is in the area of hospitality that we feel the church has been so remiss. Our attitude has been excluding.
For me personally there was a sense that we were standing on Holy Ground as people connected with our act of contrition. It also felt during the march that we had the amazing privilege of making known the truth of God made known in Jesus who constantly took himself to the margins and to those who were left out and offered love and acceptance. As the march moved through the crowd we received a warm welcome and people acknowledged their awareness of what we stood for and their approval of what we were doing. The very air seemed to be charged with an atmosphere not only of elation but also of safety, respect and acceptance. Heather McClelland (Rev)
Thank you GLBTIQ Sydney!
Those who marched last night with 100Revs would like to thank all the members of the GLBTIQ community for their hospitality at the march and the graciousness with which they received our apology. The officials were really helpful in guiding we newbies in unfamiliar territory. The other members of the parade welcomed us, and the crowd cheered loudly (with some encouragement from Tony “I can’t hear you!” Gibson) as we walked past. Several people shook every member’s hand, and many connected with us individually, to thank us for the apology and convey how much it meant to them.
Everyone was very warm and welcoming toward us. Thank you!
We pray that this signals a new era of the church being truly a place of welcome, and a place of prayer for all people. Grace and Peace Rev Colin Scott.
When I left my church it was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do in life. I knew that my friends would not continue to associate with me once they knew I was a gay man. It turns out I was right. I thought it best to leave and not give them the opportunity to reject me. I was hurting enough already.
When I read about this, tears began to flow. I’ve never sat in front of my computer and cried before. I realised that deep down inside I needed to be healed. Hearing that the 100 Revs were saying sorry has begun that for me. Please don’t destroy that by rejecting me again. I don’t think I could take that.
To the 100 Revs I say thanks and to the church leaders I implore you to show grace not judgement.
My sister is a lesbian. She is a wonderful person and was once very active in her church. We rarely talk about spiritual things these days as her church turned their back on her when she decided to live with the woman she’d fallen in love with and she is very hurt. They are still together 15 years later. Some of my Christian friends marriages have not lasted that long. I think its hypocritical to blanketedly condemn all gays. Most of the ones I met through my sister are wonderful people. I don’t think I can say that about all the heterosexual people I’ve met. I told her about the 100 Revs but she finds it hard to believe that the church would admit they got it wrong. Please don’t give up. It means a lot to people like me. I wish I had your courage.
I’m another one who had to leave my church. I told my youth pastor I was gay and even though I hadn’t acted on it, from that point on I was treated differently. I was in the music ministry and planned to go to bible college but I knew that was now impossible. In the end I couldn’t stand the gossip and suspicion any longer so I left. None of my friends from church have ever bothered to ask me why I left. When I see them in the street they just make polite, awkward conversation then quickly make an excuse to leave. They make me feel like I’m a leper or something. It makes me angry. I know I’ve been judged unfairly.
Thank you to the ministers who have put your names down. I wish one of you had been my youth pastor.
I am a member of a church which is more welcoming towards the GLBTIQ community and indeed, to all persons irresepective of sex, orientation, race or marital status. As such, it was no battle for me to put my name to the 100Revs campaign.
I want to commend the courage of the men and women who have signed the apology, and who marched even in the face of threats of discipline from their denominations. To you I leave the words of Christ:
“Blessed are you when men hate you, and ostracize you, and insult you, and scorn your name as evil, for the sake of the Son of Man. “Be glad in that day and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven. For in the same way their fathers used to treat the prophets.” Luke 6:22
To the church leaders who are considering taking action against these men and women I leave the words of Christ also:
“Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.
For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’
Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’
He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ Matt 25:41-45
My name is Adam, and like many of you I was involved heavily in the church for a long time. I always knew I was gay however like so many, I suppressed it and was married for 14 years. I have 2 beautiful daughters. After my marriage failed because I came out, the church basically threw me out. I had endured exorsisms and so on, to rid me of this demonic force. I knew however that my homosexuality was just part of me. My x wife was so supportive and still is. Now when my daughters ask me do I believe in God, I dont really have an answer. It has confused them to no end. I feel the church has betrayed me and my family.
Hi Adam. I know my wife and girls felt the same thing. The average pastor/church leader is poorly equipped to handle the trauma and issues involved. Often the advice is nothing more that religious platitudes (pray, read your bible, God will find a way etc). Whilst these things might be helpful the deeper personal issues are never met. When I began to read and study this more I was amazed at how much information was actually out there and embarrassed that i was so ignorant.
From my communication with church leaders, most are currently where i was. Uneducated and ill-informed about sexual orientation. If there is an enemy we fight it is not people or churches, it is ignorance.
WOW I am so so touched by the 10 revs and what they are doing. Anthony truly is a hero doing what i see as the true work of christ. loving ALL peopel exactly how they are.perfect whole and complete. The coaurge that anthony and many of you show standing up for the love and truth that wasnt shown by chruches who claim to represent Gods and christs teachings touches me very deeply. I am simply an everyday straight middle aged lady who rejoices in truth justsice and seeing Gods work of loving be done. I honor you all for your courage. Please KNOW that this IS LOVE. You are warriors of the true LOVE of God. Do not let those still ignorant make you feel less than you are.xxxxxxmuch love
oops i meant 100 revs and soon will be 1000 revs !! ive not use this type of blogger before opppsssssss 😛
And it is not before time that church revs stood up and got counted. What took you all SO long?
Have you heard the debacle that is going on at Hillsong. (via the Sydney Morning Herald – presumably targeting Lesbians!) Apparently some Yank is coming over to tell them how to get cured of being Gay! Hello…..he was gay and is now straight! I’ll be damned….and think that was a big pink pig flying right past his left shoulder! Me thinks he is either in denial or just plain damn stupid. And no doubt is a rootin’tootin’biblebashing giveyerlifetojesus type person……..
I know I sound cranky and it is because I AM! I have a gay daughter and she is the most wonderful person……..
Where the heck do these so called Christian get off?
I am gay, my brother is gay, my partner is gay and many of my friends, teachers, colleauges, staff, ex-lovers and other acquaintances are gay. Mostly due to the process and pain of ‘coming out’ I find these people to be surprisingly, accepting, open minded and wonderful, caring people.
There are also many people in my life who are straight and due to their upbringing and experiences in life I find these people also to be surprisingly wonderful, accepting, open minded and caring people.
As a subset of this group there is then another group of people in my life who are ‘religious’; my parents, aunts, uncles, and a vast array of people throughout the various communities around which my life connects. Most of them too are wonderful, accepting, open minded and caring people… until it comes to assimilating their friends’ or family members’ homosexuality with the teachings of their church. (I use the term ‘church’ here in order to differentiate it from the word ‘christianity’. If I am right this clarification is one of the concepts that sits at the very heart of what the 100 Revs are trying to highlight.)
At this point of attempted assimilation many of these people, (despite the obvious pain, rejection, hurt and abuse they have witnessed us endure simply because we are gay,) at best can not condone it and at worst openly condemn us. Indeed a number of very close family members have told both my brother and I that we will go to hell.
Jesus welcomes all and cares deeply about those who suffer.
The church welcomes deeply only those who support their position on who is worthy to be considered suffering and who is not.
Clearly being chastised by the church and your own family is not considered a painful experience by the majority of churches and their members.
Jesus is an inspiration. The church is an insitution. These two concepts in many people’s minds have a chasm between them that grows and deepens as the years roll on.
To the 100 Revs I thank you deeply, perhaps through your actions the church may at last start looking back at what motivated Jesus and his actions and may allow its members to think past the rhetoric spouted by those who condemn us with ‘scripture’.
My brother and I were fortunate enough to be stronger than the condemnation we received. Many have not been and some of taken their own lives because of this. Because of this I once again thank the 100 Revs, Anthony V-B and their supporters for the sentiment of their statements and actions.
Many people and their journeys will be grateful for this flicker of illumination and acceptance.
Hi anonymous……it makes all the difference when people actually know or are related to gay and lesbian people as you are. As i said in precious my entry ‘the 100 Revs have realised homosexuality is not an “issue”…..it’s people.’
thanks James. You’ve said some very insightful things there. I trust that people read and take notice.
Your blog has been added to the Pinkboard Blog List. For more details please see Pinkboard or contact me.
I wish you success in your campaign for acceptance within the churches.
thanks Panther for the encouragement. Sorry is a beginning……and thanks also for helping to spread the word. I trust that it reaches the people who need to be know that there are leaders out there in churches who realised that GLBT people have been treated unfairly.
Congratulations to all those men and women that signed and/or marched. Having been in ministry for 12 years myself (I no longer am) I know the pressure that exists on you all, from your people, your peers and your seniors. You are involved in history-making stuff!
To those who opposed what has happened, I ask you to please not be afraid and begin to talk to the gay community, become educated, you may be surprised what you discover!
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