Second Stone #27 - Mar/Apr 1993

Second Stone #27 - Mar/Apr 1993

27

1993

Mar/Apr 1993

AMERICA'S GAY & LESBIAN CHRISTIAN NEWSJOURNAL :
REFLECTIONS ON GAY AND LESBIAN CHRISTIAN ACTIVISM
BY NANCY HUGMAN
claiming that position means engaging
in civil disobedience, defying the
status quo, risking personal loss? In
the case of our churches, struggling to
grow and remain financially solvent,
what wou.ld so passionately motivate
us that we would risk losing members,
losing our status with the
Council of Churches, or losing our
reputations with the nebulous heterosexual
or gay and lesbian "communities?"
Looking ba.ck at the Christian
Christianity is a risky business.
Jesus of Nazareth got nailed -
literally - for challenging the
status quo. When The Way,
as early Christianity was called, could
no longer hide behind Mother Sarah's
skirts, lions' jaws ripped Christian
flesh from Christian bones. Some
Christians hid and survived and
others renounced The Way and ran
back to the relative safety of Abraham's
bosom. Since then, Jesus' disciples,
individually and collectively,
have confronted some tough choices.
As a little girl in Catechism classes,
I wondered if I would have courageously
faced the lions or followed
Jesus to the cross. As an adult, I
wonder what issues, situations, and
people are important enough to risk
taking a pro-active stance, even if
church's track record for taking a ' '-"-"'-'--'--''----'-"---"--'=~= =-"--'"'-"--'-="-""=~""'-'~=~===~"" : .. ;.2· ""'•""'-1'• ·
"Christian" stand in difficult circumstances,
I find that, in many cases, the
oppressed, after winning power,
become the oppressors . The Christian
church has successfully made the
SEE COVER STORY, Page 10
Washington, DC
April 25, 1993
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PERMITNo. 511
Fromlhe Editor T ............. • .... ' .......... ....... .... .
Religion::g:on~:-.b~d .:-::-:. . . . . . . . . ...
By Jim Bailey
· 1· n recent day_s the ~arn:age of .tl~e mass s:icid~ in .Jo11estowi:t; C,uyana is ·
called to mmd. The comman:dmg .v01ce · of. 'Jim Jones,- barking -and
p eading at the sa~e -ti~~' reverberate s fro_m. ~-,public ;idciress_ system .
throughout a village constructed in the jungle -by followers -who were
convini:~d they were building a community for God. The faithful were
receiving .the final message fro111 their prophet and would soon be dead,
vidi~s :oIJ?oisoned drink and poiso;ried religion.
Tl}e God ,of guns and poison ha_s raised another prophet in Waco, Texas . As
is almost always the case with ·religious sects, the despairing and
dise_nfranchised gi_ve tl~e111selves,. their time, and their possessions to a
charismatic leader-who claims to know the path to The Promised Land . And
ju~t in case th~re ar(! ~ne~i _e~ along the way, '.they arin-for battle, therri
against the world. How chilling to imagine Dayid Koresh, lead~r of the
Branch Davidian s , pr;op\l~t o(blood and misery, Biblein <;>he hand and .
assault:weapon in _the_ other; killi11g for his dominion and testing : the outer _
limits .of what those cci!'nmitteci to iMfr faith and b elief will do:. '
So once again we see the. extreme <:onsequences cif religlon -go~e : bad. : ·we
SE_?e ~ ~vangeli~t preaching a God_ that is comprehencleii :Only by himself and.
his followers.
' When the faithful ·drink from the : cauldron of poisi_on or puli out the big .
guns, .it is obvio us to ~II tiuit. sometl1ing is terribly wrong ai1d ,ire are shaken
by 'what can be done in the-Ila.me-of a loving God. But the poison is ·not' ·
always so apparent. an\i oftentiines the doses are not fatal.
The : life· of Christ is a -mode], for ministry . The function of religious
organizations and dehcirnimitions· ·in carrying ou t the ministry of Christ is
simple. It is rooted in .compa ssion.for others - feeding, clothing, sheltering,
healing and teachillg whenev·er t,he·opportunity arises. Not too far beyond
ti1~t,. the poison sets· in, : Wl~e;, one ness breaks down into "them and us," the
cauldron starts ·bubbl_ihg,
Constantly we must call our cl1urches and religious organizations toward
oneness and ministry of compassion. That includ es churches who vote to
~xcl~de Gays and Lesbians and churches· who ·s~pport 'discriminati;n against
Gays and Lesbian s:,.: Ii:i s1:1ch churches .religioil lJas gone: bad . There . are _no :
live updates a's we · s~.:V f;om Waco, ho,~ever : Th e' ongoing violence is SQ
subtle most ·hardly notice it. · 0Aj ~ · SECOND STONE Newsjoumal. ISSN No. 1047-3971, is published every olher
month by Bailey Communications, P. 0. Box 8340, New O rleans, .LA 70182.
Copyright 1993 by Second Stone, a registered trademark.
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SECOND STONE, an ecumenical Christian newsjoumal for the national gay and
lesbian communi1y.
PUBLISHER/EDITOR: Jim Bailey
CONTRIBUTORS FORTHIS ISSUE: Nancy Hugman, Michael Blankenship,
Johnny Towns end, William Day. Rev. Dr. Buddy'Truluck, Joe Miller, Cathie Lyons
m Second Stone•March/April, 1993
~
Contents . . -. ,., .. · ..... -·· ................. .......... .
Ct] From The Editor
Religion gone bad
~_J1
1
·_. Commentary
~~~ Gay and lesbian Christians as political :activists [tJ News Lines
[[]
Building community: · . ·
Dominican women.sew for their lives
_. . _ _ . : Al_so: Poetry by Kathryn Vivian Keating
·llru.
-Hope and the resurrection of Jesus
By Rev. Dr. Buddy Truluck· . .
:Gays and Lesbians fn North America's
oldest Mennonite congregation
By Joe Miller
qover Story . .
What price will we pay for freedom?
:By Nancy Hu_gman
.
r1· . 1· 1 Gays and Lesb;aOs In the Holy Land
The struggle is just beginning ·. . · ·.
[r _ gj Ministry in the second decade of AIDS
By Cathie Lyof)s . . . . . . · . . :
Can Homophobia_ Be C~re_d? reviewed by . [HJ In Print · · · ·
Joh,nnyTownsend;.A Christian Gay Catechism
reviewed by Michael: Blankenship
[67· Calendar
L ~
r~ 1171 Noteworthy
~ --, 1191 Resource Guide
I 20 I Classifieds
Comment> •••••••••••••••• .- •• • • :• • . : . ~ •• : 9; .................... • •• ,, • ••• • ••• • ••• . ••• . ••• • •••••• . ••••
Gay and lesbian Christians as activi:sts
By Michael Blankenship
Guest Comment
forgotten what a political activist Jesus
was! It is a fact ·of history that Jesus
was tried, sentenced, and executed by
the Roman courts on the charge of
high treason. The inscription on the
cross (The King of the Jews) leaves no
-· -doubt - about the charge that was
brought against him. He incited his Should gay and lesbian Christians
be politically active? I
know that when we see other
Christian leaders such as
Jerry - Falwell and Pat. Robertson
expounding their conservative views
in the political arena we're all turned
off. So what's the difference between
them and us? First of all, they are -·
using their political clout to keep the
oppressed peoples of this nation in
(what they consider to be) th eir
proper pla ce. We, on the other hand,
use our political abilities to further
liberate out sisters - and · brothers.
Should we allow further political
greed for p·ower and contro_l to continue,
or should we press our government
for full civ_il rights.?
people, the Jews, to revolt and cease
paying taxes to Rome. Jesus wanted
Israel to be liberated from · archaic
laws and . attitudes. Even in the first
chapter of Luke, Zechariah proph- _
esied, 'The God ·of Israel has turned
to God's people, saved them and set
them free by raising up a deliverE, of
Troy Perry, the founder · of the :
UFMCC, over the years has repeatedly
come under attack for being a
driving political force in the gay and
lesbian community . I think with
regard to his political activity, Rev. ·
Perry can be compared to Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Both worked tirelessly
for their ideals of freedom and
civil rights for their individual oppressed
minorities, yet -never advo,cated
violence it, any form. Clearly
both hav_e felt that working politically
was an act of "loving their neighbors,"
wanting the best for their
communities, as well as themselves,
know ing God would work through
their efforts toward a world free from
prejudice. Surely no one would put
down King for his politi~al actions.
For some reason, the gay and
lesbian Christian community, in its
efforts to remain obscure, has totally
For some reason, the gay and le~bian
Christian community, in its efforts to
-_-remain obscure, has totally forgotten
- what a political activist Jesus was .. :
All of the Bible prophets .urged their.
people to justice-:making activities.
Rather than sitting quietly in the
closet, shouldn't we be doing the
th . ? same 1ng.
victorious power. on ·e Who ,viH
deliver us from our enemies and out
· ofthe hand of all who hate us."· Tht$
passage -describes a. political le,ader;
this passage describes Jesus. - · ,
- If ·Jesus · ·were the leader of the
-lesbian .and -gay movement of today
his message would still be the same
one he had for his own 1\ation:
change yourselves! Don't let' liitter_
ness and resentment of the oppo$i~iqn,
interfere with your efforts at liberation,
by all means "love · your
enemy." . • . . -. -
· - Don't let internal oppression (arid
.internalized homophobia) oc01r. -This
lack of compassion for our brothers
-arid sisters could r'uin air · our
progress. Who-would want -to leave
one form _ of oppression for another?_
So remember to love your neighbors .
Most importantly Jesus would have
us change _ to be living examples of
the values and ideals we would like
to see coming from the oppressors.
When our detractors see what . a
lo.ving, compassionate, and -faithful
community we are (as .many have
seen during the_ AIDS crisis) then
their minds will be changed.
All of the Bible prophets urged
their people to justice-making activities.
Rather than sitting quietly in
the closet, shouldn't we be doing the
same thing? - Proclaim your human
dignity, agressi_vely voice _ your
opposition to prejudice, but be loving,
_ and don't defame your enemies.
Support your J;,rothers and sisters and
we'll all be stronger . Show the love
of Christ in your "works" ... without
"works" (including political works)
your faith is nothing.
Worst prejudices reflected in effort to ostracize Gays, Lesbians
By Rev. John Cunningham
Guest comment
E very wave has its undertow.
Every rise in human consciousness
stirs up the dark
side. This was obvious during
our nation's civil rights ·movement.
Film clips of this historic struggle
are edifying and horrifying .
They show us how a minority, daring
to claim their rights and invoking our
highest ideals, elicit in turn hostile
and base reactions from those too
afraid to understand. Today, are we
not alarmed by the resurgence of neonazis
m, and other hate movements,
as if nothing has been learned , no
ground gained?
Issues change, but this pattern is
repeated time and again . Now we
see it played out in Colorado, where
city ordinances of Aspen, Boulder,
and Denver, enacted to protect the
rights of lesbian and gay citizens,
have been nullified by a small
majority of the state's electorate.
Newsweek's cover story highlighted
the sky rocketing incidence of violence
done to lesbian and gay people.
Statistics reports that our teenagers,
who come to discover this to be their
sexual orientation, have a suicide rate
three times · higher than their other
peers. Publi_sher Matthew Rothschild,
a month after the Republican Convention,
wrote an article carried in
the new s papers entitled, "Gay
bashing becomes new national
pasttime." The prejudice and discrimination
associated with homophobia is
widespread and deep-rooted. And it
is ugly .
What dishearten s me most is that
so-called Christians spread this
. bigotry and were the force behind
Amendment 2 in Colorado as well as
the failed Measure 9 in Oregon. The
religious right, armed with a faulty
biblical exegesis and a social agenda
of repression based on ignorance and
fe"ar, are organizing ·to wage -their
campaign in a score of other states.
Our mo.st cherished · religiou ·s
conviction is that God creates .every
human being. Studies indicate that
approximately one out of ten comes·
intci the world with some var iation of
a same-sex orientation. They make
up society's invisible minority. This
occurs eve rywh ere and _ in · every
genernti_on. Wise people see this as
_ part of the myst ery and diversity of
Creation, and can accept others for
who they are. Only the most narrow
and insecure peopl e stigmatize other's ·
for being different. A true Christian
honors every person as a child of
God. · And a true American champions
the rights of all persons.
Dr Arnold Mindell, founder of
process oriented psychology, maintains
that minority groups serve a
vital function in society. They represent
the cutting edge; they are the
wave of the future .· Their emergence
· may seem unsettHng and brash; but
_ it is the harb(nger of new life. For
minority issues contain a valujc! that
the collective needs . Their integration
is nol for the sake of the few of
"them," rather, it is for the ·health of
all. The . wisdom of scripture is
. apropos: "Love the stanger then, for
you were once strangers in Egyp t"
(Deut. 10:19).
Can we ride the wave, or will we
get sucke(l down by the undertow?
The Rev. John Cunningham is the pastor
of St. Bridget Church in Mesa, Arizona.
Second St.;-ne•March/April, 1993 W
:y News Lines • ~ .......... . •.~·· ~ '· -~ ..... ..... .............................................. .
Catholic priest dies of:A\DS . . . . . .
M ROMAN CATHOLIC priest who was forced.to )ea\fe hij, Ohio parish after disclosing
he was gay and had AIDS died on Jan.10 of.complications_from the disease. The Rev.
Robert Apking was "hospitalized last November, seven years after he learned he had
contractea HIV. Apking was fori:ei:I· to leave St. Christopher Church "in Vandalia, Ohio
in 1990 after he discussed his illness and sexual orientation in an interview with the
.Dayton Daily Nws. ·Prior to his death ; Apking was a counselor and member of the board
of trustees of the Miami Valley AIDS Foundation. -Southern Voice
Church drops Southern Baptist Convention affiliation
llTHE DOLORES STREET BAPTIST Church in San Francisco has voted to withdraw as
a member of the Southern Baptist COnvention.beca·use of the national group's condemnation
of homosexuality. The Southern Baptists have moved to banish congregations that
"affirm, approve or endorse homosexual behavior ." In voting to leave tne national
organization as of Jan. 10, the Dolores Street Baptist Church voted to reaffirm its 1981
declaration that they "choose to remain open and loving to all persons. -GayNet
One gay person killed every five days
llRIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil's daily newspaper reports one gay person is killed in the city
every five days. At least 50 Gays were Killed between January and September 1992. Tlie
real figure is probably much higher due to the reluctance of families to report the full
circumstances of the deaths. Of tnese deaths, only about ten percent were investigated by
Rio police. -SDA Kinship Journal
Integrity chapter follow~ trial of member's murderer
AfNTEGRITY /BROOKLYN played a pivotal role in the prosecution, conviction, and
sentencing of the murderer of one of its members; a contribution-which was widely noted
in the New York media. Philip Cooper, a graphic artist and poet, who lived in the Fort
Greene section of Brooklyn, was beaten and stangled to death in his apartment on
November 5, 1991 by Kevin Murray of Manhattan, who had previously been arrested 47
times and convicted 25 times on various charges. As the case came to trial, Integrity
members pledged to monitor the progress of the trial and at least six people showed up m
~riminal court over the cour~e of the three day tri~l. _New York Newsday reported,
'Members of the Brooklyn Heights chapter oHntegnty filled the courtroom durmg _the
trial and sobbed as [State Supreme Court Justice Glorial Goldstein handed down the stiff
sentence." -11,e Voice of Integrity
Arsonist said church programmed him toward homosexuality
llP A TRICK LEE FRANK, 42, who was charged with setting fire to at least 17 churches
in Florida, was found not guilty by reason of insanity. _A Tennessee native with a long
history of mental illness, Frank believed churches were programming him to have
homosexual urges , psychologists said at his trial. -17,e Lutheran
Camoaian launched to bring "heter.osexual elhic" to California
llFOLi.OWING COLORADO'S LEAD, a conservative California religious ~roup has
.launched · a campaign to add an anti-gay -rights h1easure to their state's constitution. A
fund-raising letter sent by the Rev. Lou ·sheldon of the Traditional Values Coalition calls
for a "statewide ballot proposition on the heterosexual ethic" in California. The letter
·holds up the success of Colorado's Amendment 2 as an example. "Pro-family activists
won a measure prohibiting 'special rights' in Colorado," the letter states. "There is no
guarantee that a campaign such as this one will succeed [in California], but the greatest
danger is not doing anything at all." -Southern Voice·
-Former seminary professor gets severance settlement
llOVER $100,000 has reportedly been paid by the Lutheran School of Theology at
Chicago to the Rev. Dr. David E. Deppe, in an out-of-court severance settlement over
issues pertaining to Depl'e's sexual orientation. ·Deppe, who is gay, was a tenured
member of the faculty and had taught preaching and church / society courses at Lutheran
seminaries for over "24 years. After being "outed" by individual members of a faculty
wives group, Depl'e was asked to resign, but he.refused , saying that he had previously
reveaJed his sexual orientation to the seminary president. The settlement is rel'ortedly
the lar&est ever paid by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to one of its gay
clergy. 'Most pastors are expected to .resigl\ over this issue, and are usually paid little 'or
notliing," said Deppe. "I decided to take a aifferent action and to stand up for what I knew
was right."
Task Force launches "Fight the Right" campaign
llTHE NATIONAL GAY and Lesbian Task Force Policy Institute has hired Oregon
activist Scot Nakagawa to coordinate its "Fight the Right" campaign against an onslaught
of Colorado-style anti-gay initiatives. "Family values" groups in at least a dozen states
are gearing up to put anti-gay ballot measures before voters this year and next. States
t_argeted by tlie right are-Idaho, Michigan, Ohio, Washington, Montana, Iowa, Missouri,
Minnesota, Ca]ifornia, Maine , Georgia, and Oregon. Gay and lesbian activists around
the country are pre paring for battles similar to tnose waged last year in Colorado and
Oregon. · Through hiring Nakagawa, who will work out of a field office in Oregon ,
NGLTF will expand its civil rights organizing work and coordinate efforts to oppose
statewide initiativ es.
Chaplain rejects Gays as paren~s
llWITH THE CLAMOR dying down about the discussion three Lesbians had with
students at a Boise, Idaho high school in November, a local chaplain has sl'oken against
gay parenting to balance out the debate. The Rev. Chris McGreer last week talked to 90
l·uniors and seniors about "medical , psychological and sociological" disadvantages of the
ifestyles of Gays and Lesbians. "Il"asically, 1 just provided them with the facts on the
issue," he said afterward. Three teachers were suspended last November after they
·allowed three Lesbians to· discuss gay parenting with their students. All three were
reinstated after a storm of protest. -Sou them Voice · .
[Ij Second Stone•March/April, 1993
Methodists want denominational gathering moved from Colorado
llCOLORADO UNITED METHODISTS Against Discrin1ination is circulating petiti ons
calling on the Commission on General Conference of the United Methodist Church to
move the site of its 1996 gathering from Denver, Colorado to an alternate location, in
response to the passage of Amendment 2. "We need to bring national pressure on the state
of Colorado to overturn this legalized discrimination," the organization stated in a press
release ~ The group has been joined in P.ublicly calling for the conference site chang e by
California •Nevada Conference Council on Ministries, Methodist Federation for Social
_Actio_n, North Central Jurisdiction Church and Society leaders, Western Jurisdiction
College of Bishops and Western Jurisdiction Council on Ministries. For information on
the petition, which all Methodists can sign, write to Gregory Norton, First United
Methodist Church, 1401 Spruce St., Boulder, CO 80302.
Bizarre scandal hits Church of England
llTHE INDEPENDENT has outed the Rev. Sir Derek Pattinson, .the most powerful lay
member of the Church of England who succeeded in barring the pro-gay book Daring to
Speak Love's Name. Pattinson is chairman of .the Society for the Promotion of Christian
Knowledge and served as general secretary of the Church of England's General Synod
for 18 years until his retirement in 1990. Pattinson was suspended from his post at S,PCK
in early Dec ember, while the society looks into "financial irregularities" stemnhng from a
1990 trip to Johannesburg, South Africa, where he was joined, at SPCK expense, by his
then-lover Barnaby Miln, a gay rights activist and one of Britain's youngest Justices of
the Peace. -GayNet
National Eoiscopal organization cancels Colorado meeting
llTHE EXECUfNE COMMITTEE of the Association of Diocesan Liturgy and Music
Commissions of the Episcopal Church voted unanimously at its recent meeting to decline
an offer to hold its 1995 meeting in the .state of Colorado due to the passage of Amendment
2. The Rev. James Newman, ADLMC !'resident, noted that the passage of the Amendment
. was in conflict with the organization's theme of "hospitality, welcome, inclusion , and
inculturati o n in the Body of Christ." Because tlie Episcopal Church's General
Convention has stated its opposition to legal discrimination against gay and lesbian
people and because ADLMC is a Christian organization, "we feel that we cannot in good
.conscience meet in Colorado at this time," Newman said.
Presbyterian pastor tells congregation she's lesbian, then resigns
M PRESBYTERIAN MINISTER who hid her ·homosexuality for six years has resigned
because of her church's opposition to gay pastors. · The Rev. Kathlee n Buckley, 39, told
members of the First Presbyterian Church of. Watervliet, NY, about her relationship with
another woman at the same time that she resigned in February. She said she felt sfie had
to step down after a national Presbyterian liody rul~d in November that a Rochester
church could not hire a lesbian, the Rev. Jane Spahr, as its pastor. Members of Buckley's
church initially voted 55-7 not to accept her resignation, then agreed to let her leave.
-Southern Voice
Operation Rescue faces IRS investigation ·
llFOLLOWING UP ON a complaint by Americans United for Separation of Church and
State, the IRS is investigating Operation Rescue for possible violations of laws that
prohibit non-profit religious groups from engaging in political activity. Last fall,
Randall Terry, Operation Rescue's director, said in a letter to 37,000 churches, "Our tax
status be damnea if it prevents us from proclaiming God's truths ." Terry was ur&ing
churchgoers to vote against Bill Clinton, saying a vote for Clinton would be a 'sin
against God." -Tl,e Fre~aom Writer
Coors, Ocean Spray has ties to religious right
llTHE COORS BEER family, who also brew Keystone and George Killian beers, is a
major supporter of several radical religious right groups including Morality in Media
and Pat Robertson's Regent University. In addition to that corporate involvement, a
Christian Reconstructionist organization, the Plymouth Rock Foundation, has as it's
president John G. Talcott, Jr., who is also president of Ocean Spray Cranberries.
-11,e Freedom Writer
Conservative diocese gets sample of inclusivity
llA FEMALE PRIEST has led a communion service in the Fort Worth Episcopal Dio cese,
one of only about five of the 100 U.S. dioceses that oppose female priests . The Rev.
Lauren Gough perform ed the service desl'ite oppo sition from several member s of the
conservative d10cese. Bishop Clarence Pope, th e founding president of the Fort
Worth-based Episcopal Synod of America, which is opposed to women, Gays and
Lesbians being ordained, called Gough's service "a misuse of the Eucharist, quite
frankly." -17,e Houston Post
Straight, gay clergy in dialogue
t.BUILDING ON THE foundation that was laid at a groundbreaking October meeting
between members of the Charlotte Area Clergy Association and tlie gay and lesbian
community, a task force has been established to continue the dialogu e in North -Carolina.
Rev. Randy Vetsch, n ewly elected pastor of the Metropolitan Community Church of
Charlotte, said he is serving on the task force in hope s of derailing some long-standing
stereotypes about Gays. "kfeally, the clergy will get a different opinion of who we are - a
more positive opinion. I'm hoping they will see us in a different light." -Q Notes
Youth sponsors sought
llMCC SANTO DOMINGO is seeking sponsors for children in an orphanage in San
Salvador . Th,i orphanage is operated 6y Rev. Howard Williams, a missionary to Santo
Domingo. Sponsors who contribute $20 per month will receive a photo.and progress
-report of the child being sponsored. For information contact Dan "Leary, 2927 Gandy
Blvd., Tampa, FL 33611, (813)835-4221.
News.-Lines
~ ........................... ... •· ..... .
UFMCC reapplies to send gay/lesbian chaplains to U.S. military
.6.ENCOURAGED BY PRESIDENT Bill Clinton's actions to open the military to Gays
and Lesbians, the Universal Fellowship of'Metropolitan Community Churches again
asked the Pentagon to allow its ministers to serve as military chaplains. The Defense
Department deferred an earlier request by the UFMCC to be recognized as a religious
body able to endorse chaplains, saying that the UFMCC must first present a candidate
who is heterosexual. Willi the new regue st, the UFMCC r eaffirmed as its candidate Rev.
Dusty Pruitt, a lesbian who successfully sued the Army after she·was discharged because
of her sexual orientatio n in 1986. The UFMCC has asked for a meeting with Secretary of
Defense Les Aspin and other Defense Department officials to discuss the UFMCC
chaplaincy. · ·
South Carolina minister and mother die from AIDS
.6.THETOUCHTON FAMILY must cope.with the loss of a second family member to AIDS,
but the survivors vow to use the douole tragedy in a positive way. Sarah Touchton died
of AIDS in the summer of 1990. She got the virus · th at causes AIDS from a blo o d
transfusion. She told church members that she wanted to open people's minds and dispe l
ste reotypes. Her son, the Rev. Robert Touchton , used he r message in his sermo ns an d
ministry. But he never to ld anyone that he, too, had HIV. On Dec. 18, he died from AIDS.
"My son was gay, and ·h e was in the ministry, and he had to keep it a secret the whole
time," said Bruce Touchton, who was Sarah's husband and Robert's father. He and hi s
daughter, the Rev. Zeta Lamber son, say they believe Robert Touchton would ha ve
wanted them to tell people how he lived and how he died. "I have to believe that he didn't ·
expec t anything different," sai.d Rev. Lamberson, a minister at Peachtr ee .Presbyterian
C hurch in Atlanta. "I thi nk he just didn't want to be the one to have to tell people ."
-Associated Press · ·
Head of Presbyterian Church favors gay acceptance .
M T A MEETING IN ILLINOIS, the head of the 2.9 million member Presbyter ian Church
(USA) criticize d a 1978 ruling that keeps openly gay and lesbian p eople from being
ordained as ministers or serving local congregations as deacons or elders. ·"The more we
learn about this, the more it seemsJhat sexual orientation is a matter of God'.s created
order, " said the Rev. John M. Fife, Moderat or of the 204th Annual Presbyt erian General
Assembly. "We are going to have to grapp le with it both biblicaUy and theologically .
-Southern Voice · · · ·
Falwell vtarns followers of dangers of Gays in the military
.6.FORM?R MORAL MAJORITY leader) erry Falwell jump ed·o n the ."no Gays in th e
nuhtary bandwagon when he sent his followers a fundraismg Jett.er askmg for a
donation of $35 to raise national concern that Gays and Lesbians are trying to "force
their Godless agenda on the American f'eople," and trying to turn the nation into •:a
modem Sodom and Gomorrah." Falwell scheduled a television address on Jan. 17th, three
days before the Presidential,inauguration, to ask "all Americans to pl ead with their new
President to change his policy towards the homosexual agenda;"' referring·to Clinton's
promise to lift tne military ban . against Gays and Lesbians. "Ce.rtain militant
homosexuals are already trying to bramwash our nation's children," Falwell said in his
lett er. Gays ·"have target ed our childr en and grandchildren so that they can gain
nationwid e acceptance ol their evil lifestyle," he added. -Seattle Gay News
Virginia Baptists wantougher stand against homosexuality
.6.A REGIONAL BAPTIST organization is disappointed with a statement made by the
Virginia Baptist General Association that the cliurch should minister to homosexuals.
Rev. James Meriwether, director of the Lebanon Baptist Association, said that the
statement did no go far in condemning homosexuality . The board of the association
adopted a resolution saying it was "disturbed and embarassed by the failure of the recent
Virginia Bap tist General Association to publicly state the sinful and unbiblical natur e
of homosexuality." "Our purpose is not to condemn people ... but to condemn the practice
as sinful," Meriwether said. "We don't agree with the statement that homosexuality is just
a lifestyle." -Associated Press
Operation Rescue embarassed by protest flop
.6.OPERATION RESCUE, the notorious anti-abortion group, sponsored protests around
the country on January 8 against Gays in the military . But .the ·protests, originally
scheduled for "100 cities," according to Operatio n Rescue's chief, Randall Terry, Iizzled
out as only a handful of protestors appeared in three or four locations. The group, in
conjunction with the Christian Defens e Coalition, led by Rev. ·Patrick Mahon ey,
spo nsored the events to protest President Bill Clinton's decision to ope n the military to
Gays and Lesbians. "Christian civilians and veterans will gather in cities all across the
nation to send a prophetic message of rebuke to the coming Clintion administration ," said
an OR pamphlet advertising the events. "Join us in our prophetic stand against gays in
the military."
Robert Bray, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force director of public informati on
said, "If there are any homosexuals out there, gay men in particular , who still believe
abortion is not a gay issue, let this be a wake up call. Operation Rescue has allied .itself
with other Far Right religious extremist groups to attack gay and lesbian freedom. Their
objective is to mandate control over our prjvacy. Their agenda is not to "save babies, "
but to repress people, especially women and Cays."
New Jersey church fears it may have to hire Gays .
.6.A NEW JERSERYCHURCH that fears anti-discrimination laws could force it to hire
Gays has lost a court battle for an exemption. The 3rd U.S. Circuit Court .of Appea ls
denied the Orthodox Presbyterian Church's request for a preliminary injunction earring
the state from enforcing a gay and lesbian civil rights provision against it The churcft
argued that its First Amendment freedom of religious worship might be violated.
-Southern Voice
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Second Stone•March/April, 1993 ~.h. , uu
,..
UFMCC joi·ns· Interfaith Impact
The Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan
Community Churches was
unanimously received as ·a national
member organization in Interfaith
Impact for Justice and Peace Feb. 12.
· Based in Washington, D.C., Interfaith
Impact serves as the collective voice o(
the religio·us community on national
public policy questions. ·
Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, UFMCC
chief ecumenicar officer, noted' that
membership in Interfaith Impact is
especially important in light of the
November vote by the National
Council of Churches to deny observer
status to the .UFMCC. "As members of
Interfaith Impact, we will be able to
participate in public policy decisions
and build relationships with other
communities of faith in much the
same way that we had hoped to do as
members of the NCC," she said. "Iri
fact, the NCC ·is also a member of
Interfaith Impact."
Rev. Elder Don Eastman of the
UFMCC added, "The .people of
UFMCC have some clear ideas and
strong values on .various social justice
issues. These values and ideas need
to influence our society. Our commitment
to . social acti .on requires
intentional structural and programmatic
response at the denominational
level."
Rev. Troy Perry, UFMCC founder
and moderator, pointed out . that
Interfaith Impact fits well with
UFMCC's social action mission. "By
joining Interfaith Impact, UFMCC will
be more effective in bringing Christian
social action to the world," he
said.
James Bell, executive director of
Interfaith Impact, will speak during
UFMCC's General Conference July
18-25 iii Phoenix, Ariz.
Dignity/USA calls gay and lesbian Catholics to New Orleans
Dignity/USA will bring its eleventh
biennial convention to the Fairmont
Hotel in New Odeans, 'Louisiana,
from July 28 through August 1, 1993.
Certain to be the surprise · high point
of the New Orleans Archdiocese's
200th anniversary year, the Dignity
convention will draw gay and lesbian
Catholics and their supporters from
throughout the United ~tales.. Major
speakers will include authors Virginia
Hoffman and Brian · McNaughl, and
the Rev. Carter Heyward, one of the
first women priests ordained in the
Episcopal Church.
Dignity /USA is a national organization
for gay and lesbian Catholics
and their friends. It was founded in
1969 in Los Angeles by an Augustinian
priest. Dignity today is
primarily lay-led, with over 80 cha -
Author Brian McNaught, who will
be a featured speaker at the 1993
Dignity USA Convention. ·
Daughters
of Sarah
The Magazine for Christian Feminists
Can you be feminist and Christian?
Yes. Absolutely.
Explore importantissues:
sexuality, peace, health, racism
abortion, spirituality.
Challenge ·church and world
to seek justice, mutuality,
and reconciliation.
Reject oppression.
Find libefation arid wholeness;
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Write: Dau·g!it.ets o,:Sa~ah. Dept S
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I 6 I Second Stone•March /April, 1993 L __ J
ters throughout the United States, and
national headquarters in Washington,
D.C. Rooted proudly in the Catholic
tradition, Dignity/ USA nevertheless
vigorously promotes the reform of
Catholic sexual teaching.
The theme for the Dignity 1993
Convention is "Celebrate a Living
Church," adapted from Virginia
Hoffman's book Birthing a Living
Church. For information write to
Dignity /USA, 1500 Massachusetts
Ave., NW, Ste, 11, Washington, DC
20005 or call 1-800-877-8797.
Lutheran congregation faces
expulsion from ELCA for
calling openly gay pastor
On Saturday, January 23, 1993 the
Rev. Jeff R. Johnson, an openly gay
man, was installed as the pastor of
First United Lutheran Church, a
small parish located in San Francisco's
Richmond District. The installation
took place in spite of the opposition of
the local Lutheran Bishop, the Rev.
Lyle G. Miller, and other national
leaders of the 5.3 million member
Evangelical Lutheran Church in
America.
At a special meeting of the
congregation in November, 1992, the
members of First United · voted
unanimously lo call Johnson to be
their · new pastor, after knowing
Johnson for the three years he served
as Assistant Pastor, and experiencing
his style of ministry and leadership.
Bishop Lyle Mjller of the Sierra
Pacific Synod of the ELCA has not
endorsed Johnson's call and did not
participate in the Servi~ of Installation.
The Rev. David Rohrer, Dean
of the San Francisco Conference of
Lutheran Churches represented the
larger Lutheran community at the
SEE EXPULSION, Next Page
Denomination shouldn't meet in
Colorado, says Affirmation
Affirmation : United Methodists for
Lesbian, Gay, and Bisexual Concerns
passed a resolution at its winter National
Council meeting in Nashville,
Tenn ., calling on the United Methodist
Church to move the site of the
church's 1996 General Conference
·from Denver, Colorado, saying that
the group "opposes the patronage _of
any locale that has discrimination
ordinances against.homosexuals."
Affirmation -also adopted . a ·
resolution expressing concern that the
alcohol and tobacco industries "are
engaging in· target marketing within
the lesbian, gay, and bisexual rnmmunity"
and asked the Affirmation
constituency to help create alcohol
and tobacco free space.
In other action, the group passed
resolutions: proclaiming that recognition
of committed relationships is an
essential part of reconciling ministries
with the gay, lesbian and bisexual
community; asking whether Affirmation
and its allies should consider a
rebirth of Methodism outside the
framework of the current denomina"
tion; calling upon the Clinton administration
to quickly proceed with the
goal of reversing the ban on homosexuals
in the military. The resdlutlon
reminded the United Methodist
Church that chaplains must be
prepared to work with and to understand
the needs of the homosexual
military community and addressed
how to minister t.o them pastorally.
The Na:tional Council meeting was
held at Edgehill United Methodist
Church, a reconciling congregation.
Episcopal Convention. passes gay-friendly resol~tiqns
Meeting January 29-30, . 1993, in
Mahwah, New Jersey, the Episcopal
Diocese of Newark passed four resolutions
which addressed issues before
the nation and the church and clearly
stated the convention's support qf
equal rights for Lesbians and gay
men.
The Diocese of Newark comprises
the seven northern counties of New·
Jersey and includes 43,000 Episcopalians
in 129 parishes. The diocese
is headed by the Rt. Rev. John S.
Spong, who has been one of the most
outspoken supporters of lesbian/ gay
rights in the national Episcopal
Church's House of Bishops.
The resolutions supported the
inclusion of Lesbians and gay men in
the armed forces, the inclusion of
sexual orientation in the federal civil
· rights· law, a ban on n.ational church
meetings in the state .of Colorado, and
a ·condemnation of the exclusion of the
Universal Fello\\rship of Mefropolitan
Community Churches from the
National Council· of Churches.
The Episcopal Diocese of Newark
was the pdncipal religious institutional
supporter of the expansion ·of
the New Jersey civil rights law to
include Lesbians and Gays in 1992,
··and the convention voted to send its
resolutions o.n the military and the
federal civil rights law to the
president and to the New Jersey
delegation to Congress. . .
The resolution calling for a church
boycott of Colorado js of particular
importance because Denver is one of
the three finalists for the 1997 Gerieral
Convention of the Episcopal Churcn.
That convention, which brings
together thousands ·of deputies · a:nd
other · church leaders every three
years, is one of the 25 la.rg·est
conventions in the United States.
The Convention expressed its
"dismay and disapproval of the
[November 12; 1992) vote of the
National Council of Churches ... denying
observer status to the Universal
Fellowship of . Metropolitan Corri- .
munity Churches," and it singled out
for particular criticism the Episcopal
delegationto the NCC which was the
only · delegation . from a mainline
denomination to vote against seating
the UFMCC.
The resoiutions were authored by
members of Integrity, the lesbian/
gay jti,stice ministry q(the Episcopal
Church nationwide, and of Oasis, the
Diocese of Newark's ministry with the
lesbian ·and gay community. Integrity's
founder, Dr. Louie Crew, and
its immediate paSt national president,
Kim Byham, served on the resolutions
committee, which. presented the
pro-gay resolutions to ·the convention
· with its recohirriendation.
,tii#Jt
Catholic group criticizes military archbishop ..;:~.:::..,~
A national Catholic gay rights organization
has issued a blistering criticism
of Arcl1bishop Joseph Dimino's opposition
to Hfting the military's ban on
gay and lesbian personnel. Dimino,
who heads the Archdiocese for Mili0
tary Services, warned that accepting
Gays in the service will have "dis
·astrous consequences for all concerned."
The group has also written
to President Bill Clinton praising his
desire to lift the ban and urging him
to do it as soon as possible.
Catholic Advocates for Lesbian and
Gay Rights called Dimino's opposition
"mean-spirited at best and sinful
at 'worst. Lesbian women and gay
men have served and continue tci
serve their country with distinction ·
albeit closeted and invisibly."
"Archbishop Dimind's suggestion
EXPULSION, .From Previous Page
service and installed Johnson as
pastor. The majority of Lutheran
· churches in San Francisco overwhelmingly
support and affirm the
decision of the congregation to call
Johnson, in spite of the objections and
oppositiort of Bishop Miller.
Johnson's installation as pastor
violates ELCA policy wi_1ichp rohibits
the ordination or installation of
openly lesbian and gay clergy
involved in relationships of commHment.
First United, and it's sister ,
congregation, St. Francis Church, are
currently in the third year of . a
five-year disciplinary suspension
from the ELCA for violating the
policy, by ordaining Johnson and two
lesbian colleagues in January, ,1990.
On January 20, 1990 a Lutheran
and ecumenical community of 1,000
people participated in the '.'unauthorized
and irregular" ordinations of
Johnson and two lesbian colleagues,
Ruth Frost and Phyllis Zillhart.
that gay and lesbian military personnel
are detrimental to the military is
both unsubstantiated and offensive to
right: thinking Catholics," said Br.
Rick Garcia, BFCC, Catholic Advocates
' executive director. "We are
· appalled and embarrassed by the
uninformed .and bigoted attitude -the
archbishop harbors about gay and
lesbian people. His support of bigotry
and prejudice is disgusting. He
should be ashamed."
Catholic Advocates noted that the
military's ban .on Gays and Lesbians
did ncit being until the late 1940's.
During the Desert Storm conflict all
discharges of Gays and Lesbians
ceased.
"We call upon Archbishop Dimino
to have a conversion of heart and turn
from his bigotry and ignorance and
On July 7, 1990, the two cong.regations
were brought to e·cclesiastical
trial and giv,en a five year sμspension
for the actions. The suspension will
automatically convert to expulsion
from the ELCA if Johnson, Frost and
Zillhart remain on staff at their
respective,parishes.
· Johnson's call as sole. pastor
virtually assures the expulsion of this
century-old Lutheran congregation in
the ci_ty, unless the policy of the
ELCA changes by the end of 1995.
'Through this action, the predominately
heterosexual · membership of
First United has reaffirmed ifs decision
of three years ago, and again is
confronting the policy of the denomination;
considered to. be ·blatantly
discriminatory," the congregation said
in a prepared statement.
Johnson currently lives with his
partner, Michael Schoenig, iri San
Francisco.
view gay and lesbian persons not as '"(lie
the enemy to be battered down but as
sisters and brothers entitled to respect
and justice," Garcia added .
Catholic Advocates was founded in
1987 to· advocate for the legitimate
civil rights of gay andlesbian people.
The ·organization is funded and supported
by over 50 religious orders of
priests, brothers an4 nuns .. •
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Second Stone•March/April, 1993 tz:J
BUILDING COMMUNITY
Operat ion Oppor tunity: Dominican women sew for their lives
In a tiny village outside Santo Domingo
the rains pound on the tin roof as
six children run around inside the
crowded shack . Four women sit
crouched over squares of cloth, sewing
them iogether . They are sewing
for their lives.
Operation Opportunity was
conceived to be a permanent soluti~n
to the chronic problem of total unemployment
for women in the barrio of
El Tamarindo. The unemployment
rate for the men of the village is close
to 80.percent.but the unemployment
rate for women is 100 percent. There
is no opportunity at all for the women
of the village. They follow the tradition
of having childen and hoping
that the father will share the costs
when he is able. Often the mothers
never leave their father's home unM
the sheer number of people in the ·
shack forces them to find some other
shelter. Thus, the idea of employing
Women to sew patch-work blanets
was initiated.
In Tampa, Florida 12 members of
the Agape Mission Covenant Family
examine the first results of a dream
that has taken a year and many hou_rs
of hard work. The Family is part of
the Metropolitan Community Church
of Tampa which provic;les _the essen-
Ill
tial umbrella of a non-profit organization
as well as access to the many
church mis~ions throughout the
world. Membership in the Family is
informal and open to anyone interested
in helping the people of the
world to achieve a better life through
their own efforts. The Family members
have hawked refreshments at
the Gasparilla Parade, held dinners,
arranged yard sales, even · sold a car
that was donated to them in order to
raise the money necessary to
if!tplement Operation Opportunity .
While the "membership" of the
Family has grown and shrunk over
the months, the core members have
maintained the dream ·. The Family
provides seed · money, suppHes and
training for the women to make the
blankets . Then the blankets are sent
back to Tampa where the Family sells
them .
The blankets are very simple - five
inch square patches of cloth sewn
together into a blanket approximately
80". X 100". A sheet is sewn to the
back of the patch-work with one end
left open so a blanket can be inserted
for use in cold weather. There are no
sewing machines in the village . It
take~ one woman .approximately one
■
Let a new light
shine for someone
you love.
Second Stone is a gift of love, comfort, inspiration and
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■ ■ L8J Second Stone•March/ April, 1993
month to finish a blanket. Each
blanket is completely hand made,
signed by the woman who made it,
and accompanied by a photo and
short biography.
Twelve women competed for the
coveted opportunity to earn a living
for themselves and their families.
Four of the best were chosen. This is
probably the only opportunity they
will have . for breaking the clrnins of
poverty that imprison them in an
endless cycle of grinding degradation.
· Four blankets have been received
by the Family and two have been
sold. Four more are expected soon .
The blankets have been purchased
by the local MCC clmrches to be used
as prizes in drawings. If the blankets
continue to sell, all 12 of the women
will be hired for a total annual output
of 144 blankets.
The blankets cost $150. Of that, the
Dominican women get $100 and the
other $50 is used to buy material and
train more people to become self
supporting.
Readersw lzoa rei nterestedi n this work
may contact Agape Mission Covenant
Family for information: MCC Tampa,
2904 ConcordiaA ve., Tampa,F L 33629,
(813)839-593. 9
(jotf SpeaR.§to tlie.C liurches
By KATHRYN VIVIAN KEATING
Out in the .cities ... hidden by night,
I see My Sheep stumble alone in My sight
I see the111l;o nely; Put out of the fold
e U O S ' And f arf I f trangeness· chilled thru by the cold'
They search for fulfillment. For love they can share .
The love of some other, who'll know, but still care!
They realize not that they are my design.
That tho' they be 'different,' I cherish them Mine.
I follow these close as they wander along.
At times, driv 'n to destruction - or pulled into wrong .
0, I beg them to listen again to My voice, .
For I never abandon the Sheep of My choice!
And the love which they need, I'll provide if they trust
and walk with Me humbly, and know that I'm just.
I died for their sake, when I died for all men,
And will give life eternal when I come again.
I know about these ... These Sheep who are Mine,
And wait to sustain them with love that's Divine.
"Thed iseasedh avey e not strengthenedn, eitherl zavey e healedt hat whichw as
sick; neitherh avey e boundu p tlzatw hich was broken,n eitherh avey e brought
againt hat whichw as drivena way. NeitherJ iavey e soughtt hat whichw as lost;
but with force and witlz cruelty have ye ruled them. And tlzey were scattered,
becauset lzerew as no slzeplzerda:n d tlzeyb ecamem eat to all tile beastso f tile
field wizen they were scattered.. . For tlzuss aith the Lord God,B eholdI , even I
will both searchM y sheepa nd seekt hem out as a Slzeplzersde eketlzo ut liisf lock
in tile day tlzatH e is amongH is sheept hat ares cattereds;o will I seek out My
sheep, and will deliver them out of all the places wlzere they lzave been.
scatteredi n tile cloudya nd darkd ay." -Ezekie3l 4:4-5;11-12
-Poetry from FromA HeartbrokenG odT o A HeartbrokePn eople
©1992 by Kathryn Vivian Keating
resurrection: "] lay down my life for
the sheep ... I lay down my life that I 0 may take it again . No one takes it
away from me, but I lay it down on
my own initiative."
ur living of the Christian life When Jesus raised Lazarus from the
springs from the life of Jesus. dead, he first said to Martha, "I am
The central event of the Bible the resurrection and the life; whoever
is the resurrection of Jesus believes in me shall live even if they
from the dead. It is the climax of each die, and everyone who lives and
of the four gospels and the main point believes in me shall never die. The
of every sermon in the Book of Acts. Fourth Gospel makes it abundantly
Everything . that we believe and prac- clear .in dozens of passages that
hce as Chnshans depen~s on and 1s everything that we have through our
based on the resurrection of _Jes~s experienc e with Jesus Christ is bas ed
from the dead. The resurrection 1s - on the -resurrection of Jesus from the
our basis for hope. dead .
The empty tomb in itself was not How can we experience the gift of
ev,d~ncc of the resurrection. The first resurrection in our daily lives? We
react,,on of even the most devoted of can maintain our faith and hope and
Jesus followers, the women, was th at our love in the midst of adversity. To
the body had been stolen . The f1;st live is to be under pressure. Someevidence
of the resurrection was he times we are tempted to give up .
appearance of angels, messe?gers, The resurrection of Jesus constantly
who announced the resurrection to reminds us that no matter how bad
the women, who hastened to tell the things seem to be, there is a way out.
1!~e-resurrect1on
of Jesus
BY REV. DR. BUDDY TRULUCK
disciples the good news. (So the first
Christian pr eachers were women!)
Just as Jesus took the initiative in
selecting and calling the individual
disciples to follow him, Jesus also took
the initiative in identifying himself as
alive from the dead to those who
believed in him. This says something
very special to us as gay and
lesbian believers. Life, love and
hope from Jesus come in our personal
experience with Jesus. The gift of the
presence of the living Jesus is given
by Jesus and not by the church or any
other organization. Neither can any
· church or other religious group .deny
to us the living presence of Jesus,
which God alone can give.
The entire Gospel of John views th e
life and work of Jesus from the standpoint
of the resurrection. In John
10:1-18, Jesus described his mission
being like the ideal relationship
between a shepherd and his sheep .
Jesus said , "I came that they might
have life a nd might have life
abundantly. " Then Jesu s focused on
taking the initiative in his death and
There is hope.
In Romans 12:12, Paul joins together
these two spiritual gifts: "rejoicing in
hope; per severing in tribulation ."
These two experiences certainly go
together . By rejoicing in hope we
become better able to keep going in
tribulation . God has better plans for
us than for us simply to drag
painfully along through life barely
getting by. One of the most distressing
features of the gay and lesbian
community as I have observed it is
the great number of pepple who
merely exist. They have minimal
income, have to share living space
with others just to survive, often go
hungry for lack of money, and
progressively deepen their own low
self image.
God offers us far more than mere
survival. Paul in Romans 5-8
declared the many dimensions of our
hope in Christ, beginning in 5:2 by
saying "we exult (rejoice or boast) in
the hope of the glory of God." Then
he adds in 5:5, "Hope does not
disappoint ." The concluding declara,
lion of hope in this passage in 8:37-39
is powerfully stated : "In all these
things (a long list of tribulations) we
overwhelmingly conquer through
Christ who loved us."
The resurrection of Jesus Christ
from th e dead makes Jesus available
and alive 111 your life and in mine if
we invite and open our hearts and
minds to Jesus. As Paul announc ed
in Colossians 1:27-28 that the good
news from God for the whole world is
"Christ in you, the hope of glory,"
and that the purpo se of all of Paul's
preaching and teaching was "that we
may pres ent every person complete
in Christ."
We set our goals too low. We want
to improve things ; God wants to
bring all things into pe rfect harmony
and completeness in Christ. We seek
simply to do better next time. Jesus
offers us to live life within and
through us so that we can become
"more than conquerors" and live the
abundant and spiritually fruitful life.
How would you like to attend
an Anabaptist church where
· y.ou as ,m openly ,gay or lesbian
person were welcomed
into full membership, and your partner
/lover and you were treated just
like any .other co,uple or family unit;
where you were i!lvited to participate
fully . on church committees, were
asked to lead services or prea~h on
Sunday morning, wer(l. expec_ted to
take y.our turn wit-J:1 d1ildcare duties
(you really were trusted with the
children); where o.thers of your gay
and lesbian friends held positions of
leadership in providing visiqn for the
future of the coi:igregation; and where
~he words gay and lesbian ca._-ne up
regularly in the course of worship
service and announcements? ·
If this · picture excit,es you, then
Sexual
orientation not
a consideration
at North America's
oldest
Mennonite
congregation
BY JOE MILLER
welcome to Germantown Mennonite
Church in Philadelphia. This, the
oldest Mennonite congregation in
North America, was also one of the
first to deal with the issue of homosexuality
and church membership, all
because one person had the strength,
courage, and integrity to come out of
the closet and ask for church membership.
The story begins some ten years
ago when a member of Germantown
Mennonite Church asked a young
man who was a fellow social worker
to visit .Germant own and see what
worship there was like . Since_ this
young .man was very much interested
in' Anabaptist ways, he soon became
a regular attender . and also joined inthe
Wednesday night di s cu·ssion
group . Be made friends and built
rejationships and began to feel he
belong ed there , He talked to : the -
_pastor a.nd .made it .known privately _
that _he was.ga y, an~ J elt affirmed _
when he was told he should continue
to worship at Germantown.
Perhaps a year or so went by, and
th en the Wedn esday evening discus- ·
sion group decided to dis cuss the ·
issue of l10mosexuality and the
church. During these discussions the
young man of our story came out to
the congr egation, stating he was both
gay and Christian and asking to be
accepted as such in the church. The
discussions continued for a number of
we eks, during which time he felt
increasing affirmation from others in
the church. His acceptance came surprisingly
easily. -As one member put
it, "We had gotten to know and fike
you as a· person so well, it was ·harcl to
see you any .differently once we ·knew
you were gay." Some of the ) rtembers
said that they felt good about
being part of a congregation in which
they could bring _up issues like this
and deal with them openly.
The heat was turned up, however,
when he asked for membership at
Germantown . Most of the vocal
opposition against including Gays
and Lesbians had disappeared from
within the congregation, but discussions
at the conference level were not
so positive. Discussions were set up
with the conference to seek their
support for the inclusion of gay and
lesbian members at Germantown . At
this time, the pastoral team wrote a
position paperfor presentation to the
conference on how Germantown
planned to respond to Gays and
Lesbians applying for membership ..
To summarize this paper, it
admitted that a great deal of controversy
surrounded the interpretation
of specific biblical texts relating
to homosexuality, and that no one
interpretation could be demonstrated
conclusively to be superior. Therefore,
- further guidance should be
drawn from the general tenor of the
Scriptures . Since the Bibl.e empha-
, sizes· spreading the message of God's
·-love, inercy, and justice to all, and
particularly to outcast groups in our
society , we should risk offering
acceptance to homosexual persons in
their struggle toward wholeness. The
criteria it set up for membership at
Germantown were that sexual orientation
would be considered irrelevant
in processing a person's application;
all applicants, regardless of sexual
orientation, were to commit to the
ideal that sexual expression should be
the outgrowth of loving intimacy
between two persons, and that it is
intended to be monogamous and
lifelong .
While the discussions between the
~ongregation and the conference over
these issues see-sawed back and forth,
concerns were expressed that soon
Germantown would be performing
''.gay marriages," In the end, however,
the conference chose not to
st.and in the way of Germantown in
seiting its own standards for accepting
homosexual members, provided it
continued to dialogue with the
. SEE MENNONITE, Page-18
Second Stb,reoMarchlApril, 1993 cu
Y Cover Story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..............
The price of freedom
From Page 1
transition from fighting the status quo
to becoming the status quo. Would
we have stood against the papalback~
d Inquisition in defense of
Galileo? Or do the revolutions of the
earth really matter to hard working,
God•fearing Christians? The same
radical church - which, at -its birth,
haa · rocked the ·status quo . with its
empowerment of women - ha~ stagnated
to become the foremost oppressor
of w·omen. ·-Would-we have stood
in defense of Margaret' Sanger, who,
in 1915, sent birth ·control information,
considered obscene material,
through the· U.S. mail? ·Or do (he
ideas -that Women get in their heads
really matter to hard working, Godfearing
Christians? · ·
Stonewall Inn, Greenwich Village,
midnight, Friday, · June 27, 1969:
another police raid on another gay
bar. Police begin arresting patrons
without identification ·: drag queens,
dykes, Hispanics, 'blacks, those too
gay in mannerisms to successfully
remain closeted, a menagerie of the
disenfranchised, ostracized by "normal"
Gays. A lesbian resists arrest.
Others join in. Drag queens cancan,
taunting the police. Fists fly,
epitaphs fly, spirits fly. -Would we
have stood in defense of Stonewall?
Or do queers .really · matter to hard
working, God-fearing .Chrjstians?
Eight months prior to Stonewall,
Rev. Troy Perry led Metropolitan
Community Church's first worship service.
On the forefront of gay and
lesbian civil tights, the Universal _
Fellowship of MCC's has applied ·
every peaceful means available;
including civil disobedience, to help
secure the freedoms that we experience
today. Factions of many other
Judeo-Christian denominations have
followed suit. Houston, Texas, 1978:
My spouse Sandy and I, wrapped in
wool caps and mufflers to avoid
identification, blended into the crowd
at- our first gay rights rally . . Fellow
MOC member Phyllis (formerly
Phillip) approached the microphone.
She reminded the crowd that, since
she had not submitted ·to an operation
to change her male anatomy, the
Houston police could legally arrest
her for cross-dressing . in public.
Phyllis was visibly frightend, but she
stood proud. Lale'r, she told me,
"When you come ~ut, you · risk being
·beaten or killed, If you stay in the
closet, you will die slowly, like a
cancer eating you from the inside
out:' The next year, Sandy and · I
represented the Texas Gay Task
· Fotce, from the back of a Cadillac
convertible, in I:-iousto11's first Gay
Freedom Day Parade. Easy targets
lfil_ [Second !llone•March/April, 1993
for any holl)ophobic sniper, we
remembered Phyllis' words and
risked dying free rather than living
emotionally and politically muzzled.
As we rounded the corner from
Montrose . to Westheimer Street,
instead -of being riddled with bullets,
we were showered with bouquets of
flowers, thrust into our arms by· an
ecstatic middle-aged florist.. We were
not afraid anymore.
Times have changed. In the
information age, mainline journalists
won't cover just any story about just
any protest over just any social
injustice. Consequently, groups wishing
to make a. public statement must
plan new . and extreme mediagrabbing
tactics, from shutting down
rush hour. traffic to burning and
looting.
How should we Christians respond
church should stay out of politics,
King argued that involvement in
politics, when it is used as an
instrument of oppression is a moral
obligation.
King detailed four steps to any
nonviolent campaign: " ... collection of
the facts to determine whether
injustices exist, negotiation, self-purification
[preparation to meet violence
with nonviolence], and direct action
[only after failed negotiations.] ...
Nonviolent direct action seeks to
create sucl1 a crisis and foster .such a
tension that a community which has
constantly refused to negotiate is
forced to confront the issue." Direct
action should then give way again to
negotiation.
Typically, churches respond in one
of four ways when a glaring wrong
slaps the church in the face. The
The Front-Line Churches immediately role
up their sleeves and get to work to right
the wrong. The Nicodemus Churches work
behind the s·cenes at night, but won't associate
with the ca11se in the light of day. The
Iceberg Churches acknowledge that a wrong
might, perhaps, theoretically exist and they
-pray that the problem will go away. Lastly,
the Rabid Dog churches, clenching their
13ibles in their teeth, growl that the wrong is
a God-ordained right.
to injustice? Shol,\ld we take lives
and/ or destroy other people's property
in the name of justifiable civil
<;lisobedience? Is rioting another form
of righteous indignation? Is violence
morally worse· than passive resignation?
Perhaps a look at Martin Luther
King's "Letter from Birmingham Jail,"
addressed to eight white, lukewarm
clergy, will suggest some guidelines
for Christian social action:
One has not cmly a legal but a moral
responsibility to obey just laws. Conversely,
one has a moral ·respcmsibility to
disobey unjust laws... Any law that
uplifts human. personality is just. Any ·
law that-degrades human personality is
unjust... One who breaks an unjusUaw
must do so openly, lovingly, and with a
willingness to accept the penalty .. , in
· ·order to-arouse the consciousness of the
community over its injustice. ·
· While some would argue the
Front-Line Churches immediately
role up. their sleeves and get to work
to right the wrong. The Nicodemus
Churches work behind -the scenes at
night, but won't associate with the
cause in the light of day, The Iceberg
Churches acknowledge that a wrong
might, perhaps, theoretically exist
and they pray that the problem will
go · away. Lastly, the Rabid Dog
churches, clenching their Bibles in _
their teetl1, growl that the wrong is a
God-ordained right.
If we Christians wish to serve as a
moral presence in our communities,
we cannot idly wag our heads back
and forth, like spectators at a
ping-pong tournament, as extremist
protestors wage war on the fanatically
entrenched status-quo . We-must base
all of our actions and all of our goals
on sound Christian principles, not the
least of which is "Do unto others as
you would have therri do unto you,"
A pro-choice campaigner who prevents
motorists from driving across a
public bridge cannot complain too
loudly when an anti-choice protestor
' prevents a woman from entering an
abortion clinic. In a constructive relationship
with media, we can headline
our unusual efforts to meet violence
with nonviolence, oppression with
love.
King wrote, "Human progress
never rolls in on ·wheels of
inevitability; it comes through the
tireless efforts of men (sic) willing to
be co-Workers with God ... We must
use time creatively, in the knowledge
that time is always ri'pe to do right."
Today, we find ourselves in a season
of optimistic calm. We have elected a
pro-choice, gay-sensitive president,
who we expect will end . the ban on
Gays in the military and appoint
Supreme Court Justices who lean
toward individual ·freedoms. We
hope that President Clinton will "fix
it" for us. ("It" being what ever ails us
and·our society.) We can snuggle in
under the warm comforter of new
leadership and sleep for awhile.. .
But in fitful dreams we remember
Colorado's Amendment 2 which
prohibits any liomosexual or bisexual
from filing a claim of discrimination.
We'll protest by boycotting Coloradounless
the ski season is just too
irresistible .. Someone is fighting the
constitutionality of 2, aren't they?
Someone will take care of it for us. In
our dreams we see visions of the
battle against Oregon's Measure 9,
which would have mandated schools
teach children that being homosexual
is wrong, mandated libraries dispose
of all pro-gay literature. Our
nightmare continues as · faceless
intruders ransack and steal mailing
lists from anti-Measure 9 organizations,
including churches. Anonymous
callers inform businesses that
certain employees are homosexuals.
Leaders on both sides of the initiative
wear bullet-proof vests on. election
day . But Measure 9 didn't pass - this
time. We are safe to dream more
pleasant dreams: dreams of winning
the lottery or meeting that certain
-someone, or even noble dreams that
human kind will one day live in
harmony - without too much effort or
risk on our part. After all, God can
perform miracles. We are safe to
dream, provided we don't wake up
.too late.
Nancy Hu.gman is Lay Minister of
Teaching at Diablo Valley Metropolitian
Community Church in Concord, California.
• .i:I.;1;1ltt#ll•1a:1;1:t:t•X•11;1
Gays and Lesbians struggle for
freedom in the Holy Land
11Lesbiot11 and
11Homoim11 make
their way to
the Knesset
It was meant to be a demonstration
full of power and pride.
A kind of political outing of
unity, declaring not only "here
we are" but also, "We are mapy, and
we won't hide any longer." More
than a hundred came, which, in
American. terms may not seem to
amount to much, but is significant in
Israel, where gay activists have never
managed to gather . more than a
handful of people for political demonstrations.
Contrary to what many would
probably like to belie.ve, even in the
Holy· Land there are Gays and
Lesbians. In these days Israelis are
finally being given a fair chail~e to
realize that, as in societies the world
over, men who love men and women
who love women have been ever
present amongst them. Not that
everybody wants to face this reality;
the conservative tones of Israeli
society, generated by Jewish and
Moslim religious writings, .leave little
room for accepting this deviation from
what they see as the chosenway.
But we need to take _a few sfeps
backwards if we are to understand
the circumstances which gave rise to a
group of mostly youngreople standing
together in front o the Knesset,
their gleeful spirits. undaunted by the
freezing air .of Jerusalem's virgin
snowfall of the year.
Member of Knesset Yael Dayan
(labour), daughter of the late Moshe
Dayan, orchestrated Israel's inaugural
meeting for Lesbians and Gays in the
framework of the Knesset's Committee
for Women's Rights. For her
efforts, Dayan was rewarded by a
barrage of attacks from· across the
political spectrum . Having just
returned from Tunis, as the first MK
to meet with the PLO leadership since
Israel repealed the law forbidding
meetings with the PLO, Dayan .·was
greeted by the caustic remarks of
several outspoken crifics, de_nouilcing
her meeting with Arafa!, with one of
the more outrageous comments being
voiced live on Israel television by Y.
Lapid, a leading Israeli journalist and
political commentator who taunted:
"You can bet that Arafat would just
love to see lots of queers in the Israeli·
Defense Forces."
Whatever · vestiges of intellectual
standards remained gave way entirely
when the baton was passed to the
representatives of the conservative
religious wirig. Rabbi Yizhak Levy,
MK (National Religious Party)
laconically chose to proclaim Lesbians
and Gays "handicapped" and "sick
individuals, whose mere physical
presence would be .a blight upon the
integrity and sanctity of Israel's House
of Parliament."
Meanwhile the Society for the
Protection of Personal Rights, Israel's
umbrella organization for gay men,
Lesbians andpisexuals, wrapped up·
its preparations for the historical day.
Anula Shamir, a well-known lesbian
playwrite, spent weeks rushing from
interview to interview and was even
invited twice by Israel television,
where she spoke of the heretofore
"non°issue" of homosexuality in Israel
society; "Gay guys are in a Worse
position than Lesbians," Shamir says.
As reflected in the later rabbinic edict
forbidding males from "spilling their
· seed in vain," male homosexuality is
described in the Old Testament as a
tainted and vile act which, in the
days of the prophet Moses, was
punishable by death. Jud.aism's approach
to lesbianism, whether
through oversight or other .considerations,
is more charitable. Furthermore,
Lesbians are free of the added
difficulties encountered in the heavy
machoistic undertones of Israel's
military society, which attaches great
value to their military achievements.
Israeli men, more so than their
American ·or European counterparts, .
. are expected to be strong and always
"manly" - a point which is constantly
reinforced for the Hebrew speaker by
the shared etymology of hero (gibor)
and man (gever). Says Shamir, ''I
wi'sh all the Gays who fought· in our
wars would come out of the closet."
Public disputes over IDF's policy
r~.;arding the induction of Gays into
the military have never been wide~
pread, as the unspoken policy has
always directed ,military personnel to
ignore the issue if at all possible.
One should also consider the fact that
Israel could not easily release ten
percent of its population from military
service, in light of the significant
security risks it faces. Yet behind the
unoHical veil, clear orders exist
detailing instructions for dealing with
gay soldiers whose sexual orientation
"could lead to security risks."
One of the · speakers duririg the
Knesset-outing session views the
army as one of the most problematic
institutions for homosexual men.
Prof. Uzi Even, who heads the
Department of Chemistry at Tel Aviv
University, spoke with quiet dignity
and in a most touching manner of his
personal experiences in the IDF
where he served for 15 years in top
secret - research and development
capacities until he decided to put an
end to the· lies hiding his true sexual
identity.
"From one day 'to· the next an iron
curtain fell between me' and my
colleagues," Even 'recalls. 'They were
ordered not to communicafe with trie
any more." For Even this was · the
end of his military career; Neverthe- ·
less, he did -not give up easily.
Feeling hurt, angry and betrayed by
the army in whose ranks he had
served 15 years, including ·active
duty in two wars, he brought his case
in front of a military· council, which
included an officer of Field Security,
as well as the chief of the secret
service, Schabak. He ·was · told , by
both that he posed a security risk.
Even was demoted ' frc;nn his former
military post, and finally started a
new tareer outside the military
framework.
occurred to Israeli author and playwrite
Ilan Schenfeld. Only last year
he was awarded the Prime Minister's
Prize for literature: · But ever since he
· came out of the closet; no public
library has accepted his books. 'The
. same establishments that awarded me
several prizes," says Schenfeld,
"rejected the same books from their
libraries."
Though hot directly connected with
Dayan's Knesset-outing, one cannot
overlook the fact that oniy a few days
earlier, the Regional Court in Tel
Aviy passed down a landmark decision_
regarding . the economic lien~fits
and rights of partners in -a· .hoip9~
sexual union. The verdict,. which, is
unmatched by many eq1,1iv~.elryts
worldwide, possibly paves the way
for greater equality between homosexual,
and heterosexual couples; not
only: in Israel but also far beyond it's
borders. The court's decision orders
El-AUsrael Airlines to provide a free
ticket to the lover of .an employee, in
keeping :with the customary benefits
policy for El-Al employees.
· '.Despite the difficulties experienced
by Israeli Lesbians and Gays, their
situation . is nonetheless easier than
the-situ!ltion of their counterparts in
the USA,. who _tend to emphasize
their distinct lifestyle. The Israel lesbian
woman and the gay man is very
much a part of mainstream society.
At the same time, the public is not as
. obvioμsly intolerant of-Les,bians and
Gays. Amit Kama, active -in the
Society for the Protection of Personal
Rights, .offers his own explanation:
"Israelies have the Arabs to. hate.
They don't need us for this purpose."
"You can: bet that .Arafat would
jusf love to see lots of queers in
the Israeli Defense Forces."
During the Knesset-outing Even
appealed to Yael Dayan, asking her
whether the army orders restricting
soldiers in their military career and
barring them ·from serving in special,
top secret units are still in force. Of
the politicians present, Even inquired
whether similar orders exist blocking
homosexuals from executive positions
· in the Foreign Ministry or in the
Ministry of Education.,
Unlike his former experiences in
the Israeli security establishment,
Even claimed that · he has not been
subject to discrimination in· his current
academic career where he is evaluated
on -the basis of his professional
merits alone: ·
A similar experience of official
recognition on -the one . hand and
subtle discrimination on the other
The present legal situation
regarding Gays in Israel is· better
than in most western countri.es,
including the USA. However, ul\like
the situation in the US, . where
Lesbians and .Gays have _attained
substantial po)itical representation,
Israel's homosexual community is in
the midst of its first real steps towards
political maturity.
· Is the Knesset-outing the firs.t sure
step in this direction? The success of
this event remains to ·be determined.
Undoubtedly, the path taken by
Israel's gay community will be
frought with several regrettable falls,
as it · labors to maintain as "straight
path" but as expressed by Schenfeld,
the community .has already learned
that "un_itym akes us strong."
Second Stone•March/A~ril, 1993 [II]
As in the time of Jesus, the
healing ministry of the
church today must be
grounded firmly within the
context of the lives of the people. No
form of human need, no area of
suffering fell beyond the purview of
Jesu,s _ Who, through ministries of
healing and the forgiveness of sin,
estaoHshe'g the more just and merci.ful
_ reign .of God at those points where
' God's creation was most in anguish.
Mote than one hundred people die
each day in the United Statesfrom
the. complications of AIDS - one every
15 minutes - and the pace is accelerating.
Though most new AIDS
cases have been from metropolitan
areas, there has been a significant
increase in new cases in municipalities
with pofulations of less than
500,000. Lack o access to adequate
health care has denied the benefits of
advances in treatment to many in
these smaller cities and rural communities
and failure to acknowledge
the dimensions of the crisis has
resulted in insufficient attention to
AIDS education and prevention pro0
grams.
The number of African-American
and Hispanic cases of AIDS and HN
disease, owing to all modes of lransmission,
grows steadily. Infections
among women and children, particularly
within the communities of
color, are increasing dramatically,
with reported AIDS cases among
women growing faster than those
among men. AIDS is now one of the
five leading causes of death among
young women.
As our concern grows about the
welfare of our youth we are forced to
recognize that a large number of
individuals diagnosed with AIDS in
their mid to late twenties were
infected during their teens. HIV disease
has a devastating impact on
those who are already marginalized
members of society with growing
numbers of infections and diagnosed
cases appearing today among the
poorer residents of inner cities.
So overwhelming are the larger
social and political realities confronting
us that we . are tempted to
focus on the AIDS crisis in relative
isolation from the multiple problems
which are its firm foundation. We do
not diminish the signific;mce of the
AIDS crisis, but rather put· it in
proper perspective, by being aware
that the main thing which is new and
different in the HIV epidemic is the
virus itself. Beyond the virus most of
what we are experiencing represents
old problems that have been poorly
managed or ignored completely.
Though the results of the presidential
election are a clear indication
. [12] Second Stone•March/April, 1993
BY CATHIE LYONS
I.hat the electorate wants to see
changes brought about which will
address and correct .the hurting realities
of the peoples of this nation, let us
not take a simplistic view of the tasks
confronting President Bill Clinton.
Fundamental changes are required
which will touch and challenge our
lives, our values, and our assumptions
about the responsibilities and
duties of both the public and private
sectors and our religious and . secular
institutions.
The matter of HIV prevention
education and the content of that
education remains a pressing problem.
Persistent absence of frank talk
about sex and drugs has claimed
countless lives already and will result
in needless infections and deaths in_.
the future,
As church persons concerned about
those who are already HIV challenged
or who have been diagnosed
with AIDS, we must be aware constantly
of the many contexts within
which these individuals are fighting .
for their lives and well being.
Ideally, care for people with HIV
disease should include a broad range
of health care and social services
designed to enhance the quality of
life, maximize individual choice, and
minimize hospital and institutionalbased
care. In reality, the health and
human service systems in too_ many
municipalities are already overwhelmed
or are ill prepared to deal
with the crisis,
Ideally, services should be
rendered with compassion in a manner
that allows people with HIV
disease and their loved ones to act as
P¥tners with their care providers. In
reality, there are still too few physicians
outside of the major impact
cities _ with adequate experience in
diagnosing and treating HIV disease.
Fear of persons with HIV disease
persists and acceptance of co-decision
making regarding the treatment of
choice (even when options are readily
available) is not always understood,
respected or honored.
People who have cared for persons
with HIV and AIDS know that HIV
disease, especially in its later stages,
presents complex challenges. The
host of opportunistic infections that
characterize AIDS may attack virtua1ly
any part of the body. HIV
disease stubbornly refuses to be
limited to any single organ or
treatment strategy.
In 1993, we are twelve years into an
epidemic which has shown itself to be
stronger than our precious resources
or resolve to deal with it. The silent
insidious spread of the virus continues.
The unresolved issues of
prevention educa;tion and service
delivery which plagued us in the past
are killing us in the present. The
epidemic of HIV infection, nationally
and globally, cannot be addressed
p·roperly without putting it in this
larger context. The landscape I have
drawn is not neat or tidy and it's not
attractive. We have gotten to where
we are today, step by step as a
Remember the Jesus who violated the
purity codes. He was rejected, forced
out into the countryside for his association
and physical contact with the
leper ... This Jesus of the healing miracles
is the Jesus many people lost
touch with early in the AIDS epidemic.
nation, owing in large part to a
national inability to address profoundly
important and difficult questions
regarding the human community
and our ability to live with, to
care for and to love one another.
There are days when I have
thought that Jesus would have found
himself at home in this untidy
landscape which is bordered on all
sides by rather strict norms regarding
what is right and what is wrong,
what is proper behavior and what is
sinful behavior, and who the people
are who are worthy to receive the
ministrations of church, temple and
government.
In the New Testament we are
presented with the flesh and blood
Jesus who finds himself embroiled in
controversy over his healing ministries
and the teachings of the temple.
Imagine for a moment this Jesus
whose touch is the healing touch of
the Most Holy One. He is born into a
world in which disease and suffering
are rampant. Very early he realizes
that the temple's mandates regarding
holiness will stand in the way of his
works of healing. Jesus will have to
decide whether to observe the laws of
Torah and the temple or to be
obedient to God. .
In thinking about the healing
ministry of the church, let's think for
a moment about this man Jesus who
in doing God's work would redefine
the meaning of holiness. It is this
Jesus whom the church must understand
and follow in AIDS ministries.
The purity code contained in Torah
was based on the theological conviction
that because Yahweh was holy,
Yahweh's chosen people were to be
holy also.
Purity codes ,established external
boundaries delineating the holy from
the unholy: the clean from the
"unclean." The most pure, holy and
clean were priests and levities: those
associated with the service of the
temple. At the other .end of the
spectrum was the leper. Stigmatized
as the one in whom impurity ruled,
the leper was the one most to be
feared: the one to be announced by
the words, "unclean, unclean."
Into such a world Jesus came and
touched the leper. Into such a world
Jesus came and brought an image of
holiness defined not by its distance
from what was considered to be
unclean, but by its proximity to it.
Into a world so divided and separated
within Hself came Jesus, who, with
the touch of a hand, restored human
community.
Into a world, so fascinated with the
notion of affliction's sinful cause,Jesus
SEE AIDS, Next Page
AIDS
From Previous Page
entered, giving attention to illness
and affliction as opportunities within
which one could experience God's
compassion and love. Into a world
which so clearly judged some as
sinners and made outcasts ·of others,
came this man Jesus · who, in forgiving
sin and in cleansing the leper,
gave a preview of God's more just
and merciful kingdom.
Jesus redefined the meaning and
activities of holiness. In Jesus, holiness
included entry into the lives of
others: holiness became an act of
engagement, not a state of separation.
In Jesus, holiness took on the
suffering of others; holiness associated
with what was meek, lowly, despised.
In Jesus, holiness' healing
touch was the touch of inclusion and
participation; the touch that said "you
belong."
The healing miracles of the New
Testament present us with a Jesus
who broke down barriers, who took
risks which challenge us today. Jesus
risked unconditionally for the neighbor;
risked without fear of reputation;
risked for the sake of the Kingdom;
risked his life and lost it and returned
to reveal the promise of the scriptures
for life eternal. Jesus' challenge is
ever present with us. Have you
looked into the face of a person who
has HIV or AIDS and not found the
face of Christ there? . Look again.
Have you worked closely with a
person with HIV/ AIDS and not come
to a deeper understanding of what
love is really all about?
I had the honor of delivering the
Words of Witness as the memorial
service for Fred Mutti, one of Bishop
Mutti's two sons who died of AIDS.
At that service in celebration of Fred's
life I said that the remarkable thing
about love is that i.t is full of surprises.
Every time we think we have a fix on
it, the terrain shifts a bit as if to test
us, to force a reality check on us, to
make us look at it from a diffe_rent
angle, to see if it is really love at all.
In a sermon delivered on the subject
of AIDS, Dr . Donald Messer,
President of Iliff Theological Seminary
included this quote about love: "So in
the end love comes down to this ... not
some Clark Gable appraisal of Vivien
Leigh of some sex symbols' seductive
pose, but 'Help me sit up.' In the end
love is not a smoldering glance across
the dance floor, the click of crystal, a
leisurely picnic spread upon summer's
clover. It is the squeeze of a
hand. I'm here. I'll be here no matter
how long the struggle . Water? You
need water? Here .... drink ... let me
straighten your pillow.''
AIDS has taught us things about
love that transc.end all the debates of
all the churches of all the centuries
about sexuality. The AIDS epidemic
has given us an opportunity to learn
about the character of the love that
sustains one and upholds one in
sickness and in health.· In learning to
care for one another and to love one
Not only has AIDS robbed us of our
family members, our loved ones and
friends, AIDS has robbed churches of
their collective n1emory of the compassionate
Jesus, the messiah or the marginalized,
the prophet most at home
among the people pushed to
the periphery.
another in the best and the worst of
times, AIDS has brought to us
experiences of love that are larger
than anything we have ever experienced,
larger than anything we have
ever understood, larger than anything
we have ever asked f9r, larger
than anything we can ever forget. In
the midst of all the pain and agony,
in the midst of the fear and the
loneliness, the uncertainty and loss
we are captured by a love such as
this.
Remember the radical, defiant Jesus
I mentioned earlier . Remember the
Jesus who violated the purity codes.
He was rejected; forced out into the
countryside for his association and
physical contact with the leper. He
was scorned by the temple because
he took it upon himself to forgive the
sins of the people. This Jesus of the
healing miracles is ·the Jesus many
people lost touch with early in the
AIDS epidemic.
Early in the '80s, shortly after we
began hearing about a strange new
disease initially referred to as GRID
(gay related immune deficiency) the
pretender christs rose up: those who
felt it incumbent upon themselves to
preach -God's wrath, to speak God's
words of judgment and condemnation;
to proclaim that AIDS is God's
punishment for sin. I thought
frequently about the Jesus who broke
the purity codes and forgave sins as
the pretender christs took to the
pulpit. I thought of the pain that the
flesh and blood, sensitive son of God
would feel in this world today . I
thought of the boundless ability of
those who bear Christ's name to inflict
endless suffering on the remembrance
of Hirn: the Jesus of the healing
miracles, present always with
those who were sick and suffering . .
The Jesus who always located himself
and God 's .unconditional and unmeasured
love precisely at the point
where God's creation was most in
anguish. •
If the historical · Jesus were
physically present with us today he
would present himself wearing the
visible signs of Kaposi's sarcoma: so
complete, so total, so inescapable
would be his identification with all
who are living with HIV disease and
AIDS.
No t only has AIDS robbed us of our
family members, our loved ones and
friends , AIDS has robbed the
churches of their collective memory of
the compassionate Jesus, the messiah
of the marginalized, the prophet most
at home among the people pushed to
the periphery.
Why do I care so deeply about the
healing ministry of the church in the
midst of the AIDS epidemic? Why do
I care so deeply about the idea of
churches making a Covenant to Care,
a concept which is so simple, so
deeply grounded in the Old and New
Testaments? My passion for .the
church's healing · ministry and to see
churches · develop Covenant to ,Care
statements and · to be involved in
AIDS ministries developed -in part in
response to a question raised by a
.24-year-old man at our National
Consultation in 1987. George "'.as
Hispanic, he was living with AIDS,
Kaposi's sarcoma was visible on his
arms and face, he was also gay. Half
way thro·ugh the consultation he took
up the courage to go to a floor mike
and ask : "Would I be welcome in ·
your ·-local church?" A 24-year-old
man cut to the quick of the matter
and asked the most profound theological
question -of (he consultation.
George died a few years later in
New York where I had gotten to
know him after he moved to the city.
When George died, I decided that he
and all others like him deserved an
answer to the question he had raised.
I knew that one way of answering his
question would be for churches to
make Covenant to Care -statements
·letting it be known in their communities
that if you have AIDS or if
you are the loved one of a person
who has AIDS you are welcome here.
It has been my hope that churches
would go on· to take seriously the
challenge set forth in the final paragraph
of the church's 1988 Resolution
on AIDS and the Healing Minist_ry of
the Church which reads :
"As members of the United Methodist
Church we covenant to£ether to assure
ministries antf other services to persons
with AIDS ... We ask for God's guidance
that we might respond in ways which
bear witness always to fesus' own
compassionate ministry of healing and
reconciliation; and that to this end we
might lave and care for one another with
the same unmeasured and unconditional
lave that fesus embodied."
The healing ministry to which our
. churches continue to be · called in this
second decade of the AIDS epidemic
is a ministry of truth and revelation.
The pretender christs focused on
God's wrath forgetting perhaps that
Jesus looked at those who suffered
artd saw therein fue face of God's
creation. So too is it our task and our
holy duty to proclaim: that the face
' that AIDS wears is always the face of
a person created and loved by God;
that the face that AIDS wears is
always the face of a person who is
someone's mother or father, husband
or wife, son or daughter, brother or
. SEE AIDS, Pag~ 20
Second Stone•March/A;ril, 1993 IT3J
.In Print ..................................... ................. ,• .............. .
Helping to heal Christian homophobia
By Johnny Townsend
Contributing Writer
D
. · o you have a family member
or friend at church who is
finally at the point of at least
being willing to listen to you,
but who you know is not ready for
"full conversion" to accepting gayness?
If so, then Bruce Hilton's Can
. . .. Homap.hobia Be Cured?might be . a.
book to offer that person. The book is
short, broken down into small, easily
accessibl"e sections, and is an easy
read.
Naturally, the biggest problem
with this approach is that many of the
issues dealt with are treated simplistically
and superficially. This is not.a
book for anyone wanting to delve
deeply into the issue of religion and
homosexuality, but as a first book for
someone non-gay trying to open up
his or her mind, it could work.
One of the strengths of the book is
its focus near the end of the history of
how the official position of the United
Methodist Church on homosexuality
was shaped. One .does not need to
belong to this particular religion to
recognize that most religions . probably
evolved .in similat ways, and
seeing the step by step proce.ss helps
demystify the all powerful . '.'final
decision" that most. people believe has
always existed but whicl1 does in fact
have a history, .
Another ·of the book's strengths is
its soft -approach. While the disci!ssion
of biblical passages is one of the
more superficial parts of Can· Homophobia
· Be Cured?, it's true, too; that
. m/my people aren't intellectually
prepared to . read a scholarly dissertation
(though Hilton adds a
bibliography of useful books and
oi"ganizations at the end of his book.)
Even in his biblical discussion,
however, he is willing to make concessions
to those who oppose Gays, as their love for gay friends · or family the origin or cause of homosexuality.
when he writes, "Every [biblical] will need ·these kinds of concessions He also brings up the "fact" believed
mention of homosexual sex indicates in order not to be forced too quickly for centuries that women had one
that it is wrong. ' There isn't a fav- down · a new pathway .of thinking. more _rib than men, based_ on interorable
word anywhere in the Bible Later, they can come the rest of the pretatton of the Bible m spite of how
about same-sex acts." way. This book only attempts to help easy it was scientifically to determine
I find this and other "admissions" them start down that path. the truth, and uses that in_ a decent
refreshing, and I also suspect that Hilton mentions the Kinsey studies discussion of religion's relationship lo
many religious non-gays who are plus recent Dutch researd1, the hypo- science.
caught between their church and thalamus theory, and twin studies on Hilton displays a real sensitivity to
BRUCE HILTON
CA ,
BE
CURED?
lfo,-r
WRESTLING WITH QUESTIONS
THAT CHALLENGE
THE CHURCH
· · ·language as he tries · neithecto · b·e
sexist nor heterosexist, and though he
uses some moving examples of his
involvement in civil rights issues in
Mississippi in the mid-1960's, he isn't
above putting himself down, as in his
example of not standing up in public
for gay rights when visiting another
city, even when lobbying in town for
just that purpose.
Humor helps in his list of official
reasons "Why Heterosexual Men
Should Not Be Ordained," and a list
of famous gay and lesbian people,
while old news for most of us, could
be eye opening for someone newly
introduced to homosexuality.
Finally, there is a discussion of how
one can as an individual start a
ministry that includes gay people,
and how one can involve the entire
congregation, so the book ends on a
hopeful note that with treatment,
homophobia, if not completely curable,
can at least be controlled. His
·concluding two lines, a real zinger I'll
save for the reader, su•ccinctly sums
up Hilton's belief that action is more
important than empty clai_ms of
saying one is a Christian. So while
the book may not necessarily be
better than other introductory works,
ii does hold its own and offers another
chance of reaching those people who
will open themselves to sincere
questioning, and to the belief that
love is the most important aspect of
gospel living.
Sexuality from Catholic, Lutheran perspectives
Euti~chs for the Kingdom of Heaven/
Women, Sexuality and the Catholic
Chuich, Uta . Ranke-Heinemann,
translated from German by Peter
Heinegg, Doubleday, 1990, 360
pages; $21.95.
Human S~xuality dnd the Christian
Faith/A study for the church's reflection
and deliberation, Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America (ELCA),
Episcopal edition 1991, 55 pages,
$1.50 plus postage.
CT4J Second Ston~•March/ April, l 99~
By William Day"
Contributing Writer
A.lthough these two items are
not comparable - the first, by
a Catholic scholar is quite
critical of Catholic teachings;
the second, prepared as a study
document; inviting discussion and
comment - they afford sharply
contrastrng approaches · to Christian
behavior with relation to sexuality.
Ranke-Heinemann's does ·not
pertain directly to the concerns of
Gays and · Lesbians except for a brief
chapter near the end entitled
"Homosexuality." Its main thrust tells
. how the Catholic Church became so
concerned about sexuality tha_t it
debased the role of women and
mandated celibacy for its priests and,
in general, considers the enjoyment of
sex wicked. Its value to Gays and .
.Lesbians, I suggest, lies in illustrating
the extraordinary lengths to which
. the Roman ._heirarchy can go to sell
·the idea that sex is sinful unless
· intended purely for procreation.
· For example, take the case of Mary,
the mother ·of Jesus, "ever-virgin
Mother of God," in Catholic termi- ·
nology. Thus New-Testament refers
ences to brothers and sisters of Jesus
are interpreted by' Catholicism as
references to half brothers .or sisters
who were offspring of Joseph by an
earlier (or later?) marriage while it is
maintained that despite the birthing
of Jesus, Mary's hymen remains
intact. The author, who has a
doctorate in Catholic theology, Jost
her chair at the University of Essen
for her works but now holds a chair ·
there in the history of religion. ·
This book will be useful to many
readers -chiefly because of its careful
and thorough documentation concerning
Catholic "moral theology." Such
topics as original sin, abortion, contraception,
masturbation (onanism), as
well as celibacy are discussed with
references to Catholic theologians,
e.g.; ·Augustine, Thomas Aquinas,
and to relevant scriptural texts which
are at variance with Catholic teach-
SEE PERSPECTIVES, Next Page
In Print . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .......................... • · ................. .
A catechism for conservative gay Christians
prostitution and rape are condemned. orders. The "la·st days" a~e thought to By Michael Blankenship
Contributing Writer By definition, a "catechism" is a
handbook for teaching the
principles and fundamentals
of religion. Many of us grew
up in churches where there were ·no
catechisms, and without good reason
the word seems foreign to us or at
least very "high church ." So it was
with pleasure that I recently found
that Cristo Press in Arizona has published
their own Cltristian Gay
Catecltism.
This handbook, designed with a
series of questions and answers, is an
absolute wealth of information.
Included is a great amount of information
about the Bible, the church,
Christian history and theology. To
say that this catechism is affirming to
lesbian and gay Christians would be
an understatement. Throughout we
find many passages that reject and
refute the traditional views of most
fundamentalist churches. Within the
first ten pages the author states
emphatically that the Bible does not
give a blanket condemnation of
homo~exuality, but, just as with
heterosexuality, certain acts such as
In Print, briefly ...
Gay Midlife and Maturity
This book, edited by John Alan Lee,
PhD, challenges the long-held stereotype
of the sad and lonely old homosexual.
It rejects this myth and illustrates
that older gay men and Lesbians
cope well with the aging process.
Included is an in-depth interview
with Don Bachardy about his
33-year relationship with Christopher
Isherwood, a renowned English writer
who was 30 years his senior.
-From Harrington Parle Press
Community Jobs
This monthly employment newspaper
for the non-profit sector lists over 200
positions in arts, health, youth, civil
rights, housing and human services. A
three month subscription is $29.
°From Access. 50 Beacon St., Boston,
W.02108 .
The Devil in Men's Dreams
This collection of 12 short stories by
Tom Scott are told with understated
candor and clarity. "My Battle With
The Devil" develops the theme of
homosexuality in · a young funda·
mentalist man whose religion and
sexuality are irrevocably intertwined,
with disastrous resu.lts. Two stories
involve personal experiences and
reactions to Al DS, such as the discovery
by a grieving family· of their
son's homosexuality.
-From GLB Publishers
The author g9es on to state that God be prophetically foretold in the 38th
loves homosexuals, who, like all · chapter of Ezekiel with the former
human beings are created by a God Soviet Union playing an important
who does not make mistakes . The part. An anti-abortion stance is
point is also made that Jesus had , strongly stressed. And, the thought
nothing whatsoever to say about 1s expressed that calling God
homosexuality . "mother" often leads into heresy and
I really liked the full explanation of paganism.
Paul's opinion of homosexuality, and It is unfortunate that this treasure
how his views were formed on the trove of basic Christian knowledge
basis of his personal observance of and information is at times tarnished
pederasty, homosexual rape, ·and with judgmentalism. New Age
temple prostitution. Since Paul's let- Christians are thought to be guided
ters are often used to condemn by demons. Metropolitan . Commuhomosexuality
this book offers excel- nity Churches are said to have an
lent ammunition. emphasis on a kind of love that is
However, 1 think this book will find . "unscriptural" ·and these churches are
its greatest appeaJ: for those from a criticized. for being too diverse. There
pentecostal or .literalist background . is also little tolerance for other
The belief is expressed in real religions and faiths: Hinduism is
demons which can "possess" people called ."satanic to the core," Jehovah's
to the status of cults, and Buddhists
are simply addressed as atheists.
Also, it is stated that it is
"inconsistent" for Christians to ,be
members of lodges such as the
Masons.
Despite the small bits of
self-righteous "tarnish" · I've picked
from this book, A Christian .Gay
Catecltism is still a gleaming example
of what gay and lesbian Christians
can create when they explore their
own theology. For homos exual Christians
from an evangelical background
who are "coming out" this would be a
most important book to own . This
book will provide a new, yet
conservative, perspective, while
attacking the anti-gay ideology found
in most fundamentalist churches.
Available from Cristo Press, 1029 E.
Turney, Phoenix, AZ 85014, $3.00.
causing insanity and emotional dis- Witnesses and Muslims are relegated ------------------ PERSPECTIVES,
From Previous Page
ing. Celibacy, ·for example, is
enforced as a good thing against
scriptural evidence that the Apostles
were married.
A major question, of course, is why
the Catholic Church took off on this
anti-sex tangent. The author says this
was definitely not part of Christianity's
Jewish heritage. She attributes
its introduction to Gnosticism,
with its emphasis on the mind and its
rejection of the body .
The author discusses "Luther and
his Influence on Catholic Sexual
Morality" (Chapter 11) but does not
otherwise go into the implications of
Catholic morality theology for the
reformed or protestant churches . But
readers from these traditions can
ponder the extent to which their
church doctrines were influenced by
Roman teaching before the
Reformation .
No mention is made of the Vatican
letter a few years ago condemning
homosexuality, but a gay or lesbian .
reader who reads this book, in toto or
in part, should have no problem in
understanding the Catholic attitude in
view of its marked opposition lo
sexual pleasure without procreation.
The Lutheran document illustrates
an entirely different way of dealing
with specific sexual concerns on the
part of two major Protestant denomi- .
nations . Concerns include sexual
abuse, gay and lesbian relationships,
and genital sexual relationships
outside of marriage. Scriptural texts
are presented and discussed and then
questions are rais _ed for group
discussion . The following from page
31 indicates the overall tone: 'The
Church and its practices must always
Concise and
· accurate youth
resource
·Christianity· and Homosexuality: A
Resource for Students, published by
England's Lesbian and Gay Christian
Movement, presents dear and accurate
information on homosexuality in
. a easy to read style for young people.
Author Sue Vickerman, who has
worked with Mother Teresa in India,
said that the book was written lo
encourage young peopje to think for
themselves. "I offered to write this
publication for the Lesbian and Gay
Christian Movement because after
~hree years experience as a Religious
Education te .acher I feel it is
appropriate for homosexuality· to be
talked about with children in a moral
context," Vickerman said. The book
summarizes diverse Christian views
on homosexuality in a balanced,
objective manner. For information
contact LGCM, Oxford House,
Derbyshire St., London, E2 6HG.
be reformed for· the sake of remaining
faithful to its mission in the world .
Doctrinal, liturgical, and moral
traditions must be examined in light
of what is central to our identity and
mission as Christians . Some human-
. based customs or taboos mily have
little to do with God'.s law or with the
promise of the gospel."
The preface says 'This study is the
first stage in the development of a
social statement on human sexuality.
It is intended to stimulate reflection
and dialogue with Scripture, with the
· Lutheran theological tradition, arid
with one another." A disclaimer
notes the study does not have official
policy status. The preface identifies ·a
task force of lay persons and clergy,
also a staff director, Dr. Karen
· Bloomquist of the Division for Church
in Society, ELCA, and five members
of an adjunct staff.
The chapter on "Episcopalian
Perspectives Related to Sexuality" was
written by Bishop Edward W. Jones of
the Episcopal Church's Indianapolis
Diocese.
Note: The office of ELCA's Division
for Church in Society is located at
8765 W. Higgins Rd ., Chicago, IL
60631-4190, (312)380-2710.
Second Stone•_March/April. 1993 .[rn
.,
•
Calendar ............ •- ........................... ............ ..................... .
Tlie Jo/lawing announcements have bem
submitted by spcmsoring or affiliated
groups.
CMI
Conference '93
MARCH 4-7, 1993, Communication ·
Ministry, Inc ., presents a conference
on 'The Goodness of Being Gay:
Spirituality for Lesbian and Gay
Religious, Clergy and Seminarians."
Besides major addresses and celebratory
liturgies, workshops will
include: Celibacy as a Way of Loving,
Relationships in the Committed Life,
Coming Out, Formation Issues,
Aging/Middle Years, and Hiv
Positive. Conference fee is $75.00. for
furth er information and pre-registration,
write to: CMI Conference
'93, P.O. Box 60125, Chicago, IL
60660-0125. . .
PLGC Midwestern
Regional
Conference
MARCH 5-7, This conference,
WcmungtonDC
APRll, 25, 1993
DON'TMISS
THISONE!
sponsored by Presbyterians for
Lesbian and Gay Concerns, to be
held at the Heartland Presbyterian
Center , Kansas City, Missouri, will
give participants an opportunity
rediscover the roots of their faith and
celebrate their spiritual strength as
individuals and as a community. For
information contact Doug Atkins, 747
N. Taylor Ave ., Kirkwood, MO
63122.
Conn~cting
families
MARCH 12-14, 1993, Laurelvill e
Mennonite Churc h Center is the
setting for the fourth Connecting
families retreat sponsored and
planned by Church of the Brethren
and Mennonite fomiles with gay or
lesbian members. For information
write to Brethren/Mennonite Parents,
P.O. Box 1708, Lima, OH 45802 or
Laurelville Mennonite Church
Center, Route 5, Mt. Pleasant, PA ·
15666.
Second Annual
Women's
Conference
MARCH 26-28, "Women's Experience:
Creating Connections in the
90's" is the theme of this conference to
be held at Mundelein College at
Loyola University (Chicago).
Housing is limited . Fee is $25.00:
For information contact'Women's
Conference, Sullivan Center, Room
200, 6525 N. Sheridan Road, Chicago,
IL 60625, (312)508-8430.
Third U.S.
Women-Church
Conference
APRIL 16-18, "Weavers of Change" is
the theme of this gathering in
Albuquerque, New Mexico, which is
an opportunity for women to deepen
Accommodations, AIDS/HIV resourcu, bars, boo"kstoru, various businesses, haaHh care, logal
urvk:u, org'antzatlons, publlcaUons, ralgtou1 groups, switchboards, tharaplsts, travel agents, &
much more, tor gay women and men.
All pt"lces below INCLUDE FIRST CIASS POSTAGE t> USA, Canada & Mexico, In soaJed, discreet
envelopes. ~.lllng lists we strictly oon~endal.
~r:~~~k;: ~,(::~:=: ~~"lw.'~~r;;~~k~r=~tst(~!;,;~bank,
possible Customs problemsij
US,CANAPA. Canada aid USA tor women & men. City by dty Information tor all US States, canadian
Pn:wincEI!, and !he US Vigin Islands, plus retionwlde rsS011cas including headqUMers of natlona
orga,lzations clld c:aLCUSes: pi.blicadoos: mail aderc:cmpanles, etc. $12.00; OUlslde N. Amarlca $17
(airmail)
NEW YORK/NEW JERSEY. NY & NJ; "'1)8rate Women's Sectfa,; """1hattan bar rotes by Je,ry Fitzpatrick.
$5,00; outside N. America $8 (alrmalQ
SOlflHERN/Southom Mldwost. 64 pages. AL "2, AR, FL, GA, KS, KY, IA, MS, MO, NM, NC, OK, PR, SC,
TN, TX, US Virgin Islands, VA. $5.00; outside N. Am1~ca $8·(alrmall)
NORTHEAST. CT, DE, DC, ME, MA, NH, OH, PA, RI, VT, WV. $5.00; ousldo N. America $8 (airmail)
RENAISSANCE HOUSE, BOX 533-SS VILLAGE STATION, NEW YORK, NY 10014-0292 (212)674-0120
[]j] Second Stone•March/April, 1993
understanding of the richness and
depth of the diversity of women's
experiences. Featuring over 100
speakers, presenters and artists, four
major plenary sessions and 30 focus
sessions. For information write to
P.O. Box 1025, Melrose, MA 02176 or
call (617)662•2102 or (617)524-7030.
LGCM Annual
Conference ·
APRIL 16-18, England's Lesbian and
Gay Christian MoVement gathers at
Wellington Avenue Methodist
Church ill'Liverpoo l for its annual
conference. Dr. Elizabeth Stuart,
authol' of Daring to Speak Love's Name,
is keynote speaker. 'For information
contact Lesbian and Gay Christian
·Movement, Oxford House,
Derbyshire St., London, England E2
6HG, 071-739-1249.
Affirmation
Spring Gathering
APRIL 23-25, Affirmation (United
Methodists) meets in the Washing .ton,
D.C. area in conjunction with the
March on Washington. Facilitators
are Peggy Gaylord, Mary Jo
Osterman, Randy Miller and Ben
Roe. Guest speaker.is Lani
Kaahumanu, nationally known
activist and co-editor of Bi Any Other
Name; Bisexual People Speak Out. For
registration information contact
Affirmation, P.O. Box 1021, Evanston,
IL 60204.
Healing From
Where We Are
MAY 3-7, This retreat, offered by
Kairos, at the Marianist Center in
Cupertino, Calif., is a sharing
experience for HIV+ priests and male
· religious. For information contact
John McGrann, 114 Douglass St., San
Franciso, CA 9.4114, (415)861-0877 or
David Eidem, 1534 Arch St.,
Berkeley, CA 94708, (510)841-2229.
Dialogue on the
Bible and
Homosexuality
MAY 23, The Piedmont Religious
Network for Gay and Lesbian
Equality sponsors a group discussion
at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
in Winston-Salem, North
Carolina . Presenters include Rev.
Jimmy Creech and John Blevins. For
information call (919)766-9501 or
(919)748-3488.
SpiritFest '93
MAY 28-31, The Catholic Formation
Center, Irving , Texas is the setting for
this Memorial Day weekend ·
gathering. Fee of $120 includes room
and meals. For information contact
Rev. Terry Enloe, (504)944-9836.
Evangelicals
Concerned
· Eastern
connECtion
JUNE 4-6, The 14th annual eastern
summer retreat of Evangelicals
Concerned, Inc. will be held at
Kirkridge, a mountain retreat center
in eastern Pennsylvania. Keynoters
will be Peggy Ca mpolo, Nicho la s
Wolterstorff and Ralph Blair. For
information write to Evang elka ls
Concern ed, Inc., Ste. G-1, 311 East
72nd St., New York, NY 10021.
17th Annual Gay &
Lesbian Christian
Retreat
JUNE 10-13, This event for Lesbians,
gay men and bisexuals of all colors,
their family and friends, continues to
explore issues of sexuality in the
context of Christian faith and practice.
Facilitators include Mary E. Hunt,
Jolm McNeil!, Virginia Ramey
Mollenkott and William Smith.
Kirkridge, a mountain retreat center
in Eastern Pennsylvania is the
setting. For information contact
Kirkridge, Bangor, PA 18013-9359,
(215)588-1793.
BMG Annual
Retreat
JUNE 24-27, The Brothers of the
Mercy of God invite all to join them at
their host Monastery by the Sea. The
conference, themed "Religious Life,"
promises a time of prayer and
sharing. For information write to
Bros. of the Mercy of God, 341 E.
Center St., Manchester, CT 06040 or
call 1-800-253-5506. (At the beep press
11903 and leave message .)
Seventh Annual
Golden Threads
JUNE 25-27, The Provincetown Inn in
Provincetown, Mass. will be the location
for this gathering of a worldwide
social network of lesbian .women over
50, and women who are interested in
older women. Julie Woods is the
featured entertainer. Attendance is
limited to 250. For information contact
Christine Burton, Golden Threads,
P.O. Box 3177, Burlington, VT
05401-0031.
SEE CALENDAR, Next Page
..........
T Noteworthy T ..................... ~ ....................... ~ ............•.......•......
Lutheran Church of
Honolulu becomes RIC
t:.AT THE JANUARY annual meeting
of The Lutheran Church of Honolulu
the members voted to accept the
Affirmation of Welcome for gay and
lesbian persons and become a
Reconciled in Christ congregation.
The resolution recognizes that gay:
and lesbian people share with all
others the worth that comes from
being unique individuals created by
God. In becoming a Reconciled in
Christ congregation, the 93 year old
church joins more than 90 other
Lutheran congregations and synods
and 300 congregations of other
Christian denominations that have
CALENDAR, From Page 16
.. ~merica Baptists
·. Concerned
National Retreat
JUNE 26-29, The Isis Oasis in the
Russian River area of Northern
Califorina will be the site of the
annual retreat of American Baptists
Concerned. Cost, including meals and
lodging, is $175. The retreat will
include a trip to San Frat!c/Sco for the
annual Gay /~~bian Pritle parade.
For information contact American
Baptists Concerned, 872 Erie St.,
Oakland, . CA 94610. ·
Gay and Lesbian
Parents Meet
JULY 2-4, Hundreds of lesbian moms,
gay dads and their children will meet
in Orlando, Florida for the 14th
annual conference of the Gay and
Lesbian Parents Coalitio11. "Share the
Love ... Share the Magic!" is the
theme. The Clarion Hotel is the
setting, providi11g opportunity to visit
the Disney attractions. For information
contact GLPCI '93, Box 561504,
Orlando, FL 32856-1504,
· ( 407)420-2191.
"Partners for the
Glory of God"
JULY 15-20, The Gay and Lesbian
Affirming Disciples Alliance and the
United Church Coalition for Lesbian/
· Gay Concerns will sponsor joint
activities during the Christian Church
(Disciples of Christ) and the United
Church of Christ biennial General
Assembly (Disciples) and General
Synod (UCC) at the Cervantes
Convention Center in St. Louis.
Michael and Katherine Kinnamon are
scheduled to speak at a Saturday
evening banquet. For infomation,
contact Randy Palmer al
(319)332-6245.
made similar statements of inclusive
ministry. "We cannot visualize an
image of Christ standing at the door
of our . church welcoming some and
shunning others. Our church is not
simply a religious fellowship of like
minded people. It is a community
which comes together through . the
costly reconciliation by Christ's death
on the cross," said Dr . Donald
Johnson, pastor of the church.
Lesbian'Gay radio show
on air; s~ks material
t:.THE VOICE OF GAY CHRISTIAN~
!TY Radio Broadcast, a production of
Manos Music Ministries and the
Metropolitan Community Church ·of
UFMCC's
16th General
Conference
JULY 18-25, "For All The Nations" is
the theme of this conference celebrating
the Universal Fellowship of
Metropolitan Community Church's 25
years of ministry . The conference
returns to The Pointe at Tapatio Cliffs
in Phoenix, Arizona, site of the
immediate past UFMCC General'
Conference. For registration information
write to the UFMCC, 5300
Santa Monica Blvd., Ste. 304, Los
Angeles, CA 90029.
Dignity/USA
Convention
JULY 28-AUGUST 1, The national
gay and lesbian Catholic organization
holds its 11th biennial convention at
the Fairmont Hotel in New Orleans.
"Celebrate a Living Church" is the
theme of the gathering, to which
attendees are encouraged lo wear
Mardi Gras colors of green, gold -and
p1.1rple. Brian McNaught is the
featured speaker . For information
contact Dignity /USA, 1500
Massachusetts Ave., NW, Ste.11,
Washington, DC 20005,
1-800-877-8797.
BMG
Hospitality House
AUGUST 14-21, The Brothers of the
Mercy of God sponsor a week by the
ocean, summer fun, and sharing life's
experience. The setting is an authentic
New England farmhouse in
Matunuck, R.I. The atmosphere is
relaxed, prayerful and joyous. For
information write to Bros. of the
Mercy of God, 341 E. Center St.,
Manchester, CT 06040 or call
1-800-253-5506. (At the beep press
11903 and leave message.)
Northern Virginia, an hour -long radio
broadcast of music, preaching, and
interviews, has begun broadcasting
on WCXS 94.5 Stereo FM Cable
Access Radio in Fairfax County,
Virginia. The show airs every Wednes<
lay night at 9:00. Program Director
Manos M. Clements said that the
show is seeking professionally pro duced
Christian music recordings by
gay and lesbian artists, recorded
sermons, and financial contributions.
For information write to Manos Music
Ministries, MCC NOV A, 7245 Lee
Highway, Falls Church, VA 22046.
Robert Williams dies
t:.J. ROBERT WILLIAMS, an openly
P-FLAG Annual
Convention
SEPTEMBER 3-6, The 12th Annual
International Parents and Friends of
Lesbians and Gays gathering wiU be
held in New Orleans Labor Day
weekend at the Sheraton Hotel on
Canal Street. "Celebrating Family -
New Orleans Style" is the theme. For
information contact New Orleans
P-FLAG, P.O. Box 15485, New
Orleans , LA 70175.
Nationat Skills
· Building
Conference
OCTOBER 31-NOVEMBER 3, The
AIDS National Interfaith Network,
National Association of People with
AIDS and National Minority AIDS
Council sponosor their annual
gathering. New Orleans, on
Halloween weekend, is the setting.
For information contact ANIN, 110
Maryland Ave., NE, Ste. 504,
Washington, DC 20002.
RE-imagining/
Churches in
Solidarity with
Women
NOVEMBER 4-7, A global theological
conference by women for
women and men. Re-imagining
God, creation, Jesus, church as
spiritual institution, arts/ church,
-lar)guage / word, ethics/ work/ ministry,
commurJty, sexuality/ family,
churcl1 as worshipping community .
'.Featuring many preseriters including
Mary E. Hunt and Virginia Ramey
Mollenkott. The Minneapolis Convention
Center is the setting . Contact
Rev. Sally Hill, 122 W. Franklin
Ave., Room 100, Minneapolis, MN
55404, (612)870-3600, fax
(612)870-3663.
gay minister ordained in the Episcopal
Churcl1, died on Christmas Eve
in Boston of an AIDS related infection.
He was 37.. Williams, who was asked
to resign just six weeks after his
ordination in December 1989, was
diagnosed with AIDS in November
1990. His body was cremated and his
ashes scattered over Cape Cod B.ay. ·
UFMCC opens expansive
new churches
tiTWO, OF THE UFMCC'S largest
churches, in Dallas, Texas and Washington,
D.C. held their first Sunday
worship services in newly constructed
buildings just before Christmas .
CNN Headline News look note of the
Dallas church opening, saying that
"Gays and Lesbians now · have a
cathedral of their own." Both
Cathedral of Hope MCC in Dallas and
MCC Washington held their first
services in the new facilities on the
same day. The $3 million .Cathedral
of Hope MCC seats 1,000 people.
With 1,000 members, it is the world's
largest church with a specific outreacl1
to Gays and Lesbians, 'The fact that
this building exists · at all is a testament
to the power of God to enable
people to triumph over· adversity,"
said Rev. Michael Piazza, pastor. The
cl1Urch building features lesbian/ gay
symbols in a spiritual setting, including
a triangular altar of pink marble
and stained glass windows with
lambdas and the like. MCC/DC's
new church, which cost $1.5 million,
seats 350. Rev. Larry Uhrig, pastor of
the . church, said of the ·new building,
"It proves to me that we should never
give up on our dreams and ·visions,
but when we. wail on them they come
tous."
Two mid-sized UFMCC congregations,
in Omaha, Nebraska, and
Boca Raton, Florida have also purchased
new buildings in recent
months.
Rev. Freda Smith
on Dallas cable
t:.SILENT HARVEST MINISTRIES has
announced weekly · cablecasting of
worship services from River City
MCC, Sacramento, Calif., to TC! cable
customers in Dallas, Texas. The
program features Rev . Elder Freda ,
Smith, the first woman ordained in
the UFMCC and the first woman
elected to the Board of Elder:;. c,c
show can be seen on rhannel 12-B
Sun., 7:30, Thurs., 11:30, Mon., 10:00,
and Fri., 11:00; (All times .p.m.)
Ft. Lauderdale church
sets record
t:.CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
MCC, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida: held
the UFMCC's largest Christmas Eve
service last year with a congregation
SEE NOTEWOR1HY, P~ge 19
Second .Stone•March/April, 1993 [IT]
Reconciling Congregation Program calls on
Methodists to support Colorado boycott
The board of directors of the Reconciling
Congregation Program added
its voice to the many other groups in
the United Methodist Church that are
calling for the denomination to relocate
its General Conference from
Denver in 1996 because of the passage
of Amendment 2 by Colorado
MENNONITE, From Page 9
conference on the issue, and that no
formal written position be adopted by
the congregation or the conference .
Therefore, while the position paper
prepared by Germantown's pastors
was officially abolished, the ideals
stated in the paper still guide the
cong~egation today.
Once our young man became a
member at Germantown, many
others followed -. Other gay and
lesbian Christians in the Philadelphia
area joined when they saw there was
a comfortable place in which they
could be whole and still worship ·in
their tradition. At least one person
from an outlying "country" church
Coming Out
means teiling the truth
about our lives ...
a family value
we can live with.
Please give generously to the most
effective campaign
011r comm11nity will ever wage.
NATI0NALC0MINGOUTDAY•
OCT0BER11
PO Box 8270, SANTA FE, NM 87504-8270
SOS-982-2558
Your contribution is tax-deductible
voters. The board met Feb. 12-14 in
Chicago. In a leUer to the Corrimission
on General Conference, the
board stated, in part, "General
. Conference is the most visible and
most official gathering of the United
Methodist Church. We dare not meet
•in a place in which the policy is in
was directed by his pastor to "try
Germantown" after he had disclosed
his sexual orientation. More than
anything else, the open arms of both
gay and straight members have
invited gay men and Lesbians to find
a church home at Germantown.
To be sure, Germantown is not a
gay /lesbian church. The congregation
is largely made up of young and
middle-aged married couples with a
lot of youngsters under six years old.
It struggles not only with sexuality
issues, but with issues relating to
women, the poor and homeless, arid
· economic inequality, as well as the
inore mundane problems of leadership
and meeting space. But .the
For your c~nvenience
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ris: Second Stone•March/April, 1993 LL .
a: such blatant opposition to the
c-<iprotection of basic human rights, a
widely-supported United Methodist
position."
In other action, the RCP board
launched plans for a Reconciling Pastors
Network, which would provide a
way for pastors to be identified as
pastors have noted the unique
contributions made by the. gay and
lesbian members .. They poirit to the
contribution of gay men to a greater
sensitivity among the men in the
church; they also point out that gay
and lesbian couples have provided
models of stability for many heterosexual
relationships in the congregation.
The. Germantown congregation
seems to be largely comfortable with
how it has dealt with the issue of
supporting ministries with lesbian,
gay and . bisexual persons. Also, a
youth/young adult task force held its
inaugural meeting ancl plans were
finalized for the third national
convocation of Reconciling Congregations
from July 8-11, 1993 in
Washington, D.C.
faces the challenge of providing leadership
and an example to congregations
and the church at large. As
homosexuality affects more families
and congregations within the church,
a witness of acceptance and inclusion
is vital. Germantown is a fine example
that this can be done to the
benefit and enrichment of the congregation.
It is hoped that through
involvement with the Supportive
Congregations Network, and through
being open and unapologetic about
its position, Germantown Mennonite
They point to the contribution of gay men
to a greater sensitivity among men in the
church. They also point out that gay and
lesbian couples have provided models
of stability for many heterosexual relationships
in the congregation.
homosexual members, although some
aspects of the issue continue to cause
moments of unease with a few
people. The congregation has moved
forward in making acceptance of gay
and lesbian persons no less important
a goal than any other aspect of doing
God 's work. While most of the
energy expended on sexual orientation
issues has been internal within
the congregation, Germantown now
Church will continue to be a shining
example for the inclusion of all
oppressed groups within the Anabaptist
tradition.
Joe Miller has attended Germantown
Mennonite Church since 1986, and
serves as a trus'tee in the .congregation.
Reprinted from Dialogue, the newsletter
of the Brethren/Mennonite Council Jo,·
Lesbian/Gay Concb·ns.
Bulk Copies Available
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Listings in the Resource Guide are free to
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community services. Send information to
Second Stone, Box 8340, New Orleans, LA
70182 or FAX to (504)891-7555.
National
EVANGELICALS CONCERNED, c/o Dr. RalplrBtair, 311 East
72nd St, New York, NY 10021-(212)517-3171. Publications:
Review and Record. ·
CONFERENCE FOR CATHOLIC LESBIANS, P.O. Box 436
P~netariumStn., Ne;, York, NY 10024. (607)432-9295.
RELIGION WATCH, P.O. Box 652, North Bellmore, NY 11710. A
CTif~~i~~~~~~m !~b~i~~~~~~~~ 10461,
lesbiar\/gay community and the Roman Catholic Church. .
HONESTY: Southern Baptist Ac!/ocates lor E"'al Ai~ts, P.O.
Box 7331, Lotis\;lle, KY ffi/. (502)883-0783.
FEDERATION OF PARENTS AND FRIENDS OF LESBIANS
AND GAYS, INC. P.O. Box 27605, Wlshirgon, DC 20036. Send
$3.00 {or packet of infonmation. . -
NATIONAL GAY PENTECOSTAL AWANCE (also Pentecostal
Bible Institute (Ministerial trainingl) P.O. Box 1391,
Schenectaa,,, NY 12301-1391. (518)372-6001. Ptblication: The
Apostolic Voice. ·
Alabama
BIRMINGHAM • THE ALABAMA FORUM, P.O. Box 55894,
35255-5894. (205)328-9228.
Arizona
~~~ g:~~~ Slation, Cllica(P, IL 60610-0461. Ptblicalion: PHOENIX - Lion of Judah Ministries, P.O. Box 26531,
PRESBYTERIANS FOR LESBIAN& GAY CONCERNS, P.O. Box 85068-6531. (602)997-5372. Chuck Shamblin, Bert Miller
38, New Brunswick, NJ 08903·0038. Publication: More Light Co-pastors.
1
Update TUCSON· Cornerstone Fellow..hip, 2902 N. Geronimo, 85705.
. UNIVERSAL FELLOWSHIP OF METAOPOUT AN COMMUNITY · (602)622-4626. Rada Schatt, Pastor.
CHURCHES 5300 Santa Monica Blvd, '304, Los Angeles, CA MESA • Boundless Love Community Church, 431 S. Stapley
90020, (213)464-5100. Ptblication: Keeping in Touch Dr., 85204. (602)439-0224. P.J. Fousek-Grega11 p,,stor. Smay,
BRETHREN I MENI\QNITE COUNCIL FOR LESBIAN AND GAY 10:00 a.rn
CONCERNS, Box 65724, Washirgon, DC 20035. Ptblication: TUCSON • Casa De La Paloma Apostolic Church, 1122 N. B~11
~~De CHURCH COALITION FOR LESBIAN I GAY ~
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•
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1602
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CONCERNS, 18 N. College, Athens, OH 45701, (614) 593-7301.
Publicalion: waves ·
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTISTS KINS.HIP INTER NA TIONA~ Box
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Connection
RECONCIUNG CONGREGATION PROGRAM, P.O: Box 23636,
Washington, DC 20026, (202)863-1586. Publication: Open
Hands
~£~~~~p1%,,~~ :1:~o:s~~~f 20036-0561,
ECUMENICAL CATHOUC CHURCH, P.O. Box 32, Villa Grande,
CA 95486-0032. Holy Spirt Church, East Moline, IL,
(309)792-6188. St. Michael's Church, Russian River, CA, (707)
865-0119. Publication: The Tablet '
LIVING STREAMS, P.O, Box 178, Concord, CA-94522-0178.
Bi-monthly publication. ·
AIDS NATIONAL INTERFAITH NETV.ORK, 300 I St., NE, Sia.
400, Washirgon, DC_ 20002. (800)288-9619, FAX (202)546-5103.
Pubhcat1on: lnteract1on ·
NATIONAL CENTER FOR LESBIAN RIGHTS • 1663 Mission SI,
5th Fir., San Francisco, CA94103.
GAY AND LESBIAN PARENT COALITION, P.O. Box 50360,
WasNn(l!on, OC 20091. Publication: Network · ·
THE VlliNESS, PLblished tlf lhe Episcopal Church Publishing
Co., 1249 Washi~on Blvd, Ste. 3115, Detroi\ Ml 48226-1868.
(313)962-2650 ·. . · ·
INTERNATIONAtGAY AND LESBIAN ARCHIVES, The Natalie
Barney Edward Carpenter Library, P.O. Box 38100, Holtywood
CA 90036. (213)854-0271. Ptiilication: Bul~tin. .
COUf:'LES Ne'NSletter, Pl.blished by TWr Press, Inc., P.O. BOX
. 253, Brairtree, MA 02184-0003. ·
WOODSWOMEN • Adventure travel tor_ women, 25 W.
Diamond Lake Ad., Minneapolis, MN 55419, (800)279-0555,
(612)822-3809, FAX(612)822-3814.
·DAUGHTERS OP SARAH - The magazine for -Christian
Femirists, 3801 No. Keeler, Chicago, IL60641, (312)736-3399.
CHI AHO PRESS· A special \\Ork of the UFMCC Mid-Atlantic
District. Publisher of religious books and materials. P.O. Box
b~~~~~fflc'NMS~'mFifV£~
1
:.iogue and su rt
!10\JP for gay and lesbian Catholiclergy and religious. ro. Box 60125, Chicago, IL 60660-0125. PLblication: Communication
' .
V.OMEN'SALUANCE FOR THEOLOGY, ETHICS AND AITUA~
: 1~J!'.~l~O~:i:;.~~iA~t~f (301)589-2509, FAX
INTERNATIONAL FREE CATHOLIC COMMUNION, 258 Aspen
SI., #11, Arroyo Grande, CA 93420. (805)473-2510. Ptblical1on:
The Free Catholic Communicant. .
INDEPENDENT CHURCH OF RELIGIOUS SCIENCE, 4102 East
7th St, #209, Lorg Beach, CA90004. (310)433-0384. . .
UNITED LESBIAN AND GAY CHRISTIAN SCIENTISTS:- Box
2171, 256 So. Robertson Blvd, Beverly Hills, CA 90213.
(818)760-0827.
AFFIRMATION: Gai & Lesbian Mormons, P.O. Box 46022, Los
ml~fM~nit~)?i~t;~;l, for Gay & Lesbian c~ncerns,
P.O. Box 1022, Evansto11 IL60204.
ST. TABITHA'S AIDS APOSTOLATE, Christian AIDS Nel\\Ork of
the Merican Orthodox Catholic Church ot St. Gre(Prios, P.O.
~i ~M~~s'~~~~~:1si°:~\i~ Rock, AR72200
(501)372-5113. Workshops o_n women's issues, social justice,
racism and homophobia:
EMERGENCE tnternat,onat: A Community of Christian
Scientists Sl.!)porting Lesbians and Gay Men. P.O. Box 9161,
San Rafael, CA 94912-9161. (415)485-1881. Ptblication:.Emergel
GAYELLOWPAGES-P.O. Box 292, Village Sin., New York, NY
10014. (212)674-0120
\/\OMEN'S ORDINATION CONFERENCE, P.O. Box 2693,
Fairtax, VA 22031-0693. (703)352-1006
GAY, LESBIAN AND AFFIRMING DISCIPLES ALLIANCE, P.O.
Box 19223, tndanapolis, IN 46219-0223. (319)324-6231. For
members ot the Christian Church (Disciples ot Christ).
PutJication: Crossbeams.
NEW-OIRECTION Magazine tor gayAesbian Mormons, 6520
Selma Ave., Ste. AS-440, Los Angeles, CA 90028. ·
CHRISTIANITY & CRISIS Ma!fizine, 537 l'kst 121st SI., New
York NY10027. (212)662-5907.
BLK Magazine, Box 83912, Los Angeles, CA 90083-0912.
(310)410-0BOa
NEW WAYS MINISTRY, 4012 29th St., Mt. Rainier,.MD 20712,
(301)277-5674. A_ gay-affirming organization bridging the
California
SAN LUIS OBISPO • MCC 61 the Central Coasf, P.O. Box 1117, ~=~t~p!;~; (805)481-9376. &Jnday, 1020 a.m. Rev.
SACRAMENTO • Koinonia Christian Fellowship, P.O. Box
189444, 95818. (916)452-5736. Tom Rossi, Pastor. ·
SACRAMENTO· THE LATEST ISSUE, P.O. Box 160584, 95816.
(916)737-lOBa
~%~~~~i~tfi1~[
1
i~~ss,TWoll~oo~~i~A
1~008.ft.
(213)656-8570. Ptblication: ET News
SAN FRANCISCO· Lutherans Concerned, 566 Vallejo SI., #25,
94133-4033, (415)956-2069. Ptblicat~n: Ament.
~~i.;,~~ i\~~n?.: PG~y :xd 4~~1ci~~4~~1°r/~l~i~s'.~sg
1
Ptblicalion: Our Storie·s. ·
SAN FRANCISCO • The Parsonage, 555-A Castro St.,
94114-0293. Ptblication: The Parsonagi ·News
ARROYO. GRA_NDE • St. Brendan Free Catholic Church
i'jlosto~te, 258 Aspen SI., N11, 93420. (805)473-2510
CONCORD - Free Catholic Apostolate of the Redeemer, 1440
Deir~! Ave, 113, 94520. (510)798-5281.
SAN FRANCISCO • DIGNITY, 208 Dolores SI., , 94103.
(415)255-9244. Ptblication: Bricl;!es. · .• •
GLENDALE· Divine Redeemer MCC, 346 Riverdale Dr., 91204.
Sunday, 10:45 a.m., l'kd., Fri., 7:30 p.m. Rev. Stan Harris,
pastor. P~l?lic.9tion; Fram Mary's ~hrine.
Colorado
DENVER· Evangelicals Reconciled P.O. Box 200111, 80220,
(303)331-2839. Colorado Springs: (719)468-3158.
DENVER • Evangelicals Concerned I Western Re,ion, P.O.
Box 4750, 80204. Publication: ThECatJe.
Connecticut
HARTFORD-MCC, P.O. Box 514, 06016, (203)724-4605. SLl1Cl!y,
7:00 p.m. The Meeting House, 50 Bloomlield Ave.
District of Columbia
lnte11ity/Washington, Inc., P.O. Box 19561, 20036-0561.
(301 )953-9421. Ptbl~ation: Gay!pfing
MCC of Washirgon, DC, 415 M SI., N.W., 20001. Rev. Larry J.
Uhrig, p,,stor.
Florida
~M~~~~W1~it.:~ ~~~'.;~g~ :~51: /~eil~:
Dr. FredC. V\ltliams, Sr., Pastor.
CLEARWATER • Free Catholic Church of the Resurrection, 303.
N Myrt~ Ave., 34615. (813)442-3867.
WEST PALM BEACH · MCC, 3500 45th St., N2A, 33409.
(407)687-3943. Sunday, 9:15 & 11 :00 a.m. Sel'lices also in Ft.
P~rce, (40n687-3943 and Pt. St. Lucie, (407)340-0421.
FOAT MYl:AS • SI. John the Apostle MCC, 2209 Unity at the
corner of Broacl.vay. (813)278-5181. Sunday, 10:00 a.m., 7:00
p.m. Rev. James Lynch.
Georgia
ATLANTA • SOUTHERN VOICE, P.O. Box 18215, 30316.
(404)876-1819.
ATLANTA· All Saints Metropolitan Community Church, P.O.
Box 13968, 30324 (404)622-1154
Hawaii
KAHULUI • BOTH SIDES I\QW Newsletter, P.O. Box 5042,
96732.
lflinois
CHICAGO • OUTLINES, Published by Lambda PLblications,
3059 N. SoiJtl)ort, 60657. (312)871_-7610. FAX (312)871-7600.
Louisiana
(504)945-5390. &Jnday, 10:00 a.m. Shelley Hamilton, Pastor.-
Maryland
. THE BALTIMORE AlTERNATl',E, P.O. Box 2351, Batimore, MD
21203. (301)235001. FAXr;D1)889-5665.
Massachusetts
CHERRY VALLEY· Morning Star MCC, 231 Main St., 01611.
(508) .892-4320. Ptblication: Morning Star V\ltness.
Mrch1gan
g~~1oo~_AUISE Magaiine, 19136 'M>odHard No~h. 48203:
FUNT· Redeemer MCC, 1665 N. Chevrolet Ave.,-48504-3164.
(313)238-6700. Sunday, 6:00 p,rn Rev. Linda J. Stoner, Pastor.
Publ,callon: Sounds ol Rooeemer. -
ANN ARBOR - Huron Valley" Community ·church meets at
Glacier Way UMC, 1001 Green Rd., Ann Arbor, 48105-2896.
(313)741-1174. SLl1Cl!y, 2.00_p.m. •
DETROIT· lrteg:ity, 960 'lmlmore, N205, 48203.
GRAND RAPIDS • Bethel Ctvislian Assermly, 920 Cherry SE,
P.O. Box 6935, 49516. (616)459-8262 Rev. Bruce Rolter-P~tcher.
pastor. PLbficalion: Bethel Beacon. T etevision: Channel 23;
Sun, 10:00p.rn .
EAST LANSING I Lansing. Ecelesia. Affinning.church meets at
People's Church, 200 W. Grand River. Sunday, 8:15 p.m.
ANN ARBOR • Tree of Life MCC, meets at First
Con11egationat Church, 218 N. Adams, Ypsilanti. P.O. Box
2598, 48106. (313)665-6163. Su-day, 6:00p.m
Minnesota
MINNEAPOLIS· EQUAL TIME, 310 E 381h St., Room 207, 55409.
(612) 823-3836. Ptblished tlj Lavendar, Inc. ·
MINNEAPOLIS •. All Gods Children Metropolitan Community
Church, 3100 Park Ave. S .. (612)824-2673. Publ~alion: The
Disciple.
New Jersey
HOBOKEN· The Oasis, 707 Wlshingon St, P.O. Box 5149,
07030. (20!) 792-0340. . . .
New Mexico
SANTA FE· THE GATSBY CONNECTION, 551 W. Cordova,
Sta ™=. 87501. (505)986-1794.
New York
NEW YORK • Lesbian and Gay Community ·services Center,
Inc., 208 W. 13th SI., 10011. (212)620-7310. P,ijicalions: Center
~Yg~~~r,~;~, PO Box 5202, 101~0043. Ptblication
Outlook •.
ROCHESTER • THE E~PTY Cl:OSET, 179 Atlantic Ave.,
1t1°lNV~5eo~~:i~ ~~•sJ~~~b\rls,l:~x Church,
P.O. Box 9073, 12209. (518)346-0207. Father Herman, CSJn,
Guardian. Plblication:. Melanoia.
NEW YORK · AXIOS, Eastern and Orthodox Christians, P.O.
·Box 756, Village Sin., 10014. Second Friday, 8:00 p.m.,
Community Center, 208 West 13th SI.
· SCHENECTADY • Li~thouse Apostolic .Church, 38 Cotumt,;a
SI., P.O. Box 1391, 12301-1391. (518)372-6001. Rev. \Wtiam H.
Carey, pastor.
North Carolina
CHARLOTTE· Metrolina SV.ffcltxlard, (704)535-6277. P.O. Box
11144, =-V\ILMI NG TON • GROW Community Service Col])Oration, P.O.
Box 4535, 28406. (919)675-9222. Youh outreach: ALIVE lor gay,
lesbian, bisexual youth. ·
RALEIGH • Raleit Aeligous Nel\\Ork tor G1 and Lesbian
~1bt.?s~~ . p=-~~~1~~9!8~:,,k for Gay and
Lesbian E"'°tly, P.O. Box 15104, 27113-0104. (919)766-9501.
Ohio
DAYTON· Community Gospel Cnurch, P.O. Box 1634, 45401
(513)252-8855. Pentecostal, charismatic meets Sunday, 10:00
a.m. 546 Xenia Ave: Samuel Kader, Pastor.
COLUMBUS • Metropotttan Community Church, 1253 North
~:tic~\~<;;\::!;,,~6~4 -3026 Sunday, 1030 a.m.
COLUMBUS· STONEWALL UNION REPORTS, Box 10814,
43201-7814. (614)299-7764.
Pennsylvania
ALLENTOWN • Grace Covenant Fellowship, 247 N. loth SI.,
18102. (215)740-0247. 81yon Ro..,, Pastor. Thom Ritter,
Minister of Music.
Tennessee
. NASHVILLE· Daysprirg Fellowship, 120-B ·so. 11th St., Box
60073, 37206. (615)227-1448. Ptblication: Son Shine.
NASHVILLE : tnlegity of Middle Tennessee, Inc., P.O. Box
121172, 37212-1172: (615)383-0018. News~er._
Texas
DALLAS· Whte Rock Commuruty Church, P.O. Box 180063,
75218. (214)285-2831, (214)327-9157. Sunday, 10:30 a.m. Jeny
Coo~ Pastor.
~~1i~~~~~'. P.O Box 190351, 75219-0351 (214)520-0912
AUSTIN - Joari Wakeford -Ministries, Inc., 9401-B Grouse
Meaoo.Y Ln., 78758-6348, (512)835-7354.
DALLAS • Silent Harvest Ministries, P.O. Box_ 190511,
75219-0511. (214)520-€655.
MIDLAND : Hoiy Trintty Community Church, 1607 S. Main,
79701. (915)570-4822. Rev. Glenn E. Hammett, Pastor.
Publication:Trinity Tribune
DALLAS • Holy Trinity Community Church, 4402 Roseland,
75204. (214)827-5088. Rev. Frederick Wright, Pastor.
Publication: The Chariot
HOUSTON • Community Gospel Church, 501 E. 18th at .
Coturmia. (713)880-9235. Sunday, 11 :00 a.m. Chris Chiles,
Pastor. •
HOUSTON• Houston Mission Church, 1633 Marshall, 77006.
~~~~d~~ a~c~M.~~~,~~air,~a~~~atur, 77001.
(713)861,9149. Rev. John Gill, Pastor. Ptblication: The Gooc
News m~JgJJi72rnsi,i~~~:! NH, PO Box 66821, 77266.
.HOUSTON -. Kingdom Community Church, 614· E. 19th SI.,
77008. (713)862-7533 (713)748-6251. SIIXl!y, 11:00am
LUBBOCK · Lesbiar\/Gay Alliance, Inc., P.O, Box 64746,
79464-4746. (806)791-4499. Ptblication: La!Jixll Times.
Virginia
AOAI\OKE • MCC of the Blue Aiqie, P.O. Box ·20495, ·24018,
(703)366-0839. Ptblication: The Blue Ricl'.le Banner
~OANOKE • BLUE RIDGE LAMBDA PAESS, P.O. Box 237,
2«m, (703)890-3184 .
FALLS CHURCH • MCC ot Northern Virginia, 7245 Lee
Higlway, 22046. . .
FALLS CHURCH· Alfirmation Gay & Lesbian Monnons, P.O.
Box 10034, 22320,0034, (202)828-3096
FALLS CHURCH· Telos Ministries, P.O. Box 3390, 22043.
(703)560-2680. Bapfisl.gOll).
Washington
SEATTLE GAY NEWS, 704E. Pike, 98122. (206)324-4297. FAX
(206)322-7188. •
SEATTLE· Grace Gospel Chapel, 2052 NW 64th SI_, 98107.
(206)784-8495. Sunday, 1100 a.m. & 7:00 p.m., Wecilesday, 7:30
p.m. Jerry Lachina, Pastor.
RICHLAND· Shalom UCC, 505 McMlmly, 99352 (509)943-3927.
()pen and alfirming congegalibn.
TACOMA • Hillsida Community Church, 2508 South 39th St.,
98<00. (206)475-2388.
West Virginia
MORGANTOWN· Freedom Fellowship Church, P.O. Bot 1552,
26.'lJS.(~)291-69«).
International •
LONDON • Lesbian and Gay Christia~ Movement, Oxford
House, Oert:lfshire SI., londonE26f£, UK, 071-739-1249.
Lis.tings .are free at the
request of the organization.
Send to Second
Stone, Box 8340, New
Orleans, LA 70182 or
fax to .(504)891-7555.
_ NOTEWORTHY, From ,Page 17
of 2,651. "It was probably the most
innovative service in any Christian
church I've ever been to," said Gus
Kein, associate of pastoral care. The
massive service was held in ihe
Broward County Performing Arts
Center, which will also be the site of
the second "Celebrate Our Freedom"
. evangelism rally with Rev. Elder
Troy Perry, UFMCC founder and
moderator. The rally is scheduled for
May 29, 1993. - Keeping ln_Touclz
Speakers bureau established
LI.STAFF MEMBERS of Maleh us are
available to speak to student groups,
churches and other organizations .
Rev. C. Alexis Tancibok, editor of
Malclzus, a lesbian and gay Christian
monthly newsletter, said 'There is so
much out there to share with not only
the straight community but our own
as well." Inquiries may be written to
Malclzus, 6036 Richmond Hwy,, #301,
Alexandria, VA 22303 or faxed to
(703)329-7896.
Second Stone•March/ Aj>ril, 1993 [iru
I
I •
Class iii eds T- ................. ~ ..... .. • ................................................ .
:s0 ,0ks & Pu·bt1.cation_s ··
"WONDERFUL DIVERSITY," "Hea rtily
recom~ended ," . "Philosophically intriguing
," "Excellent.,, Why do revie wers
highly esteem CHRISTIAN*NEW AGE
QUARTERLY? Great articles and liv_ely
columns mak e this bridge of dialogue
between Christians and New Agers as
entertaining as it is substantive. Subscribe
for only $12.50/yr, Or sample us for $3.50.
CHR!STIAN*NEW AGE QUARTERLY, P.O.
Bo'. 276, Clifton, NJ 07011-0276. TF
CHI RHO PRESS. Send for your copy of
The Bible a11d Homosexuality by Rev.
Michae l England for $5.95 or I'm Still
Dan ci11g by long-term AIDS .survivor Rev.
Steve Pieters for $8.95 arid receive a free
catalog from Chi Rho Press, an M(;C-based
publishing house for the Gay/Lesbian
Christian community. Or receive our catalog
by sending $1.00. P.O. Box 7864-A,
Gaithersburg , MD 20898.
GAY USED BOOKS wanted. Please share
your·read· books. Thanks. Tom, 1116 Marble
NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102. 6/93
General Interest
IF YOU HA VE READ "The Aquarian Gospel
. of Jesus the Christ" by Levi, I am interested
in corresponding and discussing. W. Courson,
P.O. Box 1974, Bloomfield, NJ 07003 .. 6/93
MESSIAH COLLEGE ALUMNI (Grantham,
PA) ~re you interested in forming a lesbian/
gay alumni group? If so please call Susan .
Bailey, 703-820-0483; Julia Lowery, 717-
697-8347. 8/93
MERCY OF GOD COMMUNITY, Christian,
ecumenical and inclusive, WelcOmes i~quirers
age 21 and older as prospective vowed
brothers and sisters. Live and minister
locally, participate in growing national
network. Religio us Life Weekend retreat
June 25 to 27; hospitality house August 14
to 21. For information, call toll-free -
1-800-366-2337, at tone press 11903; or
write: Dept. SS, P.O. Box 6502, Providence,
RI 02940. 4/93
AIDS, From Page 13
sister, loved one or best friend; and
that the face that AIDS wears is
always the face of a person who is the
most important person in someone
else's .life.
· Acrilss this nation, in churches larg.e
and small, pastors and laity continue
to ·ask: "What can my church do?"
My answer is always based oil what
many churches are doing so well
already. These acts of faithfulness
include:
•Making a covenant to be a place of ,
spiritual nurture and uplift;
• Making a covenant (a promise) to
affirm the sacred . worth of persons
with HIV and AIDS; ..
• Making a covenant to be har•
bingers of hope. We all need hope
in our lives: ·things to fook forward
to. We all need to celebrate life in
wliatever form it is given to us
today. Covenant to be a place of joy
and celebration.
[2ft] Second Stone•March/April, 1993
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• Making a covenant to be a
companion to one who is ill and
alone. How long·the hours are in a
hospital. Making a covenant to visit:
to not be afraid.
• Making a -covenant to provide care
when loved ones need a break. Lend
a hand. It's one of the gestures of
Christ's healing touch.
• Making a covenant to take time to
be there. You are .the presence of
Christ in the midst of suffering,
doubt and fear. No greater commission-
was ever given to the followers
of Christ than to be the presence of
Christ in the lives of others.
•Making a covenant to work with ·
other churches and community
groups to address the larger context
of AIDS.
• Making a covenant to see that AIDS
prevention become a reality.
• Making a covenant to take care of
yourselves. Remember, Jesus withdrew
from the disciples to-pray, to
be alone with God, to care for his
spiritual needs, Perhaps there were
times when Jesus wept over the
burdens he carried. It's okay to cry.
Perhaps there were times when he
felt uncertain, unsure, not up to the ·
task of establishing God's reign on
earth. . God understands our unbelief,
our lack of confidence. As in
.the life of Jesus, God moves us from
prayer to action. God is with us
always in our covenant-making and
our covenant-keeping.
Work faithfully with your church
that it inight .covenant to be a '
nonjudgmental place of openness
where .persons whose lives have been
touched by AIDS can name their
pain, can reach out for compassion
and consolation.
Work with our church that it might
covenant .to be an outstretched hand,
a welcoming shoulder, a comforting
breast where pain finds Christ's .
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mercy and the love and
companionship of those who bear his
name. ·
Make a Covenant to Care filled
with the awareness that persons with
HIV and AIDS have so much to offer
your congregation and that your
congregation is not fully representative
of the Body of Christ so long
as any person with HIV or AIDS is
excluded, b<!fred, kept out. ·
Make quilt panels , to remember
those you have loved. Hang them in
your church. Remember always that
to be iri the presence of the quilt is to
be in the presence of the Holy; to be
upheld and sustained by the
knowledge that God's mercy has no
end, that God's love endures, that
God has received those who have
died, and that the wounds of the
living will be healed.
•· In your healing ministries be a
convenant-keeping people of a
covenant-making God. Be the visible
followers of the Christ Jesus who
red,;,fined the meaning of holiness;
who with the touch of the hand
established the merciful and just
reign of God among those whom
temple and society believed to be
"unclean" "unclean"; those judged to
be sinners; those who were cast out
by others who deemed themselves to
be holy. Make a covenant to follow
him . Break down barriers. · Risk for
the sake of a new heaven and a new
earth . Covenant to follow him: the
Son of God, the Christ of the journey,
the Jesus who knew what it was like
to be lo_nely, rejected and despised.
Covenant .for follow . . Covenant to
care.
Cathie Lyons is the Associate General
Secretary of the Health and Welfare
Ministries Program Department, General
Board of Global Ministries of the United
Methodist Church.
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