Hello, My name is George Brown

[lonesomeg]

Greetings to you all. I'm pleased to be part of this wonderful enterprise, and communicating with you directly.

I am a cradle Episcopalian, and attended that denomination with my mother and the Southern Baptist with my father throughout my youth. The basic scriptural approach of my family was pretty fundamentalist. Part of my spiritual development was strongly influenced by a fundamentalist evangelical group known as the Navigators (and to a dear friend, as "the Aggravators". It was under their influence that I learned to study the Bible and memorize verses of Scripture with the reference "fore and aft".

I look at my coming out period as lasting between age 17 and 30; it took me that long to become comfortable emotionally, psychologically, and spiritually with my gay sexuality, and develop a working theology for understanding that God loves me just the way he made me: Gay, gay, gay, through and through. Important influences were John Fortunato Embracing the Exile, and John Boswell's Christianity, Social Tolerance, and Homosexuality, and several of Malcolm Boyd's many wonderful books.

There's been a lot of water under the bridge since then, including the beginnings and continuation of the AIDS epidemic here and abroad, 20 years in the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles, several MCC's and several Episcopal congregations.

I've been in Long Beach, CA for 21 years, and am now an active member of St. Luke's Episcopal Church, with our wonderful rector, Rev. Gary Commins, DD. There I'm active in the gay, healing, music, lector, and various others as needed ministries.

I look forward to being an active part of this wonderful organization!

Best,
George

[Zerbie]

Hello George,

Hearty welcome! :)

I'm so happy to say hello to another musician. There are so many of us around here!

You've found a wonderful group of people - I hope you'll be back to talk some more. How did you stumble across the forum?

[labguy22]

Your story is very familiar to me. I too was raised Baptist, and it took over two decades to undo the homophobia I had towards myself. I'm glad you were able to find a fellowship where you can be out and minister to others.

[paul]

So George,

You're an 'Agravating Southern Episcopalian?' Yikes. It's a good thing you can sing. Most religions looks the other way if you're musical ;).

Welcome. Glad to have you here and I look forward to getting to know you. (I also have the fundamental roots, just kidden with you).
paul

[Pablo Rafael]

Hi George,

It is good to welcome another person from the LA area. I lived in LA before moving to Colorado and liked it very much. (except for the traffic).

I have had my eye on the Episcopal church. I have been in the Lutheran and Catholic churches and really like dignity and ceremony. It would be nice to be in a denomination that is a little more LGBT affirming. I have thought that the Episcopal church might be a good fit (when I eventually get kicked out of the Catholic church.) :D

Glad to have you here, please let us get to know you better.

Tu Amigo, Pablo

[Gennee]

Hi and welcome to Soulforce, George.

Gennee

:)

[elcharrom]

Yay and anther George :cool:, I lived in LA too, didnt like it too much but at least I can say tha Ive been to LA right? :D.

I never payed too much attention to what kind of church I attended, as long as the church praises God and his amazing son and our savior Im coo with bein there :agree: but I think my church is a penticostal church, where we dance and sing, I think thats the name, all I know is we dance and siong for the good of the lord so I like it :D

Bienvenidos to the forums :)

[BrentRichards]

Welcome George ... I know Navigators well. I was a Campus Crusader, for 4 years of undergrad and three years on their Campus staff ... not the friendliest place for us, but a valuable experience for me, nonetheless.

[Jennifer5]

Welcome, glad to have you here. :)

[archyboi]

I grew up in Long Beach and worked there until I moved away for good in 2000. Where's St. Luke's. I went to Grace UMC on Junipero & 3rd. I'm a cradle Methodist, myself. Just remember John & Charles Wesley considered themselves faithful good Anglicans! All bets were off in America, though.

HA!

I live in Central Arkansas now and am a member the FUMC I was born into. Chokes me up when I think of it.

Nice to meet you.

--kev

[dsdrane]

George --

A warm Episcopalian welcome from South Florida (soon to be Chicago).

Me, not South Florida...oh, hell, you know what I mean.

I'm also active in singing and other ministries, and I'm very glad to welcome another Piskie.

I look forward to learning more about you.

:):agree::wave:, David

[GrantJordan]

George- I am new in the past week here and already find some relief in hearing the trials of others. Ah, yes the Navigators - alligators throats stuffed with 120 memorized verses to quote. I knew them in the service back when....I still recall the verses and do believe they have taught me over the years. I fear more that they were like a promise box for me to pull out when I needed encouragement rather than truth and life to me.

I spent 8 years in YWAM also and have been from AoG to Presbyterian, serving in 3 different denominations. Much diversity - why don't people who know I am out now put all that together and just expect strange things from me? I came out officially, shyly in Jan 07, and am in the process of a divorce with my wife of 29 years. Everyday my stomach aches and I often get anxiety about things- strange paranoia about what might happen to me that I'm not prepared for. It isn't strong, but it's part of the deeper work of coming out where God shows you more of your real self and you shutter and wonder how you ever made it this far.

I trust you will find some folks to continue your conversation. Me too.

Grant