Seeking a LGBT Nazarene Group

[jlgosnell]

How odd the world is, I have visited so many denominations and the one church I actually like is a Nazarene church, however the activist in me would like to know if there is a type of reconciling movement within the Nazarene Church similar to the movement within the other denominations, Reconciling Ministries Network comes to mind when I think United Methodist Church.

Jeremy L. Gosnell
Co-Organizer
Bayard Rustin Social Justice Center
Conway, Arkansas

[Steven E. Webster]

Friend,

You may know that the Church of the Nazarene and the United Methodist Church have a common, Wesleyan history. My understanding is that the Church of the Nazarene separated from the larger Methodist body (then known as the Methodist Episcopal Church) in response to what is called the "Holiness movement." This seems to manifest itself in rigid notions of what is moral, right and proper among Nazarenes.

So what is your local Nazarene church like? Why do you like it? Does it welcome LGBT persons?

I'm glad to have a fellow Wesleyan/Arminian here---we got plenty Calvinists (but they seem friendly, too)!

Steven Webster

[keltic63]

Friend,

You may know that the Church of the Nazarene and the United Methodist Church have a common, Wesleyan history. My understanding is that the Church of the Nazarene separated from the larger Methodist body (then known as the Methodist Episcopal Church) in response to what is called the "Holiness movement." This seems to manifest itself in rigid notions of what is moral, right and proper among Nazarenes.

So what is your local Nazarene church like? Why do you like it? Does it welcome LGBT persons?

I'm glad to have a fellow Wesleyan/Arminian here---we got plenty Calvinists (but they seem friendly, too)!

Steven Webster

my parents took us to a Nazarene church until I was about 14. then we went to AoG. I too question whether a gay-friendly organization could exist in the denomination. I recall my very strict childhood, and much of it is based on the teachings of the Nazarenes and the holiness movement. No dancing, no movies, no playing cards, no rock music, women couldn't cut their hair, women couldn't wear pants, no makeup, no swearing, not even slang such as gosh or darn, attendance at services 3x/week was expected. As Steven said, very rigid ideas of right and wrong.

What is your church like? Do they seem like they'd be open to an out gay man in their midst?
I recall fondly many of the people who attended that church. They were some of the sweetest people. I also recall that they could turn on a dime and write someone off as damned to hell for the slightest of sin, perceived or real.

[jlgosnell]

So what is your local Nazarene church like? Why do you like it? Does it welcome LGBT persons?



I like the atmosphere as in the people are friendly, and very welcoming as opposed to other churches I have visited including the United Methodist Church, Presbyterian, and the fact the preacher appears to be preaching about how we need to rethink our approach to how our nation is becoming more of a capitalistic society than ever before.

Plus it helps that this particular church appears to be a combination of United Methodist & a hint of Assembly of God (AOG being it's preaching style)

[jlgosnell]

What is your church like? Do they seem like they'd be open to an out gay man in their midst?

I recall fondly many of the people who attended that church. They were some of the sweetest people. I also recall that they could turn on a dime and write someone off as damned to hell for the slightest of sin, perceived or real.

Honestly, I am rather in a confused state of mind about my sexuality mainly because I approaching 30 and it's getting lonely, plus life is just easier to deny my feelings and be an activist for the LGBT movement.

Anyway, I do get the feeling that if I were to be completely out to them or if they new I was working as a co-organizer for the Bayard Rustin Social Justice Center than they would possibly turn on the so-called dime and condemn me.

As for why I like the church... mentioned in another post it is because of the church's tendency to preach about anti-capitalism and don't believe everything on television or get sucked into being a consumerist nation. Plus the first Sunday School class I attended, which had been moved to Wednesday, was about how we should educate ourselves to why Fair Trade is better then Free Trade.

[Steven E. Webster]

Honestly, I am rather in a confused state of mind about my sexuality mainly because I approaching 30 and it's getting lonely, plus life is just easier to deny my feelings and be an activist for the LGBT movement.

Anyway, I do get the feeling that if I were to be completely out to them or if they new I was working as a co-organizer for the Bayard Rustin Social Justice Center than they would possibly turn on the so-called dime and condemn me.

As for why I like the church... mentioned in another post it is because of the church's tendency to preach about anti-capitalism and don't believe everything on television or get sucked into being a consumerist nation. Plus the first Sunday School class I attended, which had been moved to Wednesday, was about how we should educate ourselves to why Fair Trade is better then Free Trade.

Friend,
How "out" are you generally? I'm not going to judge you for being in the closet, because I don't know how difficult it may be for you to be out in Conway, Arkansas.

However, I would recommend that you not be more "in the closet" at church than you are elsewhere. It sounds like the congregation you are attending has expressed progressive ideas about economics and politics. It sounds almost like the "social gospel" to me--which is good. Perhaps there are some progressive folks there on the LGBT issue.

I just don't know how to give advice to you in your circumstances. I chose to be "out" in pretty much all aspects of my life 30 years ago. It was tough. It was even dangerous sometimes. Now I live in something of a "gay ghetto" here in a liberal college town in the Midwest (Madison, Wisconsin). And, while nowhere is totally safe for LGBT persons, I'm in a relatively safe and supportive environment. So, my advice might be of limited value in your circumstances.

I will tell you my first reaction, though. You should come out to the pastor or someone else in leadership in the congregation--someone who seems interested in you as a newcomer and who seems approachable. If you do not get some sort of a supportive response, or some kind of sense of openness to your presence--then you'll know this church may not be the place for you to get too deeply involved. I would hope, though, that this church might have some progressive, educated, and gay-friendly folks in it.

You'll have to guage whether this church is open enough to keep working with, or if they are too closed to LGBT persons to make it worth your while to be in dialogue with them.

Steven Webster