Gone for the day......

[keltic63]

Hey folks, I'm not going to have computer access today. We are having an inservice. I'll be spending the day in various classes meant to improve my teaching skills (most of them do not and can not apply to what I teach, so mostly today will be a big boring waste of time)

However, I wanted to tell you that I am meeting with the woman from my church who is struggling with seeing me with my partner. I suspect that the situation may be different than I first believed, that what I'm reading as discomfort with seeing me with Scott may actually have been her embarassment with a question posed to her: who is that new man in the choir? She didn't know how to respond..... either way, she still needs some educatin' ;) pray for me around 4:30pm

[andrewlittle]

Hey folks, I'm not going to have computer access today. We are having an inservice. I'll be spending the day in various classes meant to improve my teaching skills (most of them do not and can not apply to what I teach, so mostly today will be a big boring waste of time)
Okay - not to disappoint - we'll see if we can't reek a little havoc around here while you're gone. No promises, though - Don't have a lot of time today.

However, I wanted to tell you that I am meeting with the woman from my church who is struggling with seeing me with my partner. I suspect that the situation may be different than I first believed, that what I'm reading as discomfort with seeing me with Scott may actually have been her embarassment with a question posed to her: who is that new man in the choir? She didn't know how to respond..... either way, she still needs some educatin' ;) pray for me around 4:30pm

I've got time to pray, though. Hoping this works out really well, and that you make an ally in the process - or just disarm an opponent would be next best thing.

[keltic63]

I spent 90 minutes with this woman. and let me say this, I have always liked this woman, but disagree with her theology. she is stuck in her old pentecostal ways (she grew up in the assembly of god) and has had trouble moving beyond that.

as I have suspected over the past few days, her broaching of this subject at an Elder's meeting was not meant to be judgmental, but rather, how should she, as an elder, respond to that question....How much information should she give to church members inquiring about the identity of the new guy in the choir? I explained, early in our conversation, that elders struggling with seeing Scott at church with me, was not only offensive to me, but also working against the mission of the church. She brought up the child molester who sits in the back pew, I brought up the fact that Elders have trouble attending Sunday morning services regularly, let alone the extra services. There are other issues that Elders should be struggling with......

our conversation was lively, funny, full of laughter, and loving, even as we confronted each other with our hurts, accusations, and frustrations.

she's a literalist, she is even uncomfortable holding the position of elder in our church because she believes that as a woman, she should not hold this office. i challenged her on that, if she doesn't believe that according to scripture, she should be there, why does she do it? She admitted that she doesn't like change, doesn't want to change, and hasn't examined the scriptures related to homosexuality. i asked her to study that, and she promised me she would. Most encouraging was the fact that her "human nature" (her words) told her that everything I was saying is true, but something was holding her back, telling her not to leap yet. I told her that this is ok. She said that she believed that her human nature was flawed because it was human and that God's spirit told her to wait. I said that I see it as "what a wonderful mind God has given us to understand these things" and that the trepidation was fear of change.

the best thing was our ability to say "I see where you are; can you come along with me on this journey?" and finally to embrace, say "God Bless you" and, yes I did it, because we must be the change we seek: I said "I love you" as we parted. I heard it back.

of course, in the 90 minutes we talked about much more surrounding the gay issue. seeds have been planted, and although I don't have a rainbow flag waving ally yet, I think I will very soon.

[Daniel]

Sounds like a heck of a lot happened in your meeting, for both of you!

Boy! Can I identify with the AG mindset: been there done that. It's hard to leave old patterns of thought- and you where so wonderfully confrontational- asking her to get out of her comfort zone and explore her cognitive dissonance -on not only the gay issue- but the one the issue of women serving in church.

Really sound's like you saw each other's side and came out with eyes wide open and new territory to discover about each other and the situation.

Singular achievement. Double Blessing. Triple Crown undertaking!

[keltic63]

I sent an email last evening, thanking her for our meeting. She replied this morning and said that she had a restless night. She also said that she was up before dawn searching the scriptures because God had reminded her that the answer is in His word. She found herself in 1Timothy and 1 Corinthians. But her mindset was this: "So much for change."

I'm going to suggest that God sent her there to explore those scriptures deeply, and discover the true meaning of malakoi and arsenokoitai......

[Daniel]

I'm going to suggest that God sent her there to explore those scriptures deeply, and discover the true meaning of malakoi and arsenokoitai......

From a Shirt of Flame: the Secret Gay Art of War perspective, she's already down the path and there is no going back.

She may fight kicking and screaming, but if she has half a brain- and it sounds like she does (and what I mean by that is the standard AG emotional reaction to new information- which is to deny it) she'll follow the end of the path to a beautful garden, where all God's Children are sitting down- together- at at Feast.

[Zerbie]

Thank God for you, Keltic! :love: :pray: :dove:

You're amazing. There is no way I could have done what you did yesterday.
Thank you for that.
:love:

[pnggrad79]

As always Keltic, you are person of integrity, faithfulness, and class. Thank you for waging a "war" so to speak against the religiosity and ignorance of this woman. If you came across with love and understanding in the face of such staunch opposition, then she has to see that and I hope it causes such an uproar in her spirit that she looks at you the way Christ does-with compassion, love, mercy and understanding. Until she walks a mile in your shoes, she needs to keep quiet and really seek the Lord on this and not what she "thinks" is the Lord. Love conquers fear, and Jesus never cast anyone away. Including blind fools who purport to know the Scripture.

God bless you Keltic and your partner!

[keltic63]

So last night, we had our Maundy Thursday service. This is a big deal for Disciples. Our denomination is founded on the idea of a welcoming table, open communion, the Lord's table for the Lord's people!

I observed: half of the Elders did not attend, and only a handful of Deacons were there. I'm still hurting from the implication that Scott should not attend with me, yet those in charge of the church don't bother to attend.....

[Daniel]

So last night, we had our Maundy Thursday service. This is a big deal for Disciples. Our denomination is founded on the idea of a welcoming table, open communion, the Lord's table for the Lord's people!

I observed: half of the Elders did not attend, and only a handful of Deacons were there. I'm still hurting from the implication that Scott should not attend with me, yet those in charge of the church don't bother to attend.....

Should think twice about throwing stones.

Without hubris or exaggeration, I think it can be said that you are their leader right now, even though you may feel as though you stand alone.

May the Light of all Lights shine into their hearts- may they let it in- on the day of resurrection.

Make beautiful music!

[Vanessa White]

Absolutely, Keltic; stand in your own precious light that many of them are too scared to look at and really SEE. You are embracing the spirit of the season from the place of light in who you are. Feel confident that you are making differences there; they just don't want to let you know that you are.

You are a gift here and to that congregation; both of you. :love: