Liberal Crozier
07-19-2006, 07:23 AM
My brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus,
My spouse is writing this for me. I am forbidden to sit or lie back with computer or laptop for any purpose. However, he has printed out and has read me all of the Soulforce information, especially, and of course, the 1000 watt march blogging, which is the main focus of our organisation at this point in time. They have our prayers.
Dash has been an extremely thoughtful and compassionate Christian who has always differentiated between Churchianity and Christianity. He seeks the latter, and has avoided the Pharisees, Scribes, and Saduccees while seeking Christ Himself. His plight is real. Many LGBT Christians have local access to gay-affirming churches or parishes. Some are nationally gay-affirming in their official pronouncements; while others are either local exceptions, or local option exceptions. The majority of LGBT Christians in the USA are either wholly without or unaware of any such faith community within a reasonable radius of their home.
To many Christians, TV or now virtual church implies a betrayal of the local pastor and his church community while his local group financially and otherwise support national televangelists. This has also transferred into the several attempts at theocon virtual church annexes.
However, we feel that Dash has certainly both identified a need and described a solution that feeds his soul. Nathan and others have accurately defined " the Church " as WE, or whenever " two or more are gathered in My Name." Of course, the liturgical/sacramental churches have heard jokes referring to virtual Eucharists or virtual Reconciliation/Penance. At first, we laughed outloud. And yet, I wonder if both Word and Sacrament needs to translate into the 21st century way of communication and interaction?
Dash's contributions and others, not only make us emote in a true expression of love of neighbour, but make us aware that in daily blogging, we give credence to the fact that Christianity is a 24-7 proposition. There are no Christmas or Easter Christians on this blog..........not even Sunday only Christians.
Dash, as a Churchman, understands the role of the verger. Where my seat or cathedra is, there is the true definition of cathedral. To those whom my Succession is not theologically resonant, I am just " one of the guys." We are all called, however otherwise specifically, to be parts of the Body of Christ.
We often thought, before his illness, and after we felt " safe to disclose more" - that we would create such a virtual reality for the real LGBT Christian wishing to reconnect and graft again to the Faith Community where love and acceptance abounds. Inclusion rather than exclusion as Dr. White continually admonishes us to create.
Dash - we truly love you back....and truly believe that the Holy Spirit has used you as His instrument in providing us with both the need and the solution to serve Him regardless of where we live our lives.
My spouse is writing this for me. I am forbidden to sit or lie back with computer or laptop for any purpose. However, he has printed out and has read me all of the Soulforce information, especially, and of course, the 1000 watt march blogging, which is the main focus of our organisation at this point in time. They have our prayers.
Dash has been an extremely thoughtful and compassionate Christian who has always differentiated between Churchianity and Christianity. He seeks the latter, and has avoided the Pharisees, Scribes, and Saduccees while seeking Christ Himself. His plight is real. Many LGBT Christians have local access to gay-affirming churches or parishes. Some are nationally gay-affirming in their official pronouncements; while others are either local exceptions, or local option exceptions. The majority of LGBT Christians in the USA are either wholly without or unaware of any such faith community within a reasonable radius of their home.
To many Christians, TV or now virtual church implies a betrayal of the local pastor and his church community while his local group financially and otherwise support national televangelists. This has also transferred into the several attempts at theocon virtual church annexes.
However, we feel that Dash has certainly both identified a need and described a solution that feeds his soul. Nathan and others have accurately defined " the Church " as WE, or whenever " two or more are gathered in My Name." Of course, the liturgical/sacramental churches have heard jokes referring to virtual Eucharists or virtual Reconciliation/Penance. At first, we laughed outloud. And yet, I wonder if both Word and Sacrament needs to translate into the 21st century way of communication and interaction?
Dash's contributions and others, not only make us emote in a true expression of love of neighbour, but make us aware that in daily blogging, we give credence to the fact that Christianity is a 24-7 proposition. There are no Christmas or Easter Christians on this blog..........not even Sunday only Christians.
Dash, as a Churchman, understands the role of the verger. Where my seat or cathedra is, there is the true definition of cathedral. To those whom my Succession is not theologically resonant, I am just " one of the guys." We are all called, however otherwise specifically, to be parts of the Body of Christ.
We often thought, before his illness, and after we felt " safe to disclose more" - that we would create such a virtual reality for the real LGBT Christian wishing to reconnect and graft again to the Faith Community where love and acceptance abounds. Inclusion rather than exclusion as Dr. White continually admonishes us to create.
Dash - we truly love you back....and truly believe that the Holy Spirit has used you as His instrument in providing us with both the need and the solution to serve Him regardless of where we live our lives.