Friends,
I'm not reacting so negatively to this congregation. It sounds like they are very divided. Rather than go along with folks that want to exclude LGBT people, they have decided that there will be no family photos in the directory either heterosexual or LGBT. That, at least, doesn't treat LGBT families as less than heterosexual families.
Sounds like the pastor might get ousted by the "conservative" faction if they have their way--he doesn't deserve it. I hope the moderates and progressives in that church keep tying to hold it all together.
Seems also like there is more that the "gay issue" involved here---notice the controversy over Marcus Borg having preached there. Borg is a wonderful biblical scholar and I am impressed that this congregation is open enough to have him speak there at all, much less in the pulpit. But the controversy over Borg indicates there is a conservative-liberal split in the works here---too bad!
I'm a liberal/progressive and proud of it, but I also hope that the church can get beyond divisions and make a place for all to worship without demeaning anyone.
Steven Webster
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