[schoolboi]

Before I started this thread the first thing I did after reading this story was email pastor Latham and let him know that he is not alone. I also gave him the contact info of two friends of mine who are pastors in Tulsa that I know will be loving and reconciling toward him.

The fact is in this type of religious system regardless of guilt or innocence this man’s career is basically ruined. His entire world has been flipped upside down. People who he has called friend, mentor, father, and ally will now be nowhere to be found. He is going to be afraid of the gay community. He will be afraid of other ministers. He will be afraid of his flock and even his family. The saddest part of the situation is that again regardless of guilt or innocence he has been a part of creating the very religious system that will now betray him. I pray that through his struggle he will recognize the fault and destruction involved in a mentality that points out sin an accuses the brethren. Maybe he will realize that the pain he is going through is the same type of pain that all of God’s gay children involved in the same religious system go through.

I believe that while this story is of great benefit for those of us trying to bring the truth of the destruction that is caused by Christian Fundamentalism, it is still important to not forget that there is a human being involved in this story. It is in the best interest of everyone to use this story in a way that will cause the least harm to our brother Lonnie.