Hello from Louisiana

[BillPLed]

Wow! It is great to see a forum on this site now. I am not sure how much I will be posting here, but it is great to know that there is a place like this where gay Christians can come to fellowship. I was actually born into a Southern Baptist home and left the church around the age of 13. I explored many other spiritual paths and religions before coming back to the Baptist church about 6 years ago. I go to an Alliance of Baptist church in Monroe, LA. Our pastor is C. Welton Gaddy who is the author of numerous books and is also the director of the Interfaith Alliance in D.C. My other spiritual interests include Buddhism, the work of teachers such as Eckhart Tolle, Gangaji and Byron Katie, Jungian Psychology and 12 Step Philosophy. I am openly gay at my church and with my family. I am open with the staff at work, but not with my clients. I work as a primary counselor in an in-patient alcohol and drug abuse clinic. I have a master's degree in Social Work. I have been in a committed relationship for about 5 years now -- we had our commitment ceremony in our home by the then associate pastor of our church. We have actually been together for 13 years. Well, I guess that is enough! I look forward to hearing more from each of you.

Billy

[keltic63]

welcome Billy!

Thanks for mentioning the Interfaith Alliance. I had their website on my favorites list before my hard drive crashed and burned. I haven't been there for months. I'm gonna go over and take a look around again.

[SolInvictus]

Welcome to the forum!

[pnggrad79]

Hey Bill,
I grew up very Southern Baptist, so I know where you are coming from at least on that front. I came out last year after marrying my girlfriend of 7 years in Canada. My parents were not very receptive to my news and neither were my sisters. They still aren't. Anyway, how did your family react? Are they accepting of your spouse? Welcome to the forums and God Bless your journey.

[Jamie McDaniel]

Originally Posted by BillPLed

I go to an Alliance of Baptist church in Monroe, LA.

Thanks be to God for the wonderful Alliance of Baptists and also the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America. I'm a recovering Southern Baptist myself.

I'm assuming you have seen this book, put out by the Alliance and the Peace Fellowship?

Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth: A Resource for Congregations in Dialogue on Sexual Orientation

I highly recommend it!