RMN's new blog-proactive Radical inclusion

[Kelli Busey]

Cross posted from the RMN blog
Dated July 1, 2008
By Kelli Busey
http://www.rmnblog.org/2008/07/rmns-new-blog-.html

The Reconciling Ministries Network is launching a new blog in accordance to it's mission of bringing ALL of God's children home. In following the teachings of our lord, this vision of radical inclusion has been shaped into action by Antony Hebblethwaite and the staff of of the RMN. Among the writers who are contributing are people who have known personally Dr Martin Luther King's struggle, people who have experienced South African apartheid, pastors who are living with the denial of their Church to minister because of sexual affinity and teachers who have dedicated their lives to the good of human kind. All are human rights activists who are now deeply involved with bringing us together in peace. And one transgender truck driver, that's me. I was so inspired to by what I saw in General Conference 2008 that I self promoted my application to contribute to this blog and to my amazement, was accepted. But I got cold feet after reading the biographies that the other writers submitted. I questioned myself about my abilities. How could I ever write on the level as these educated and wonderful people. And lets face it, I'm not the most pious of people. I'm more akin to the 250lb hot dog with mustard and relish eating 9th inning self appointed 3rd base coach! Antony wrote back to me and said "easy girl". This is what reconciling means. Inclusion. So we are all here. And this is the scoop of my life! This world is after all a place for me.

http://www.rmnblog.org/2008/07/rmns-new-blog-.html
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July 2,2008

I found my heart strings playing the saddest of songs when at the United Methodist Conference over the outcry of humanity, by a slim majority those exclusionary words were retained in the book of Discipline. This was done by people not mean or vindictive. But by people sincerely believing those actions were done in the best interests of their church. That is what draws me to this faith, even in it's ignorance of the gifts that it is refusing it is a beautiful and wonderfully vibrant Christian community.

This is my second post. I am committed to find connections, the thinnest of threads will work. I need all the help I can find as I was previously not disposed to work in this way, so it is new and challenging.

If you can, please visit our blog. I am a Soulforce member and ask everyone to share your stories, your activism, your connections with the United Methodist faith.
They really want to do right. We can help!
kellibusey@yahoo.com

http://www.rmnblog.org/2008/07/rmns-new-blog-.html

[kara speltz]

Originally Posted by Kelli Busey

Cross posted from the RMN blog
Dated July 1, 2008
By Kelli Busey
http://www.rmnblog.org/2008/07/rmns-new-blog-.html

The Reconciling Ministries Network is launching a new blog in accordance to it's mission of bringing ALL of God's children home. In following the teachings of our lord, this vision of radical inclusion has been shaped into action by Antony Hebblethwaite and the staff of of the RMN. Among the writers who are contributing are people who have known personally Dr Martin Luther King's struggle, people who have experienced South African apartheid, pastors who are living with the denial of their Church to minister because of sexual affinity and teachers who have dedicated their lives to the good of human kind. All are human rights activists who are now deeply involved with bringing us together in peace. And one transgender truck driver, that's me. I was so inspired to by what I saw in General Conference 2008 that I self promoted my application to contribute to this blog and to my amazement, was accepted. But I got cold feet after reading the biographies that the other writers submitted. I questioned myself about my abilities. How could I ever write on the level as these educated and wonderful people. And lets face it, I'm not the most pious of people. I'm more akin to the 250lb hot dog with mustard and relish eating 9th inning self appointed 3rd base coach! Antony wrote back to me and said "easy girl". This is what reconciling means. Inclusion. So we are all here. And this is the scoop of my life! This world is after all a place for me.

Dearest Kelli: Oh, how I understand those feelings! I go to a Roman Catholic parish that is affiliated with UC Berkeley. The vast majority of our congregation have all sorts of degrees. So when I was first invited to preach, I was terrified and spoke with a dear friend (my ex-husband) about it. He reminded me that our God rarely chooses the highly educated to speak prophetically. His apostles for the most part were just your average working class folks.

So welcome to the club. I know God is using you in absolutely amazing ways. Your excitement and energy are totally awesome, and it is part of why you've been called.

Much love, Kara

[Gennee]

And one transgender truck driver, that's me. I was so inspired to by what I saw in General Conference 2008 that I self promoted my application to contribute to this blog and to my amazement, was accepted. But I got cold feet after reading the biographies that the other writers submitted. I questioned myself about my abilities. How could I ever write on the level as these educated and wonderful people.



Antony gave some great advice, Kelli. Your story is just as important.

Gennee

[Kelli Busey]

Thank you for all your encouragement and faith. It has been with effort I am shifting from a cynical political commentator to a person searching for threads linking faith and the social struggle of our community.
I am going to continue cross posting some of my RMN submissions at the risk of seeming to be self promoting.
I will do this because I beleave in the message and it is my personal interpretation of faith activism as inspired by Soulforce.

Please visit the RMN blog. Every time I do I commune with our church.
Your friend,
Kelli Busey

http://www.rmnblog.org/
http://planetransgender.blogspot.com

[lda]

Hi-Just wanted to insert a comment about the definition of reconciling and the statement of bringing All God's children home.
First, inclusion is more synonomous with tolerance-Not reconciliation. When I tolerate someone who anoys me, or whom I don't agree with, it is not fellowship, and it is not love. God's love is not one of mere tolerance-he doesn't want opposing belief systems to coexist in His house, He has one word and One system of Faith in our One Messiah and Lord-Jesus the Christ. To reconcile requires a working through differences to reach a destination of commonality-In the bible, being reconciliation is restoring fellowship with God through His truth, which requires a removal of whatever caused the relationship to be broken in the first place-Sin. To include is to allow all parties equal privy-While this concept works in democracy, it doesn't work in the church's theocracy.

We are all God's creation-We are not all God's children. We don't become children of God until we are born of God-by being Born of the Water and Spirit. This only comes through faith and true repentance (John 3 & Acts 2:38) True Children of God don't need to be reconciled to him-We were reconciled through New Birth.

Originally Posted by kara speltz

Dearest Kelli: Oh, how I understand those feelings! I go to a Roman Catholic parish that is affiliated with UC Berkeley. The vast majority of our congregation have all sorts of degrees. So when I was first invited to preach, I was terrified and spoke with a dear friend (my ex-husband) about it. He reminded me that our God rarely chooses the highly educated to speak prophetically. His apostles for the most part were just your average working class folks.

So welcome to the club. I know God is using you in absolutely amazing ways. Your excitement and energy are totally awesome, and it is part of why you've been called.

Much love, Kara

[Matt Algren]

Originally Posted by lda

Hi-Just wanted to insert a comment about the definition of reconciling and the statement of bringing All God's children home.

Hi Ida, I'll be dissecting your post today. Fellow Methodist here, so I have a horse in the race.

First, inclusion is more synonomous with tolerance-Not reconciliation. When I tolerate someone who anoys me, or whom I don't agree with, it is not fellowship, and it is not love. God's love is not one of mere tolerance-he doesn't want opposing belief systems to coexist in His house, He has one word and One system of Faith in our One Messiah and Lord-Jesus the Christ. To reconcile requires a working through differences to reach a destination of commonality-In the bible, being reconciliation is restoring fellowship with God through His truth, which requires a removal of whatever caused the relationship to be broken in the first place-Sin. To include is to allow all parties equal privy-While this concept works in democracy, it doesn't work in the church's theocracy.

Speaking to the first sentence first, I don't really agree with you. Assuming that you meant characteristic instead of synonymous (something can either be synonymous or not synonymous, there are no gradients), one definition of the word reconciliation is "restoration to harmony; renewal of friendship". That's one of the major goals of the RMN. For 36 years there has been disharmony, and they/we are trying to restore the proper and glorious harmonic created when all God's people are welcomed and valued and loved. One method of achieving that goal is to be purposefully inclusive; to recognize that there has been a deficit in the past and to make specific and visible steps toward fixing the relationship.

Tolerance, though, is also an important tool. It's not prime, but it's a place to start. Methodists are strange ducks, in that we tend to be okay with disagreeing on lots of stuff (alcohol, divorce, gambling, war, women at the pulpit, the list goes on) as long as we DO agree on the most basic (God rules, Jesus reconciles us to God, the Spirit dwells within and sustains us). Heck, I've known Methodists who question the virgin birth.

But on Sunday morning, we put our differences aside, focus on that which we have in common, and sit in the pews and worship. Homosexuality is one of (I can't think of another one, but I'm sure I'm wrong) the only non-primal issues that some Methodists dig their heels in and refuse to debate or even converse. Asking for tolerance is a way to get people to put their feelings aside and come together as fellows to get to the heart of the issue.

Like I said, it isn't the way things ought to be, but for now it's an important tool.

We are all God's creation-We are not all God's children. We don't become children of God until we are born of God-by being Born of the Water and Spirit. This only comes through faith and true repentance (John 3 & Acts 2:38) True Children of God don't need to be reconciled to him-We were reconciled through New Birth.

You've misunderstood the goal of RMN. We're not talking about reconciliation with God. that's already been settled. What we're looking for is reconciliation with our brothers and sisters who would keep us out of God's house.

I'd also add that I disagree with your creation/children statement. I know it's a common phrase, but it's horribly exclusive, and needlessly so. One thing we know about Jesus: He was not exclusive in his teachings, in his company, or in his aid to people in need. To use such language as "We are not all god's children" is to place ourselves at the front row in the synagogue.

Kelli, keep 'em coming! (And happy birthday!)

[Matt Algren]

I'm going to steal Kelli's pulpit for a quick post. I'm in the North Central Jurisdiction, and as people who are in the Facebook RMN group know, I watched our episcopal elections with great interest. For most of the 22 votes (not a record, but a lot) there was a clear struggle to make a statement about homosexuality and the United Methodist Church. Two candidates pulled away from the pack, one on the board of directors of the "Confessing Movement" (our anti-gay faction) and the other the pastor of a Reconciling Congregation.

After awhile, the eventual elected bishop, Dr. Julius Trimble, an apparent centrist, started rising and overtook both until they each withdrew their nominations. (Good news: the Confessing pastor went down before the Reconciling one.)

I was sure Dr. Trimble was a good candidate and would be a good bishop, but still, I was angry at someone losing because his church's doors were open to all people.

Until today. Just a while ago, an entry from the RMN blog came across the wire. Here's a link to the whole thing, but the part excerpted below made me cry* at work.

I told Rev. Dr. Trimble a bit of my story – that I am a gay man and lifelong United Methodist. That I have LGBTQ friends who feel barred from the Church. What will he do as a Bishop for the LGBTQ folks already in the Church and those who stand outside? A colleague of mine asked the even better follow-up question of “What have you already done in your ministries for queer folks?”

Rev. Dr. Trimble provided great answers, but I was more touched by the response of him and his wife, Racelder Grandberry, at the end of the discourse. Both Trimbles came to me, laid their hands on me, affirmed that I was a beloved child of God, called me courageous, thanked me for my question, thanked me for keeping the faith and staying in the Church despite its shortcomings, prayed that I would continue telling my story, and prayed for the day when the United Methodist Church truly becomes inclusive of all people.

Maybe, just maybe, this is another baby step in our 40th year around the mountain.






* Literally, and it's not easy to get me to cry (unless you pull a nose hair).

[Vanessa White]

That is so powerful......

I am really feeling called to work within our UMC, and maybe someday, beyond, to educate, inform, enlighten, about our exclusion from the table. I really like what I read about RMN, and am trying to utilize the ideas/ideals from there as much as possible. I haven't joined the group on Facebook yet, but should do that, because I am not on it often, but I am on it.

Thank you so much for sharing this story; I have a lump in my throat today at my desk.......

[Kelli Busey]

Dear Matt,
Thank you for your replies and I am honored at the attention and thought you committed, although our understandings of the exact meanings of words differ I beleave we share a passion and drive for full inclusion in religion.

[Kelli Busey]

Cross posted from the RMN blog

http://www.rmnblog.org/2008/06/spirits-united.html

Metropolitan Community Church of Greater Dallas was treated to a special Soulforce visit on Sunday June 15 2008. Two of our youngest and brightest stars proclaimed the wholeness of there lives. Guest speakers, Jakob Hero and Angel Collie, talked about Living authentically Proud, Young & Transgender.
Our young friends road to our church has at times not been a easy one.

Transgender gentleman Angel Celeste Collie is a gender activist, member of Imani MCC Durham NC. He is is also a college student and employed by MCC as a archive project and Program Assistant. Born in Bunn NC, Angel began transition in the 10th grade, which quickly was followed by expulsion from his high school. Angel was then told by his Baptist Minister he was ill and transported to a hospital. Desperate, with Angel in a spiritual downward spiral his mother enrolled him in a private high school for LGBT students. After graduation Angels love for Christ was reignited at Imani MCC. Angel expresses his passion for Christ in tattoos of his spiritual journey, Soulforce activism and evangelical missions.

Jakob Heros transition from female to male began after two years of marriage. Jakob could not live in a gender that did not represent his true self. So he began the traditional regiment taught to us by the medical profession and found himself unable to complete his first attempt at the year long "real life test". But like so many of us a failure in transition only means we are going have to do it again. This time Jakob found success by inviting Jesus Christ into his heart and asking that he show him the way. The wonderfulness of this journey escapes description.

Jakob is now a seminary student pursuing a doctorate in theology and wishes to combine his theological education and passion for advocacy to best serve his community.

According to Rev. Colleen Darraugh, lead pastor of MCC Dallas, the two spirits one from California and one from North Carolina were brought here to share as young transgender Christians in their new and fresh visions. Pastor Darraugh wishes to challenge her congregation through acceptance and understanding of people. She believes this results in growth of spirit, faith and the goodness of the greater Christian Community.

Angel, Jackob and my soul met as we attempted to answer questions about the how the General conference changed our lives and our love of the Methodist faith. Sometimes words fail, but I felt that the others were moved by the spirit.

Was it just coincidental that the Methodist faith so touched Angel and my lives and that we joined again to witness? At the GMC we became one in the struggle for full inclusion and in doing so became a part of the United Methodist church. I know this was as responsible as anything could be for our meeting on this day. I feel the burden of the Methodist struggle maybe lightened a little, after all we do have a pair of Angels!

Kelli Busey
http://planetransgender.blogspot.com