Another Christian singer out of the closet!

[sailaway58]

A great concert

[BrianB]

Jamie said: Added:

I finished reading the Blade article.


Quote:
He'd met Bill McCartney, the founder of Promise Keepers, a controversial religious group that advocates men being the head of Christian households, at a meeting and ended up singing in front of 1.3 million Christian men at a Promise Keepers rally (“Stand in the Gap”) at the Mall in Washington in October, 1997.

I remember... I was there for that. And it got me thinking, anyone else on the forums have that event in their past? Let's see... 10% of 1.3 million.... ummm... probably the largest assembly of gay Christian men in history.

I was there for the Promise Keepers rally in Washington. We loaded up a van for an overnight road trip from Ohio to Washington. The same question was in my mind at the rally. How many of these men are gay? I was deeply closeted at the time.

[Matt Algren]

Originally Posted by u-dog

Ray's wife, Carol, has participated on this forum from time to time though she didn't identify herself as Ray's wife, she did share some about their experience with his coming out.

Now I feel weird. Mrs. Boltz is on the site and I had a brush with one of the younger Boltz's the other night when we both responded to a hateful blog post at the same time.

Hoping they're doing okay while Ray gets eviscerated by some really hateful, willfully ignorant people.

[Emproph]

Oh thank God, you guys made it out.

I feel envious but relieved at the same time.

Thanks for sharing those pictures.

-Patrick

[Gennee]

Originally Posted by keltic63

self-preservation is an interesting phenomena. We all experience it to one degree or another. in my situation, I got to the point where I no longer cared what happened to me, I was emotionally dead, so why not go ahead and be physically dead? and with that as a likely event, I no longer cared what people knew about me, so in one last act of self-preservation (choosing to live over everything else) I came out. of course, I've gained much now that i'm back, healthy, and living an open and honest life.

if only we could know then, what we know now. I'm sure Ray has similar feelings.

there is a cost to coming out....maybe Ray didn't get to that point when he was enjoying his performing career, but he got there, and I'm sure there will be costs associated with this event as well.

You make a great point, Keltic. I had to come out to my wife sooner than I wanted to (she found my stuff). It was a shock at first but now she has come to accept me being transgender. It was easier with my son. I haven't come out to everybody ut there may be a day that I may have to. I'm aware of the cost because I have decided to be visible and vocal.

Tomorrow, I'm attending the sevenstraightdays event. I will be dressed and a lot of people will be straight, I believe. It will be an opportunity to share what it is to be transgender. The way I see it, if one mind is changed, the cost will be worth it.

Gennee

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Gennee

Tomorrow, I'm attending the sevenstraightdays event. I will be dressed and a lot of people will be straight, I believe. It will be an opportunity to share what it is to be transgender. The way I see it, if one mind is changed, the cost will be worth it.

Let us know how it went!

[Emproph]

Originally Posted by Gennee

Tomorrow, I'm attending the sevenstraightdays event. I will be dressed and a lot of people will be straight, I believe. It will be an opportunity to share what it is to be transgender. The way I see it, if one mind is changed, the cost will be worth it.

I didn't want to OT this thread so I posted it in the transgender thread. It's written by a transgender woman, so fortunately I had a place to put it.

But it's something inspiring that I read a little while ago, so based on what you just said, I thought I'd share it.

http://www.soulforce.org/forums/show...0721#post60721

Actually, anyone who needs an emotional boost from the barrage of oppression may want to read it.

-Patrick

[Unmasked]

The fact that Mrs. Boltz and some of the younger Boltz's are floating about is a little crazy, I am so glad they are, because to have such friends is wonderful, and they're going to need a lot of support as soon as Focus on the Family is done focusing on the political scene. I'm very amused at Dobson considering re-canting his statements about how immoral and anti-family John McCain is in light of him latching on to that Sarah Palin woman that he used to insult because of her "pork barrel projects", and is totally checking her out in that video (look for it on YouTube, the commentary is priceless). He has no respect for her, but I have to say that as a political manuever, sheer brilliance. John McCain needs every fundie he can get, which is why he switched poles on every one of those key conservative issues. It's sad when men would sacrifice their souls for power, and sadder still when they spill the blood of the innocent to appeal to the "Christians".

[sailaway58]

Getting back to the point at hand:

Check this out:

RAY BOLTZ IN CONCERT

And you can see my wife, daughter and me as you watch! How exciting!

[nmwolfboy]

Admittedly, i usually run screaming from the room whenever CCM is played or performed. Renaissance or Baroque church music is more my style. But i found this man's story very touching. His sincere nature just comes through the Blade article. And dipping into the comments appended to that article, it's only too clear what a shit-storm some Christians are drooling to throw his way. That they claim to do so in the name of love seems to me to only demonstrate how much they must misunderstand the Way of Christ.

scott

[nervezapper]

I read this post a few days ago.

When I was in high school I took his song Watch the Lamb and made it into a spoken dramatic interpretation. I changed a few words around to make it like I was one of the children. It was one of my favorite speaches I ever did.

Looking back on his music this current news is not much of a supprise. He always had that bit of angst in his songs like he was working through some major issues. Well, now we know he was.

I know people who refuse to listen to music written or sung by gay people. It will be interesting to find out if these people will stop listening to Ray Boltz.

P.S. Its really weird to see him bald when he used to have that big thick mullet.

[nervezapper]

I just read some posts on other websites and I am filled with so much grief over the comments that "Christians" made about Ray. They still think that with proper prayer and guidance that he will be cured. I submitted a response to the Christianity Today article. It has to be approved before it is posted. For some reason I think it will never get posted.

[Emproph]

Originally Posted by sailaway58

Getting back to the point at hand:

Check this out:

RAY BOLTZ IN CONCERT

And you can see my wife, daughter and me as you watch! How exciting!

Why, I could just book a flight, rent a room, fly right up there and kiss you...and I'm agoraphobic.

BTW, You guys got a GOOD shot @ about the 9:00 mark. Tell your daughter she’s famous, LOL. I don’t know about anything else after that, I’m about half way through.

While I was listening to the first half, I was putting it up on my site, I wanted to share it as soon as possible - that’s a PG13 site btw, not for queasy or puritanical. Yet not because of sex or language, but the post before Boltz’ has some ugly Holocaust pictures, JFYI. So, don’t go ‘perusing’ around unless you’re prepared to (not to mention, I can be a nasty little SOB when it comes to the anti-gay / “ex-gay” industries - and those that run them…).

So the link I gave, goes to that particular post alone.
--
Also, for anyone else who has a site, you can embed the video, they give the html code for it. It’s only coming through my left speaker though, so if anyone else has that problem, please let me know.

Anyway, as I titled my post, he didn’t just “come out,” he came out TO HELP.
__________
Thanks for the link Sailaway

-Patrick

[wmanion]

Ever since reading this post I have been caught up in a lot of emotions. I just finished listening to the concert and his songs tugged at my heart, just like they did long ago when I was buried in the closet. I use to sing in the choir at our AoG church and was a soloist. I sang "Watch the Lamb," and it was always an emotional song for me to do. Listening to him sing brought back a lot of feelings for me and the song he sang, "I choose Love," brought it home. Without even realizing it that is exactly what I have done in my life. I have chosen to love. Especially when it comes to my self. I no longer hate myself or who I am. I have chosen to love myself and in doing so have chose to love others with a genuine love and not just a "I love you cause the Bible says I have to love you kind of love." I am now on a search to find a church or a gathering of like minded people that I can worship with. So far, I have not had much luck. Oh...if Andy only felt called to come to Central Illinois or anyone else for that matter what a joy that would be. I sent the link to this concert to all my straight Christian brothers and sisters who still love me and have not condemned me in my coming out. I hope they are just as blessed by his music as I was.

Bill

[Unmasked]

Watch the Lamb is a big one from me, even though there's a guy back in my church who plays The Anchor Holds and Thank You all the time. I've heard the song twice in my life, the last time I heard it was at a UMC affiliated community event called Chrysalis (a youth off-shoot of Emmaus, there's information around the interweb, and I can talk about my experience with it in another place) but anyhow, two of the ministers that were placed there to guide and counsel us dressed as mimes and performed an elaborate interpretive pantomime-dance to the song, the most memorable moment being the crucifiction of the loaf. The song had struck me in a way I still can't explain. I don't think I shall ever forget that night.

Simply beautiful.

[Emproph]

Here's the concert, from the church site, with the set list. And I just transcribed the intro from Jeff Miner:

(P.S. I didn't put this is quote mode, just incase anyone wants to quote from it.)

~~~

Introduction by Reverend Jeff Miner, Senior Pastor: Ray Boltz has written and sung some of Christian Music’s greatest hits; Thank You, Watch The Lamb, I Pledge Allegiance To The Lamb. He’s sold more than 4 million albums and songs. His songs have repeatedly reached the top of the Christian music charts, including 12 number 1 hits. He’s won 3 Dove awards, Christian Music’s highest honor. He’s been an icon in the Christian Music Movement, although if you’ve read the blade article, you know that I was not aware of that until recently [audience laughs]. But then 4 weeks ago in Sunday evening church I--someone asked us to pray for Payton Manning, and I said “Is he injured?” [more laughter]. So, all things are relative.

What an honor it is for this church, and for our congregation to have Ray here to sing tonight. The timing is a special honor. Many of us who sit in this room have gone through a process of coming out. Where we have reached that time and place in life where we just had to say completely, and authentically who we are, and that is not easy. And there is a price to pay. Not just financially, but in many realms of life. So it takes a lot of courage.

I think all of you know that on Friday of this week, there was an article in the Washington Blade, where Ray shared that information, his coming out story, with the Washington Blade, and therefore with the world. And he’s been getting a lot of…interesting mail. But the world will never again be the same, and for those who have gone through the process, although it comes with a cost, I don’t think any of us would ever say we’d ever go back. [audience: “Amen!” / applause] There is a freedom that comes with that, that nothing can match.

But, as most of us who’ve come out experienced, when you come out, you don’t just want to be known as “that gay person.” You’re still the same full and wonderful person as always. And I’ve talked to Ray enough to know that, that’s not his primary identity, just like it’s not ours. And so he is here tonight, not to sing to us as a gay man, but as a brother in Christ, who happens to be a gay man. And we are honored that his first concert after sharing that information with the world, would be here with us.

There’ll be many detractors as Ray moves ahead, and so tonight, our goal, is to surround you with love, to celebrate your courage [rousing applause], to say thank you…didn’t somebody write a song about that…[laughter]. Seriously, we want to say thank you tonight, so, sisters and brothers, let’s give a rousing welcome, and our loving best to Mr. Ray Boltz. [applause, standing ovation, concert begins].

~~~

And, another/follow up article from the Blade, here:

Ray Boltz unveils new music during weekend D.C. mini concert

[sailaway58]

Truth Wins Out has an interesting article surrounding the Boltz controversy.
Also This one is good:
Ex-Gay Criticizes Christian Singer’s Sexual Honesty, Misquotes Human Genome Project

[prairielesbian]

GET OUT OF HERE..........

What will my brother-in-law think of this? Ray Boltz is "his" favorite Christian singer - and my brother-in-law comes from that "tight" church way of thinking!

WOW!

I feel a dance coming on.....

BTW - I love Ray Boltz - have his music.

[nervezapper]

Originally Posted by prairielesbian

GET OUT OF HERE..........

What will my brother-in-law think of this? Ray Boltz is "his" favorite Christian singer - and my brother-in-law comes from that "tight" church way of thinking!

WOW!

I feel a dance coming on.....

BTW - I love Ray Boltz - have his music.

Have you found out how your BIL thinks about Ray now?

My grandpa liked a particular musician so my mom and dad bought him the newest record (this was the 70's) for Christmas one year. After my grandpa saw the cover he never listened to that person ever again because they were black.

I wonder how many people are refusing to listen to Ray?

[prairielesbian]

[quote=nervezapper;61134]Have you found out how your BIL thinks about Ray now?

/quote]

I have no idea what my BIL thinks - I've been cut from this family. ??? My niece did leave an article on myspace stating that Ray needs to pray and repent and be saved from his gay urges. The only thing I got from the article was the word - URGE????

Please define urge!

If interested, I can pull up that article up or invite you to my myspace page. Just let me know.