How a Closed Mind was Opened

[andrewlittle]

Professor Emeritus Arlo Duba, long-time conservative retired Dean of the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary, shocked many with this revelation. It is well worth the read.

"I rejoiced when the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) was given the authoritative interpretation that precluded homosexual participation in the ministry of the church in 1978. I thought the issue was settled once and for all. I continued my smugness for more than twenty years when the denomination repeatedly confirmed that interpretation. I was simply so certain that I never read any of the literature being produced about the issue.

Then my Bible reading and study led me to the story of Philip and the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:26-39)."

Read the full article at: "How My Mind Was Changed" Written by Arlo D. Duba
Appearing online at the Presbyterian Outlook website, Sunday, 28 December 2008

[Daniel]

Interesting too that the writer uses the term gender condition. Curious that.

[BenL]

The commenters, except for one, weren't generally as open to Pastor Duba's exegesis as I would have wished. In fact, the story of Philip and the eunuch in the desert is an important one in understanding the inclusiveness of God's love.

Some in the LGBT community would exclude trans people from the protection of the rainbow umbrella, in much the same way that the church has excluded gay people. Many LGBT people don't see any similarity between themselves and trans people.

In fact, the basis of exclusion from the larger society for all in the LGBT community has to do with gender and gender roles, including sexual roles that are ascribed stricty to males and females. Let's face it, at the core we're a gender-bending crowd.

Bravo for Pastor Duba's new understanding of Scripture, including passages from Isaiah and the Deuteronomic code. This is how the full meaning of the Bible is broken open over time as we bring new discernment to God's word.

[scott snedeker]

below is a copy of my reply to their blog



"I am warmed by the circuitous way in which compassion is expressed in the above writing. Compassion for gay folk like myself seems to be very elusive to more conservstive Christians. Many folk never overcome their barrier to compassion for gay folk and as a result suffer the emptiness closing their hearts to myself others. My capacity for intimacy and passionate love is with my gender only. My first best destiny is allow my capacity to love in this way to blossom to its greatest potential. My life is rich in intimacy and passionate love. (If they only knew!) By honoring my heart and God's gift of this capacity to me I grow love and compassion for my self.

Compassion from within grows and extends outward to others. To those who still unable to overcome their barriers to compassion for gay folk or any other group I extend my compassion to you. It is becasue I too have known the suffering of the emptiness endured when my heart was closed to that of another human being. I feel your suffering and understand how this can cause guilt and anger and loss of peace. There is no more suffeing required in payment. You have sufferd enough. I forgive you. You are forgiven.

Love and affirmation,

Ash"

[scott snedeker]

I received an e-mail response below!





HI Ash,

WE may have room in the Outlook magazine to publish your letter to the
editor. Can you confirm that you wrote it? AND can you send your full name,
city and state for identification purposes?

Thanks.

Jack
Jack Haberer, Editor
The Presbyterian Outlook
www.pres-outlook.org
2112 W. Laburnum Ave., Suite 109
Richmond, VA 23113
804-474-1746 (direct line)


-----Original Message-----
From: the Presbyterian Outlook [mailto:info@pres-outlook.org]
Sent: Saturday, January 17, 2009 5:28 PM
To: comments@pres-outlook.org
Subject: New comment added. Moderator approval required.

Dear user,

The following message needs your approval. You can approve it through the
backend or simply use the link below to publish/unpublish/delete the
comment. This link will expires in 7 days.

To Publish the comment:
http://www.pres-outlook.com/componen...5/publish.html

To Unpublish the comment:
http://www.pres-outlook.com/componen...unpublish.html

To Remove the comment:
http://www.pres-outlook.com/componen...75/delete.html


================================================== =========================
Content Title: How my mind was changed
================================================== =========================

Comment Title: Compassion relearned
Author: ash phoenix
Email: shadout@bellsouth.net
Link to content:
http://www.pres-outlook.com/reports-...cles/8298.html

Comment:
I am warmed by the circuitous way in which compassion is expressed in the
above writing. Compassion for gay folk like myself seems to be very elusive
to more conserv[a]tive Christians. Many folk never overcome their barrier
to compassion for gay folk and as a result suffer the emptiness closing
their hearts to myself others. My capacity for intimacy and passionate love
is with my gender only. My first best destiny is allow my capacity to love
in this way[,] to blossom to its greatest potential. My life is rich in
intimacy and passionate love. By honoring my heart and God's gift of this
capacity to me, I grow love and compassion for my self.

Compassion from within grows and extends outward to others. To those who
[are] still unable to overcome their barriers to compassion for gay folk or
any other group I extend my compassion to you. It is becasue I too have
known the suffering of the emptiness endured when my heart was closed to
that of another human being. I feel your suffering and understand how this
can cause guilt and anger and loss of peace. There is no more suffeing
required in payment. You have suffer[e]d enough. I forgive you. You are
forgiven.

Love and affirmation,

Ash

================================================== =========================

[Powered by Jom Comment]



Wow!

Yes, I indeed wrote the letter. I am further thrilled that my ideas are
being considered for publication. This is further proof to me that we are
destined for a kinder world!

My full Given legal name is Scott Walter Snedeker

I am a physician practicing in Vero Beach Florida

My city of residence is Fort Pierce, Florida

Ash Phoenix is my chosen name denoting a spiritual transformation. While I
do not identify as a Christian, I believe Christ's message of compassion and
unconditional love to be the most trustworthy truth we humans will ever
know. Without forgiveness life would be unbearable, for we would carry the
accumulated suffering of a lifetime and spread that suffering collaterally.
Forgiveness benefits all but benefits the forgiver the most.

I submitted my response before proofreading it adequately. There are syntax
errors and missing prepositions. I will include the corrections in brackets
in the text to denote the corrections I feel necessary. I am honored by
your consideration.

Love and affirmation,

Ash
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jack Haberer" <jhaberer@pres-outlook.org>
To: <shadout@bellsouth.net>
Cc: <mrskelton@pres-outlook.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 20, 2009 1:50 PM
Subject: FW: New comment added. Moderator approval required.

[andrewlittle]

Scott, I also got that email. How cool would it be if two of the comments (or even of the only two comments) were from Soulforce members. We could have a little gloating party.

Anyway, now my complaint. If you hadn't corrected the pitifully few errors you made, I would have probably had a better shot of getting included.

Now, I'll get my copy of the Outlook and be able to say, "Look! There's Scotty's f$%*&*^ comment."
Then Jenna will say, "But, honey. Didn't you write a comment, too?"
Then I'll go sit in my garage, have a smoke and sulk like a baby.

Damn, I hope you're happy.

[scott snedeker]

I think our posts compliment each other. Your post is an expression of apppreciation to others. You express your evolved sensibility in a way that communicates interest in how others feel. Your credibility is supported by your position in spiritual study.

Mine is self-centered as is my habit and reflects my ongoing practice of seeking inner peace. Because I am a representative of the oppressed, my inner process is revealing to those who have oppressed.

Together I think we bring new ideas without raising defenses.

[scott snedeker]

I went and checked. my post is no longer there. I suspect it was deleted. Don' think they are ready for Compassion on this level yet. I think there is too much fear yet.

No Radical Faeries please! We still need some one to dehumanize!

[andrewlittle]

Originally Posted by scott snedeker

I went and checked. my post is no longer there. I suspect it was deleted. Don' think they are ready for Compassion on this level yet. I think there is too much fear yet.

No Radical Faeries please! We still need some one to dehumanize!

I searched every way I could think of, and have to concede that you arew indeed right. Bu--plugs, anyway. Unless there was a "rev" attached to the name if it was a positive comment, or it was critical of Duba, it seems several I remember disappeared.

I must admit I haven't checked out a print version to see if one or both of us are in there - I'm hoping you made the cut and that's why you're online comment disappeared.

U-dog, you got a copy?

[Daniel]

Jeez! Whatever happened to freedom of speech? It's not, after all, freedom to edit!

So annoying this deleting thing.

[BrotherBrian]

Originally Posted by Daniel

Jeez! Whatever happened to freedom of speech? It's not, after all, freedom to edit!

So annoying this deleting thing.

I take it as a good sign the Church knows we're on to them. I've been studying this subject for 30 years, and I believe the Church knows these Scriptures mean exactly what we think they mean: Gays are to be included in church, in the sacraments, in baptism, and yes in clergy too!

Here's what I have found in the past couple of years: we don't have to prove these Scriptures talk about gay people as much as we just need to let the Church know that we know, and that we know they've been suppressing the message for centuries.

(Why else do you think we never hear them preach on them?)