Hello from Livermore

[adamwc]

Hello - my name is Adam Walker Cleaveland from Livermore, CA. I am currently a Minister for Youth & Young Adults at a United Methodist Church though I am in the Presbyterian Church (USA) Ordination process. My ordination process was recently held up because I invited a very close friend of mine to preach the ordination sermon - and he is gay. So they held me up in the process and I'm not sure what's happening next.

I blog at pomomusings.com and recently had a post get over 230 comments. It was called: "The Bible and Homosexuality: Enough with the Bible Already."

I'm currently blogging through Jack Rogers's "Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality" on my blog. If you want to follow along, come over to pomomusings.com.

[Montanna]

I read Jack Roger's book and wept at the end of it. I am an elder in my Presbyterian Church and am very interested in what you are doing on the web. We were just notified that in February, Presbytery of the Redwoods will vote on whether to change the Book of Order removing all impediments to the ordination of gays and lesbians as clergy, deacons,and elders. It will probably pass our Presbytery. I don't know about others. Hope you will be a member of our clergy soon. It seems like in-roads are being made in individual places. I wish you much success in the future. Blessings. Montanna

[dsdrane]

Hi Adam!

Thanks for stopping by, saying hello, and introducing us to your blog. I look forward to checking it out more fully.

I have a warm spot for Presbyterians. I was baptized by one, and we have a collection of cool ones around here.

Welcome!

David

[tdogg]

Hi Adam, welcome to Soulforce forums. Glad you are here! I hope the holdup with your ordination is brief. I'll be praying for you.

There are lots of happenings in CA now. Read my thread Bridging the Gap to see some of what we are doing. Any suggestions are very welcome!

Glad to see another fellow Californian on board!!

Tdogg

[Gennee]

Hi Adam and welcome to the forum. I will take a look at your site.

Gennee

[Gennee]

Originally Posted by adamwc

Hello - my name is Adam Walker Cleaveland from Livermore, CA. I am currently a Minister for Youth & Young Adults at a United Methodist Church though I am in the Presbyterian Church (USA) Ordination process. My ordination process was recently held up because I invited a very close friend of mine to preach the ordination sermon - and he is gay. So they held me up in the process and I'm not sure what's happening next.

I blog at pomomusings.com and recently had a post get over 230 comments. It was called: "The Bible and Homosexuality: Enough with the Bible Already."

I'm currently blogging through Jack Rogers's "Jesus, the Bible and Homosexuality" on my blog. If you want to follow along, come over to pomomusings.com.

I read your post 'The Bible and Homosexuality: Enough with the Bible Already.' It's a very thoughful post and one that echoes my sentiments. I have begun to actively challenge why LGBT people are not accepted in our churches. To me this is wrong and reeks of hypocrisy. I write for an online magazine that speaks specifically to transgender people. Keep up the good work.

Gennee

www.epistle.us Click 'authors', then my name 'Gennee'.

[adamwc]

@Montanna (and everyone) - thanks for the greetings and welcoming me. So I'm guessing you're a part of Redwoods Presbytery? There is a very good chance that I'm going to have to transfer presbyteries in order to get ordained - and I've been looking at San Francisco Presbytery to switch to - but what do you think about Redwoods?

How is this issue being handled in Redwoods Presbytery?

[Montanna]

It looks like, from your website, that you have an interesting position where you are. I don't attend Presbytery meetings, so I don't know what it's like. However, people talk about it being pretty liberal about things. For instance, your choices for your ordination wouldn't be challenged. I honestly believe that we go where God sends us and we find support there. Being part of any church group, you will be interacting with people coming from very different places. The experience, with all it's lessons and joys, will be a blessing! I don't think one Presbytery is better than another. One thing I would say is that the ordination process is notoriously long and drawn out. Unless you know for certain that yours was stopped because of your choice, I wouldn't suspect that. What is a possibility is that someone didn't like it and the process was slowed down but not stopped. Keep the faith! Montanna

[antiochian]

Welcome! As someone who has "had it up to here" with the Church and its hateful bile, I feel a sense of hope whenever I hear of an affirming Christian leader. We need many, many more of you. Your article was good, and I agree with you totally on the idea that the Bible has been made an idol by many Christians.