Hello, My name is Seán

[Sean126]

Hello, my name is Seán, from Dublin Ireland.

I am a 45 year old gay man and have been in a relationship for the past 14 years.

I thought about christianity about a year ago and joined an online prayer group. From there, someone told me about the United Church of Christ and whosoever. I get a lot of information from both. I heard about soulforce during a podcast on the whosoever website and am very interested in finding out more.

It is not as bad being gay in Ireland as it was when I came out about 20 years ago. Back then, it was the worst thing you could be. There is still a lot of homophobia out there, but I feel things have changed dramatically since then.

Most of our friends are straight, in fact we find it easier to integrate with our neighbours and straigh friends than on the gay scene.

Things are not so good here, however, for christianity. For centuries, the Catholic Church dominated religion here, and now that many people have rejected it's teachings there is, I think, a spritual vacuum. Many people have drifted away from the church and have not replaced it with anything. There is a lack of progressive churches over here, but hopefully this will change in time too.

I find it harder to tell people that I am a Christian than to tell them I am gay.

Myself and my partner went through hell and back during the last five years, with Trevor's illness and a financial disaster. My faith has seen me through it all, and hopefully will continue to do so. I feel that it is time to share my faith with more people.

Well, thats it for now, hope to get to know you all better and to interact with the group, I am looking forward to it.

God Bless you all

Seán

[Gennee]

Hi Sean and welcome. I'm happy that you want to reconnect with your spiritual side. Thank you for your wonderful introduction.

Gennee

[BenL]

Welcome, Seán.

What an inspiring story. Thanks for sharing it. The bad times certainly do have a way of helping to get your priorities sorted out, don't they?

I know what you mean about coming out as Christian. I feel that in church, I have to explain my gayness, and in gay space I have to almost apologize for being Christian.

Welcome again. Hope you join the conversation really soon.

[Pablo Rafael]

Hi Sean,

Sorry I am a little late in saying welcome.

I am also one of those gay Christians. At this point in history I see the barrier between the Christianity and LGBT individuals falling down.

The media in the US has portrayed the Catholic Church in Ireland as rather draconian and oppressive. It is probably an unfair portryal. It does seem that in areas where once church totally dominates a culture that there gets to be an indifference to the church.

Glad to have met you. I look forward to hearing more about your opinions and thoughts.

Tu Amigo, Pablo