myChurch.org

[Dash]

Ok, so I haven't slept well in a couple days and that tends to make me all sappy and emotional, but I just want to say I love you all. Yes, I realize that I don't know any of you in person, but nonetheless, I have a fond affection for each of your voices and the avatars that peer kindly out at me from your posts.

After news stories and discussions that came out of the recent Episcopal Church USA general convention, I was feeling rather anti-Church. I was thinking that I might finally be done with it for good. Since then, I've been spending a bit more time "in the balcony" by myself here--watching and listening, but participating less. Yet, increasingly, I'm finding that you all have become my fellowship community...something that I haven't had in almost 4 years.

Is this a phenomenon of the 21st century? A true cyber-Church? In a world where there are so many people, yet so few real connections, is this a new thing from God? Is this the Holy Spirit reaching out and gathering us in? I don't know... But I do know that you are with me all the time, and I am comforted by the wisdom of your voices and generosity of spirit. You have become my fathers and mothers...my beloved siblings and my friends.

We are presently enduring a great deal of spiritual violence in our society as the people and governments of America transform hatred and bigotry into legislation of oppression. Who knows where these days will lead? Our time is uncertain and discomfiting. There may be many days of frustration and disappointment ahead, but I believe we will prevail. Adversity will not crush us; our opponents will not defeat us; lies will not separate us from the truth that nourishes us and shines brightly into the void. Our forefathers are those who have suffered for their faith and their identity. We are heirs with all who have stood firm against the advance of evil. We have inherited their noble ideals, the justice of their cause and their implacable strength. I believe that all things have been delivered unto us. I believe that though we may be given into their hands for a little while, our foes have no power over us. I rejoice in the great company with whom we travel. I am humbled and awed by the honor we have been given...that we should share in the great work of our forefathers who brought equality to women and blacks; who freed the slaves; who ended oppression; who led the people into a good country; who returned all that society would steal from the poor, the weak, the unwanted and the lost.

We are blessed in our journey. We are blessings to each other. You are my blessing and the encouragement that leads me onward.

So many that I see here all the time, and whose presence is a delight: Zerbie , Jennifer5, keltic63, NathanATX, Daniel, awediot, Jamie McDaniel, Vannessa White, Emproph, schoolboi, SolApollo, Joe Brummer, Mia14, tdogg, revtj, Lydia, pnggrad79, Liberal Crozier (and Spouse), Rick336, NonLemming, dewdrop_world, suzer1013, BruceChris, morningrob, Steven E. Webster, sbonser04, nowvoyager, Britt., LGBT FLIGHT ATTENDANT, kara speltz, episcopalian, MamimiFista, Vortex...

Thanks and love.

[Britt.]

Ok, so I haven't slept well in a couple days and that tends to make me all sappy and emotional, but I just want to say I love you all. Yes, I realize that I don't know any of you in person, but nonetheless, I have a fond affection for each of your voices and the avatars that peer kindly out at me from your posts.

AW. <3

Yet, increasingly, I'm finding that you all have become my fellowship community...something that I haven't had in almost 4 years.

With me, it was something like 10 years that I spent burned out on church. Thankfully, I've found an inclusive church recently, so my current experience w/ that is positive so far.

Is this a phenomenon of the 21st century? A true cyber-Church? In a world where there are so many people, yet so few real connections, is this a new thing from God? Is this the Holy Spirit reaching out and gathering us in?

Maybe. Really, I feel "church" can be anywhere you find a connection, whether that is in an actual church, here, on the sidewalk, wherever.

[Zerbie]

Thank you, Dash!!!!!!

Me too. I often have to force myself to avoid ending every post here with "I love you guys!"

I've never been a church member. But this board fills a purpose for me that I think churches fill for many people. There is a sense that I can come here to this group and share nearly anything and get support, advice, whatever. And sometimes if I feel tempted to act in a way that I wouldn't be proud of you guys knowing about, thinking of you all makes me stop and re-evaluate:' what if I had to tell my SF friends how I'm behaving today? Would I still say/do this?' Seriously - you guys are so many things to me, a reality check, an advice column, a group that I laugh with, and most of all, an inspiration.

Thank you all so much for being your wonderful selves and for being here. I love you all too.

[Daniel]

Thank you Dash!

I don't think I've darkened the door to a church since January, at least not 'professionally' that is, from the choir loft. After 15 odd years singing in Episcopal churches here in NYC, I find I have a gimlet-eyed view on the 'doings' of the church, which may be why I, like you, have been feeling a sense of strain about the whole matter- I sincerely love a good many things about being 'in church', but must agree with you strongly that, whatever the meaning of our 'meeting here on the forum, I find myself humbled by the energy, time and thought that goes into what is posted here by others. In sum: I think we all care so damn much about these issues. And that's a truly wonderful thing.

Love is not dead. It is alive and shines through all that you write and circles right back to you.

[keltic63]

What a loving post, Dash! and one that I needed about now. I was over at another forum reading all the bashing, and the consequential justification of the bashing by folks who claim the name of Christ. So I stop by here, and I see your endearing (ok, sappy) post and it made me feel so good. Thanks.









now, let's all join hands and sing "Kum By Yah"

[Dash]

Thanks for sending back the love, friends!

[Jennifer5]

I know what you mean Dash... I'm exactly the same way.... I love this site so much... and I love all of you so much... you really do feel like family... (after all I know most of you better than I know my half brother)...like Zerbie, I often want to sign off with I love you.... especially when one of you is having a hard day, I don't know why I don't just say it...

For me I think it's only been 2 year since I really attended a church... but my experience is, you get a lot more out of friends/family here than you do at a church... you all mean so much to me, and I guess now... knowing that we all seem to feel the same way... I guess we could be signing off with I love you... after all hearing those words makes you feel really good and safe doesn't it?

Thanks for sharing Dash...

[dewdrop_world]

Originally Posted by Britt.

Really, I feel "church" can be anywhere you find a connection, whether that is in an actual church, here, on the sidewalk, wherever.

"Where two or three are gathered in My name..."

It's that phrase "my name" of course, as Awediot pointed out, that can be a sticking point for more traditional Christians. I personally think that people can gather in the spirit of Christ without using the five little letters J-E-S-U-S.

I'd have to add that it's very hard to keep up a prayer life or meditation practice without a flesh-and-blood community. It's also true that cyber communities contribute to the increasing bitterness in public debate. The support we give and receive here is real, but it's important also to take the strength gained here out into local communities (and "enemy territory" as well, CARM, even -- and it really bothers me that this thought comes to mind -- the UMC boards...).

Big (((HUGS))) to Dash -- if (((this))) is a hug, would )))this((( be a big squeezing bear hug?

James

[BruceChris]

Dash and friends: Do we call this a church, or would support group, or even therapy group be more appropriate? Hey, If ya feel better about life after you have visited this site, I call that theraputic! But then of course a church should be all of those things anyway.

Yes, I like all of the people on your laundry list,

Zerbie , Jennifer5, keltic63, NathanATX, Daniel, awediot, Jamie McDaniel, Vannessa White, Emproph, schoolboi, SolApollo, Joe Brummer, Mia14, tdogg, revtj, Lydia, pnggrad79, Liberal Crozier (and Spouse), Rick336, NonLemming, dewdrop_world, suzer1013, BruceChris, morningrob, Steven E. Webster, sbonser04, nowvoyager, Britt., LGBT FLIGHT ATTENDANT, kara speltz, episcopalian, MamimiFista, Vortex.....And so many others.

And I appreciate your placing me on it.

I do very much enjoy coming here and reading what you guys have to say, and making an occasional comment. It is a constant reminder that there are so many wonderful people in the LGBT community, and that there are so many perfectly ordinary things in life that we are striving for. Maybe more later.

Peace and Love, BruceChris

[Jennifer5]

Originally Posted by BruceChris

Dash and friends: Do we call this a church, or would support group, or even therapy group be more appropriate? Hey, If ya feel better about life after you have visited this site, I call that theraputic! But then of course a church should be all of those things anyway.

I agree it's all of those things too...

[Jennifer5]

Originally Posted by BruceChris

Dash and friends: Do we call this a church, or would support group, or even therapy group be more appropriate? Hey, If ya feel better about life after you have visited this site, I call that theraputic! But then of course a church should be all of those things anyway.

I agree it's all of those things too...

[SolApollo]

Thank you Dash and a very well written post. Yes, a church, like others have said, is not the building - but the people.

I'm a teacher, so ignore me if this is a rant... Anyway, here is a link with the associated meanings and definitions of church: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/church

Likewise, Luke 17:21 states "the Kingdom of God is in the midst (or within) you." Similarly, the Gnostic Gospel of Thomas says, "the kingdom of God is spread out among the earth, but men do not see it... Do not look in a place of stone, but look under a rock, and you will find it there..."

Ok, I'm getting a little mystical here, but I do believe the People are the Church, the Kingdom of God is already here...inside our souls.

[Jennifer5]

Originally Posted by SolApollo

I do believe the People are the Church, the Kingdom of God is already here...inside our souls.

I agree with that... but I almost feel that we're above what a church can offer... it almost feels like to low of a name... if that makes sense

[nowvoyager]

Wow, Dash Thanks to you all so much for that. I've been away from cyberspace for a bit, busy IRL, and I come back today to read your lovely post! I particularly valued your prophecy statement -- reckon I'll copy that to my desktop so I don't lose it, if that's ok..

I feel the same way, that this is a place of spiritual nourishment. Yours are all the voices crying out in the wilderness, loudly enough for me to hear them, all the way 'round the planet. And the time difference means I come to the board in my daylight, after you're all signed off and tucked up in bed, and read all of your posts, and bless you all while you're asleep. And I get ideas and challenges and inspiration I hope will lead me to try to be the change here, too.

So that's a church indeed, IMHO. Thanks, congregation

[Vanessa White]

As is the case with many times that I come to these threads, the timeliness of the messages is so powerful. First of all, Dash, thank you so much for those warm, heartfelt words, sappy or not, due to lack of sleep or not, I felt those words from your heart, and send them back to you tenfold!!! I love all of you as well, all those listed and those not listed, because it feels like community, family, congregation here. I am so glad that I looked "under this rock" because it inspires me to be among you, and to get to look through a different set, or several different sets of eyes about things that we all seem to be passionate about. Soulforce, and all of you, have awakened something in me that has been unattended in a very long time. Right now, my relationship with my partner has ended, we are working out the issues regarding custody of our daughter, and I am trying to find a place to live. In the midst of all of that, I have not been to church, mainly because my pastor knows the situation, and she has been offering personal guidance to my ex and our daughter. I feel guilty somehow, strange. However, until I am ready to return to that "fold", I feel comfort, understanding, love and compassion here every time I visit. Thank you to all of you, and what you bring here to share with all of us. Peace and love to you all today!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pnggrad79]

So many times I have passed through troubled waters after coming out, and I know this is a safe place to go where people accept you like you are, not for who they want you to be, and love you regardless. Thanks, Dash, for the sappy post, feel free anytime. We love you, too.

[Liberal Crozier]

Several days ago, upon hearing that the bishop who ordained him had advanced staging cancer, an ultraconservative homophobic priest decided to call him. Upon answering the telephone, I was unceremoniously dismissed as he asked to speak to my spouse. I swallowed hard, and decided to mirror the behaviour that Christ Himself would have asked of me, and without any further word, passed the phone to him. In retrospect, I should have also suggested that his health did not warrant a long, and possibly unsettling conversation. Do we know each other ? We sat side by side at major theological seminary, and were side-by-side on ordination day.

The priest, who is divorced and remarried, and had an adulterous affair before divorcing wife number one, and received compassionate but non-judgemental concern from Crozier ( I AM NOT THAT COMPASSIONATE ), indicated that he was praying not only for his physical health, but also for his metaphysical health and an end to our "behaviour".

I was not privy to Crozier's response, but suffice to say that I am sure that he thanked him for his prayers of recovery, and as to the other, told him that he would "risk his immortal soul" and God's judgement and remain loving his spouse and child.

No one is immune from becoming the "walking wounded" where homophobic sexual theology - in word and in deed, is concerned. To many, they end generations, no millenia of active membership in a faith community and the Body of Christ. Many adopt secular humanism, New Ageism, or Eastern Religions. Most remain cultural (name the denomination) and attend only compulsory family church events as the funeral of parents and siblings.

Many threads have discussed these issues, especially around Dr. White's video sermon of the "blessed assurance" of God's love for his LBGT children, or as they would have it, a conditional love based on denial of our own love and orientation.

[NathanATX]

My heart breaks for all of us and the wounds we have suffered.

I pray that you would have the courage to believe truth when attacked with a lie. I pray that you would have the strength to stand for justice when your heart is tired. I pray for your peace & protection. I pray for those who let evil & fear guide their words and actions, that they would be forgiven, healed and restored. I pray their attacks will be fruitless and victimless. Above all, I pray that each of you would truly grasp how close you are to the heart of Christ, especially when you are suffering. He knows your pain. He loves you immensely. Peace and freedom will come for you.

My pastor ends each service with this benediction...

"We have not just been to church, we ARE the church. And when the church is the church, it is nothing more, less, or other than the presence of Christ through people."

You are the church, my dear brothers & sisters, because the presence of Christ lives in you.

[Vanessa White]

Amen, Nate.

[Lydia]

Good thread.

Originally Posted by Dash

Is this a phenomenon of the 21st century? A true cyber-Church? In a world where there are so many people, yet so few real connections, is this a new thing from God? Is this the Holy Spirit reaching out and gathering us in?

I think so, yes.

Cyber-church has an important role to play in many lives. I don't think acknowledging that fact in any way diminishes the equally important role that real-life churches also play.

It's sort of like icecream: just because you like rocky road doesn't mean that you can't also enjoy mint chocolate chip.