Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Just Plain Queer


Sometimes enough is just enough. Many things have been making us mad as of late. A series of events and episodes have been adding up over time. They have been adding up for “the queers,” as we are known by Troy Mayor Janice Daniels.

Some days from now she will be just another politician, but for the people she referenced, this is not the first time and it will not be the last. The insults have been adding up as of late. Make no mistake about it, there is a full out war on anyone who is different in Michigan. There are only so many phony anti-bullying, anti-marriage, anti-benefits, anti-citizenship rants that a community can take. Yes, the mayor questioned our citizenship, our privilege to even be in this world, with her mini-rant and lack of a sincere, apologetic response.

We are queer, but we are also known as those queers. As an out queer pastor, I know the difference. I am queer when gay and lesbian youth have been kicked out of their homes and have no place else to go, ending up on our church doorstep, or the doorstep of an ally who knows us and sends them to us. I am a queer when a parent pulls their child out of our youth program because they learn we are welcoming.

I am queer when adult lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual adults come out for the first time at Spirit of Hope, the first church in which they ever felt fully welcomed. I am a queer when friends of our members question why they would go to a place where those kinds of people exist openly.

I am queer when someone my grandparents’ age comes out to me, the first person they have ever come out to. I am a queer when I open personal or church email condemning us to hell for teaching people to sin.

As a church we are queer for having fabulous parties that we call Sunday morning worship, where you never know who might show up. We are that church of queers when neighboring ministries condemn us for opening the doors to those they kicked out.

As a church we are queer for performing same gender weddings, and requiring couples to go through pre-marital counseling to build up their relationship for the long haul. We are that church of queers when other local ministries see women that are too manly and men that are too effeminate move comfortably in and out of our doors.

While I am no theological scholar, I know this much is true: Jesus is not only with those queers, but is queer himself, always on the outside looking in. Hopefully some of those who continue to attack us will one day realize that they are queer enough for Jesus to love them too. And with that, I give up my anger. Peace, power and joy. PMB

3 comments:

PrJoolie said...

very powerful. Thank you.

davebuehler said...

Dear Matthew,

I recommend the program on BBC's "the changing world" called OUT IN THE WORLD:

http://www.thechangingworld.org/

dave bühler • providence college

http://www.yourobdtsvt.blogspot.com/

davebuehler said...

Dear Matthew,

I recommend the BBC program "Out in the World" by Rev. Richard Coles, broadcast this weekend in many places:
http://www.thechangingworld.org/

http://www.yourobdtsvt.blogspot.com/

dave bühler • providence college
http://www.yourobdtsvt.blogspot.com/