Reconciling Ministries Network

Wonderfully Made

by Violet Fenn

On May 19, I took a major step in my gender transition when I had out-patient surgery that takes me closer to completion. As I think about this, I am reminded of a portion of Psalm 139. In this part, David praises God for creating him; he is “fearfully and wonderfully made.” This is an incredible concept, but one that unfortunately gets used towards those in the LGBTQ community in a judgmental manner. When we come out, we are told that those feelings are sinful. To add insult to injury, those same people presumptuously tell us that we weren’t created to be gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender, as if they knew exactly what God was thinking.

My earliest memory of “feeling different” came at the age of six or seven. My fundamental religious upbringing forbade me from saying anything about it. As I grew up, there were several incidents that occurred that were evidence of my transgender nature but there was a sense of shame attached and I repressed my feelings. When I was 26, I finally realized that I am a transgender woman. Though I knew the answer, I believed that there was something wrong with me and felt like a freak of nature. I believed God wouldn’t make me like that and I actually developed a sense of self-hatred. Eventually with time and incredible support and resources, my self-hatred went away.

While I don’t know why I have been created as transgender, I know that there is a reason behind it, just as David acknowledged in Psalm 139’s sixteenth verse:

“Your eyes beheld my unformed substance.
In your book were written
all the days that were formed for me,
when none of them as yet existed.”

Those of us in the LGBTQ community are all beautiful children of God, just like our straight allies. We add to the incredible diversity of creation. Never forget that.

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Violet Fenn, a United Methodist for 5 years, is a senior at Northeastern State University in Broken Arrow, OK majoring in English with a minor in Psychology. Violet became involved with RMN in April after attending a Call to Witness training. She is now part of leadership with MOSAIC as well as its TransJustice work group.

Call to Truth

by Joey Heath

I have just finished my first year of seminary. One-third of my theological education is now behind me and what a journey it has been so far. The passion I had for social justice has been magnified ten-fold. If I have taken anything from this semester it is that we as Christians must live out social justice and we must reach out to the oppressed and needy in all the ways we can. This is our calling “we love because he first loved us. Those who say 'I love God' and hate their brothers and sisters are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, can not love God whom they have not seen.” (1 John 4:19-20). This is our truth from Jesus Christ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself” (Luke 10:27). The message of the Gospel is love and redemption two things I very much believe in. So in that spirit I have written this call to truth.

We are called to be a witness to that which we believe to be truth. Truth may cost us but that is what is demanded for the practitioners of faith. It is this push that may result in a violent push back but in that push back the victory is already won. Jesus came and was crucified in an act of violent push back. At first glance this may seem to make Jesus weak. As the story goes the powerful Roman Empire has destroyed the Savior who meant to bring redemption and if that was the end of the story it would be it would be defeat. But that is not because Jesus rose again on the third day. Jesus gave us the model for witness to truth and now we are called to witness. The time of sitting just back in our pews on Sunday mornings is over. We must continue to push back as the vocal minority until we find ourselves in the majority. Changing hearts and minds will not happen overnight but it will happen if we continue to speak up and speak out. If we truly begin to Believe Out Loud.

Today there is a powerful change underway, with a great amount of push back against inclusion of the LGBTQ community. But people of faith are coming together and saying enough is enough, our LGBTQ brothers and sisters have been treated as second class citizens for far too long. We all must join the chorus of voices crying this message. So I implore you, Speak Out. Come Out. Tell your stories. Because I tell you this truth, if we stand in solidarity we can and will create change and bring the world just a little closer to looking like the Kingdom of God it was intended to be.

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Joey Heath is a 26 year old life long United Methodist. He is currently a graduate student at Wesley Theological Seminary completing his Masters in Divinity. Once an ordained pastor, Joey hopes he will be able to bring real change to the UMC on the issues of sexuality and gender identity at the broader church level, but also with individuals, so that one day the church will truly be a place that is inclusive of all people.

The Tenth Anniversary of my Two Arrests at the 2000 General Conference in Cleveland

The late comedian Bob Hope used to sing "Thanks for the Memories" in his visits to soldiers around the world and in his stage appearances. I have said "no thanks" to my memories of my first arrest for civil disobedience in 1971. Then, I was a member of the New York chapter of the Jesse Jackson-led Operation Breadbasket and we conducted civil disobedience at the central office of A & P Super Markets in New York City. We were arrested, detained and then made court appearances that resulted in dismissal of the charges. One of my favorite photos is a picture of me with Jesse Jackson, arm-in-arm, coming out of Court after the dismissal. Many years after that arrest by A & P, I refused to enter any A & P Super Market, because I saw that as being an accomplice to their discrimination that led me to protest.

But, I am able to say, "Thanks for the memory" of my two arrests at the 2000 General Conference. The first arrest for civil disobedience outside the Convention Center with Soulforce and the second, when 29 of us nonviolently disrupted the proceedings of the Conference on the Conference floor. Why thanks?

There was an understandable reluctance on the parts of many of the Bishops and members of the General Conference Committee to ask the police to arrest fellow United Methodists. I don't know whether that had happened at a General Conference before. But, I do know that then and since then, some Bishops have shared with me how agonizing for them was that experience. I remember as I was being arrested thinking of those words spoken from the cross; "God forgive them for they know not what they do".

Although I have not forgotten those moments 10 years ago, I certainly carry no ill will for my United Methodist colleagues who had us arrested, or who offered no protests as we were being arrested. I remember with joy those Bishops who got arrested with us, and those who were in solidarity with us. The courage they expressed, has left a lasting impression with me. Although some friends, gay and straight, have left The United Methodist Church because of our language/legislation and because of those arrests in 2000, I have chosen to remain within the denomination to exercise my right of Freedom of Speech to protest our anti-gay policies. This is my way of being in solidarity with my sisters and brothers who have been deeply wounded by the Church they once loved.

Rosemary Bray McNatt, an African American clergywoman who is the Senior Pastor of the Fourth Universalist Society in New York has written an article; "We Must Change" that appears in the spring issue of UU World. What she writes about Unitarian Universalists, applies to United Methodists as well: "...for people who are blessed with the gift of free religious community, we are also cursed with a nasty little Calvinist streak that we would do well to examine. We would rather be angry and judgmental with one another and ourselves than be tender and merciful."

I suggest that there were signs of that "Calvinist streak" as some Methodists once justified and supported the enslavement of Black persons. That "streak" continued as Methodists "resolved" their disputes over slavery by having a "Unification Conference" in 1939 that established the racially segregated Central Jurisdiction. And, the long resistance to ordaining women in the Methodist Church has a Calvinist link.

Karen Armstrong in her; "The Battle For God, A History of Fundamentalism", writes this in an effort to explain the separating, segregating and excluding tendencies of some Christians; "Some people feel very threatened by pluralism, and they want to assert their identity more strongly than ever before, out of fear, by erecting new barriers. Fear is at the heart of fundamentalism - the fear of losing yourself. ...At the root of fundamentalism are nihilism, hopelessness and despair."

I am sure that not many if not all of the United Methodists who support our current restrictions on "the practice of homosexuality" and same gender couples, would call themselves Fundamentalists. So many of my United Methodist friends and colleagues who support our current Book of Discipline language do not fit Armstrong's definition of fundamentalism. But, some of them are beginning to share with me that they now realize that just as those before them were wrong to "use" Scripture to justify slavery, segregation and the denial of ordination to women, they now believe that the integrity of Scripture and the mission of the Church are being compromised as long as we maintain our present negative (Calvinist?) language and legislation.

Hymn 230 in The United Methodist Hymnal is "Are Ye Able". I believe at the General Conference of 2012 when the delegates consider again our current language/legislation in the Book of Discipline about homosexuality, same sex couples and ministry to and with them, there will be a God-given will to move from negativity to affirmation. Action and discussion in the military, in the Courts and Legislatures of some states that affirm the right to equality for same gender loving persons, cannot help but encourage the General Conference to begin anew its consideration of our previous actions.

Ours is a Methodist/United Methodist history of disavowing slavery, segregation and the denial of the ordination of women. We did that because some delegates took seriously: "Lord, we are able. Our spirits are thine. Remold them, make us, like thee, divine. Thy guiding radiance above us shall be a beacon to God, to love and loyalty."

There is so, so much, God would have The United Methodist Church do in the 21st century. We cannot allow that "doing" to be compromised by holding on to the same old language and legislation. "We Are Able", our history tells us so.

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The Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell is a retired United Methodist Minister who lives in Asbury Park, N.J. He was active in the Massachusetts unit of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) and participated in the civil-rights movement throughout the nation. In 2000, he, with others, organized the RMN Extension ministry United Methodists of Color for a Fully Inclusive Church (UMOC), an organization committed to the full inclusion of LGBT people in every aspect of church and society. His recent book, Something Within: Works by Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell is available from Church Within A Church.

Sexuality and Gender Equality Seminar Held in Nairobi, Kenya

The conference on sexuality and gender equality was held at Biblica Guest House, from April 27th to May 1st, 2010. It was organized by the Centre for Research and Innovation for Change [CRIC]. About 50 participants comprised of theologians and university lecturers from East Africa and Southern Africa, civil society and human rights organizations, lawyers, and LGBTI organizations such as Gay Lesbian Coalition of Kenya [GALCK], I am Ministry, and Other Sheep Kenya.

The theme of the conference was “Exploring Stepping Stones: Sexual Identity and Gender Equality.” Rev. John Makokha, Riruta United Methodist Reconciling church minister and Other Sheep Kenya, Country Coordinator presented a paper entitled: “Breaking the Silence and Elimination of Stigma on LGBTI.”

The participants deliberated on historical and contemporary issues concerning human sexuality and ethical concerns, culture, language, mental health and human rights. It was observed that the African worldview on sexuality has been challenged but answers must reflect human dignity and human rights. Sexuality is an integral part of the first humans as shown in the African myths and proverbs. Our desire is regulated from birth in African tradition. The challenge of language and values reflect how sexual desire is regulated in the community. Culture is an information conveyor that makes language an important tool in any given community.

There is need to restore hope and purpose by breaking the silence and eliminating stigma and suffering associated with religious homophobia and transphobia among sexual minorities and their families. Ethical and theological principles of hermeneutics used to perpetuate apartheid and homophobia can also be used to undo discrimination and exclusion.

The conference participants recommended that there should be an agenda of change of attitudes, knowledge and perspectives that inform values with respect to human sexuality. This should be expanded with a view of reaching out to diverse audiences. There is need to holistically build on existing empirical research from African perspectives on human sexuality at all levels of the society. The gap between the research and action approaches that inform the discourse on human sexuality and gender equality and equity needs to be addressed. From the African context, there is an urgent need to build on dialogical research education.

In the spirit of dialogue using the analogy of stepping stones, there is need for a multidisciplinary approach to human sexuality and more openness to dialogue with stakeholders across all spheres of life. This can be vital in building bridges on issues of human sexuality in the African context. The conference participants identified the need for leadership capacity building from interfaith community to embrace the realities of human sexuality and gender. There is need for sensitization of leaders across all sectors of society on human sexuality. And introduce and conduct a transformative assessment to identify other key stakeholders including minority groups in relation to human sexuality. The outcome of the assessment will include an action plan for the follow up with each stakeholder identified and new ways to engage religious institutions and opinion leaders at every level of the society.

They observed that in creating a just, harmonious and peaceful relationship between individuals and communities, there is urgency to identify areas and spheres where sexual minorities can significantly contribute to the wider society. This can be done through folk media and modes of communication to affirm the dignity of all persons irrespective of their sexual orientation and gender identity. By all means, both legal and cultural justification to all forms of violence to be eradicated and that advocacy for more humane polices and framework be established.

The participants reaffirmed that dialogue on human sexuality at various levels of society should guarantee engagement of all stakeholders. This dialogue should be grounded on the principles of respect for human dignity, quality and non-discrimination. They noted that creation of safe spaces remain an integral part to the establishment of supportive environments that enable dialogue on human sexuality and gender in Africa. For the discourse on human sexuality and gender equality and equity to be meaningful, the spiritual, legal, economic and spiritual dimensions must be discerned. They underscored the urgency need to address stigma, discrimination, violence and intimidation of LGBTI. The Ecumenical movement in partnership with leading human sexuality and gender institutions has a critical role to play, especially in providing leadership and addressing human sexuality and gender concerns.

There is need for appropriate infrastructure and policies that guarantee and protect the rights of individuals regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Rev. Michael Kimindu, Other Sheep East Africa Coordinator and Mrs. Anne Baraza, CEO Riruta United Empowerment Programme NGO also attended the conference.

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The Rev. John Makokha is senior pastor of Riruta UMC in Nairobi, Kenya. He earned his B.Ed. Degree at the University of Nairobi and served as graduate teacher at Maji Mazuri High School. There, he taught Kiswahili and history and communications skills. In addition, he was a counselor, mentor, drama patron and chaired the school’s HIV/AIDS association. He was ordained as a minister in the Triumphant Pentecostal Church and served as a pastor in a Free Methodist Church. After earning an M.A. degree in Missions at Nairobi Evangelical School of Theology, he started Riruta United Methodist Church, the only Reconciling Ministry in Africa.