Reconciling Ministries Network

Faith Has No Boundaries: The Bridge to Victory for LGBT Advocates

By Kelli Busey

Like a fireman guiding a plume of water, faith-based LGBT advocates focus on the very root and cause of bigotry and ignorance.

LGBT faith advocates worship with people who oppose us on equality, in their Churches, and are accessing the most viable path to successfully opening hearts and minds and may soon share an incredible spiritual link with even our most intense opponent.

Christ's love knows no boundaries.

LGBT Faith advocates are absolutely essential for our civil rights movement's success.

In Christianity, historically, the most successful and victorious opponents of LGBT rights worships along side us every Sunday. We might be sharing the same interior walls or be miles apart but we are together none the less at the base of Christ's cross.

Some Christian ministries have become lost and have divided their congregations by encouraging distrust, fear and anger. This is what motivated the originators of the segregation of people of color in the past, and presently is being manipulated to target LGBT people by seeking to deny and exclude us from participation and ministry in worship and social equality.

As the ages have born witness, as more people become aware, the breeze becomes a hurricane and anger becomes a barren rock, swept clean of all pretentious facades, exposing to believers of Christ the underlying ugliness of bigotry.

Christians soon recognize this as hate and contrary to everything we share and love and the process of doubting these unfortunate and misleading ministries begins. A new, fertile soil is carried on our breeze and joined with the rock as our tears nurture the seeds of love and hope.

The when and where this realization begins is up to each and every one of us.

If we only worship in our LGBT churches, the word of Christ will remain muted. If we choose to be a part of this wind and worship on Sundays when we are strong enough to bare our souls at Churches we know reject us, we bring this conversation undeniably to full view.

Choose a Sunday!

Choose a Sunday when you feel strong and put on identifying apparel, {or in my case I'm a transgender woman and I just have to go} that makes you visible and sit down in a pew. Breath in the moment. You will feel every possible emotion from your neighbours. Surprisingly, you may notice acceptance from some, but many may fear and loathe you. These are learned reactions, so when people see that you are there to truly worship, distrust and fear are diminished. Some may still hate you and object to your very presence, and you might even be denied communion.

It's not easy, but our Saviour suffered for us so we us could do this.

On that very day, you will have accomplished a miracle. You will have touched people deeply by your bravery and faith. You will have introduced and communicated on a personal level our community to people who otherwise would have never known us.

Whether I am going to burn in hell, as one Baptist Minister told me, or if I am a true disciple of Jesus, as I am convinced, we share our faith together. I will go to his church on Sunday and love Jesus Christ as much as if I was in an MCC Church. This is the bridge, solid as a rock, and available for us to cross to victory.

Wonderful work by the IWR

Institute for Welcoming Resources
Two groundbreaking studies find religious voices critical to the advancement of LGBT equality

Organizing GLBTQ faith advocacy

Soulforce Sundays of Solidarity

GID Reform | Remove Transgender People From DSM V

By Kelli Busey

As a transgender activist I have been amazed and welcomed by the Methodist faith. It became apparent early to our leadership in the RMN that transgender people are a minority with in a minority, and very few knew even knew anything about us at all.

This post is not about the Methodist faith but I hope it further enlightenments our most valued allies as to the conundrum we are entangled in.

We are struggling to free ourselves from tyranny and entrapment. We are struggling to be accepted and understood within our own GLBT communities of faith.

As we all are aware, through out history there has been a need for society to pigeon hole people who live outside of what is generally accepted as 'normal'.

The APA is currently inflicting great harm on one such group now.

Transgender people have long been stigmatized and marginalized by the APA which then profits from this diagnosis.

The truth is the APA is causing anguish and suicide.

APA protest speaker Dr. Madeline Deutsch

We are calling on the APA to make an official statement that all Gender Identities and Expressions are natural human variation, and not disease or mental illness. And for the APA to reshape the upcoming DSM V version to remove stigmatizing and problematic portions of the diagnosis "Gender Identity Disorder."

GID Reform Now.com

GID Reform Advocates

On the web:

Resolution from the IFGE BOD to the APA

The Episcopal Church (TEC) Walking In The Path Of Christ

By Kelli Busey

I am witnessing an event that has taken me emotionally and spiritually far past my ability to comprehend or even to communicate . I am in need of your help in understanding, you the ones who live this, who's spiritual wholeness is challenged and enriched. I'll explain so you can educate me. When our The Episcopal Church invited everyone to live Jesus's life, here on this planet in our own bodies, many, many people found the path to fearsome, the deaths to many and the reward unfathomable. But then, some people fully embraced Jesus's way of life. Giving up comfort, forsaking wealth, enduring social alienation, and all the deaths that Jesus foretold are necessary in order to put our lives in order so we may forever worship. All of this is being lived by people right here, right now in my city. Grand cathedrals, sheltering stone walls of praise and once home to TEC, now sing in the houses of the hearts and souls of our saints in FT. Worth's TEC. Personal belongings were gathered as they were cast out of beautiful Church's and made to travel dusty roads to humble places. Willingly forsaken are the comfort and physical grandiose of the earthly reminders of our covenant, instead faith, love and welcoming for all is the alter and a hug the nearly unbearable hugeness of Christ's love. I do not know how to tell you about this. I do not know how to show my gratitude. I am witnessing people walk in the path of Jesus's life now, right here in Fort Worth Texas. I need to share with you, but am so challenged. Help me to understand. Help me to fully live the death's of rebirth. Spend some time with us. Please, offer the comfort of your spirituality, because you of the RMN, who among others, are the ones who by coming before and embracing the radical inclusion of Jesus's life, are making all of his miracle of the rebirth of hope and possibility, a reality. In our lifetime. In Fort Worth Texas.

Pray for Jackie! EXPECT MIRACLES!!!

By Kelli Busey

The young lady gracing the slide show is Jackie Murphree from Decatur Texas. A college student who's life was forever changed when her car was hit by a drunk driver. Jackie's brain was shifted and she remained in a coma for several months until finally emerging. But now Jackie's eyes must now speak for her.

Jackie's faith family prayed that time forward for miracles. The miracles the world awaits for began to occur to the people that Jackie's life touches. Adversaries found common ground. People began finding ourselves in the grace of our lord and being brought together in the Methodist faith. Recovering substance abuser's refreshed, pausing to wonder in the beauty of the lives we had taken for granted.

Why should we not pray with Jackie because she needs us now. She is going to China where stem cell research has progressed to the point that it offers her a opportunity to become a vibrant interactive woman once again.

We can be part of this miracle. If you can come to Decatur there are many opportunities to help, but if you can't, you can be a miracle maker by praying for Jackie.

Pray for Jackie! EXPECT MIRACLES!!!

DECATUR — Sitting in a wheelchair, Jackie Murphree's eyes must now speak for her.

Benefit Fun Run May 23, 2009 sign up form

My space Pray for Jackie! EXPECT MIRACLES!!!

First UMC Decatur, Decatur, TX

Transgender Churches in Dallas Texas

Where are there transgender Churches in Dallas?

I am aware due to my perplexity for snooping about(just curious really:), that many people are directed by google search to planetransgender who are on a spiritual journey.

The inquiry, "Where are there transgender Churches in the Dallas Fort Worth Area (DFW)".

I will answer with questions and answers! First remember Gay Friendly Churches in Dallas Texas does not say "transgender friendly", we are the change we want.

If you need of a place of spiritual reparation as I am most days I attend
Agape MCC in Fort Worth Texas. Agape offers communion with Christ in spirit and soul with open arms. The uniqueness of the strong southern Baptist flavour, country passion, Buddhist, Wicken, Pentecostal, Methodist, Evangelical, Episcopal (et) and a all Saints all ministers of the word communion leaves me with spiritual wellness. Remember Saints we are all ministers of the word of God. Go in peace.

MCC of Greater Dallas
has wonderful Pastoral leadership and attended by many of my transgender friends and family. You would need to attend every Sunday not to miss the diversity of worship.

Pathways, Southlake TX. I just happened to be there the Sunday that Transgender people were included in the Church's mission statement. Rev. Anthony Lorenzen (Rev. Tony) is ry.. In movement. In Change.

Northaven United Methodist Church proclaims it's self fully inclusive and welcoming. In my Sundays their I was among many GLB brothers and sisters who belong to the RMN but my experience is, bring your coat of transgender advocacy, you may very well need it that Sunday.
I am a huge believer in the Methodist faith. It is the third largest denomination in the country and has many past presidents in it's membership. Inside the Methodist people is one common drive, to do no harm. That belief allows within it's very Methodist structure a OPEN dialogue. So now I a lay person authors with the finest minds in theology on the Reconciling Ministries Blog. That's right. Me a lay radical transgender left wing nut. Welcome.

The Universalist Unitarian faith is a full on motor of change. We have the First Unitarian Church of Dallas which was the first UU Church to become a LGBT welcoming congregation in the UU federation. I found this out by meeting Rev. Dr. Daniel Chesney Kanter at the National Freedom to Marry Day Dallas Texas Feb. 12 where he officiated the wedding. I asked Pastor Kanter what was it that brought him there. He said a email, just a email. During the ceremony in which he pronounced the couple Woman and Woman he acknowledged that within this joining was an understanding of the meaning and value of marriage, something some cisgender couples of opposite sex's have demonstrated to be unknowlegable of.

I have currently worshiped once, unannounced, at the St. Vincents Fort Worth which serves as the Cathedral of the Episcopal diocese of Fort Worth. Having been baptized and raised Episcopalian I was extremely apprehensive as I am clearly a transgender woman in a very Orthodox Episcopalian service. I was immediately welcomed and throughout the services felt the holy spirit in my soul. After partaking in Communion I departed with a very warm invitation to return by The Rev. Canon John W. Jordan.
However with the departure of the Ft Worth Episcopal Dioceses from the American Episcopal Church, to the Southern Cone because of perceived irreconcilable differences over the installment of Bishop Robinson, a openly gay man, and " other differences", and if you are not inclined to be a loving advocate in a potentialy divisive religious institution I would suggest visiting St Thomas The Doubter of Dallas Tx. It is a stalwart of Episcopal inclusive theology. Some would argue that it is progressive. I am curious, If Jesus proclaimed himself radically inclusive, Jesus is also very progressive. In my humble opinion St. Thomas is a good transgender Sunday destination. Again remember you may be called as a transgender person to be especially loving here.

planetransgender religious links that will wow you! And may contain that one Church you connect with. I am always looking for more(just curious;).

The Institute for Welcoming Resources

Gay Friendly Churches in Dallas Texas

[1a]Reparation is a Roman Catholic theological concept that humans are creatures who have fallen from an original state of justice in which they were created, and that through the Incarnation, Passion, and Death of Jesus, they have been redeemed and restored again in a certain degree to the original ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reparation_(Catholic_Church)

[1b]Reparation is an album by Reggae musician Eddy Grant
. The title of this album is a call for restitution for the transatlantic slave trade

[1c]A payment of time, effort or money to undue past transgression(s); The act of renewing, restoring, etc. ...
en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Reparation

by kelli Busey
February 16, 2009

planetransgender

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President Obama, Bishop Robinson and Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies (DTAA)

By Kelli Busey

HRC email received 01-17-09 "Dear kelli, Tomorrow, in one of the most humbling honors of my life, I will deliver an invocation at the first event of inauguration week. Though many of us were deeply upset when President-elect Obama chose Proposition 8 supporter Rev. Rick Warren to speak at his inauguration, the fact that he also invited me – a proud gay man – is a hopeful sign of our president's commitment to reach out to all Americans. Now it's up to all of us to capitalize on this moment and ensure that President-elect Obama works for equality. Join me in asking Obama to take the next step by supporting HRC's Blueprint for Positive Change – a roadmap for LGBT equality."~Bishop V Gene Robinson

I support HRC's roadmap to equality because it is in the best interest of the entire GLBT community. What brought bishop Robinson into this picture above with the Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies(DTAA) is the gulf of misunderstandings and ignorance of the established church about transgender and Queer issues and sensibilities. The Dallas Black Tie inc. which was hosting Bishop Robinson and presenting him with the Elizabeth Birch Award later that evening was ironically named for a former president of HRC who is credited with saying she would "include transgender people in ENDA over her dead body" . The Dallas Black Tie Inc. presents HRC with roughly $400,000 dollars annually from this event alone. I protest HRC for inexplicably blindsiding Queer and transgender people in a backroom deal, removing us from ENDA (HR)2015 and assenting to Congressman Frank in dividing our communities human rights movement in 2007. The words Bishop Robinson and I spoke during or conversation were often foreign and left unresolved misunderstandings. In my heart of hearts I still beleive and have personaly witnessed in our own church's how transgender people because of our highly visible hacking, beating and shooting deaths are being used by HRC as sympathy garners and a method of raising money to party at "Gala Events". A despicable and unchristian practice. Yes Joe Solomese and Bishop Robinson, others have also noticed. HRC will have to prove to me by being a loyal and trustworthy advocate over time you are a worthy ally. This is a demand, not a request and is nonnegotiable. The fact Bishop Robinson attended the Dallas Transgender event speaks volumes of the progressive nature of our Episcopal Diosese of New Hampshire and we should give accolades to Bishop Robinson for this great achievement, however we cannot assume Queer and Transgender concerns are being voiced at the table with the same passion and equity as Gay and Lesbians are by Bishop Robinson. I personally feel that the Transgender Community has an opportunity and an obligation to step up and let ourselves be heard NOW. We can not rely on ANY central group to secure our place in history. It is up to you and me everyday in small and large ways to be the change. Kelli Busey Jan. 17, 2009 planetransgender

Reconciling Ministries Network doing Gods Work

By Kelli Bussey

For myself 2008 was a year of unanticipated profound change with a avalanche of love, passion, caring, worship, happiness and sorrow all bundled together in Jesus's name and presented as the Reconciling Ministries Network!

I had been called to witness(i didn't even know what that meant) and I was confused and scared by this force appearing out of nowhere drawing me to the United Methodists 2008 conference in FT Worth.

This began the most incredible two weeks of my life. What an absolutely fantastic religion! Alive and vibrant, struggling to understand the rainbow of blessings within. The people of the RMN are a driving force inside of the United Methodist Church and are truly doing Gods work. If you are queer, questioning and/or transgender and feel isolated and alone? Dude pull up a chair because we are among our church. The RM puts the work in network and lives radical inclusion.

By kelli Busey
January 01, 2009
planetransgender

"Why Should I?"

By Kelli Busey

"Why Should I?"

This is the response I received from a religious leader after he read my scathing note critiquing his behavior, not content, during a recent transgender event and an invitation to continue the conversation.

I think it gave him the opportunity to slam the door shut.

Why should you care about the effect your actions are having on the gender variant?

By allowing your religion to lend credence to violence committed against gender variant people you are fueling the unbroken cycle of hate and condemning us to horrific deaths. By being the leader of a major religion you are amplifying this message in a way that none other could, that we are less than you.

What is your motivation? Not the little voices to be sure. Or could that be why you got so angry? Is that why when I attend church some pastors look at me with such fear?
Look at me with fear! My god man, it's not my physical stature for sure. No it only could be one thing.

The Truth.

The fear is that I expose our monetarily driven religions and the duplicity it nurtures by it's continuation of profiteering from the brutal transgender murders.

What is this social organization's Motivation? Make one or two million dollars a night and hand local churches and 501's their 1 for 5 payoffs. Whats the hurry to change anything? Everyone is fat and happy, right?

Except you. When I show up. And the nearly dead, and oh yeah, Jesus.

Cross posted from
planetransgender

Rambling to a far lef T/Stepping UP/an Invitation

By Kelli Busey

Rambling to a far lef T/Stepping UP/an Invitation

Letters and petitions were sent to the Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Bishop, New Hampshire asking him to consider how his attendance at certain social organizations fund raiser might affect transgender people. It is the belief of many people that the exclusion of transgender people from the national human rights movement was inhumane and his attendance would validate a sense that Transgender people were somehow less than Gays and Lesbians.

Our petitions and protests are without constraint from political and religious influence.

The response we received from Bishop Robinson took us completely off guard. Bishop Robinson asked to meet us, anywhere anytime! Well, how dare he? A religious leader of the Anglican communion willingly stepping up and taking this risk to meet? I was astounded and had to rethink how could we best respond to such a offer.

I went back to my roots, here at the RMN, and what I have learned of philosophy and faith.  I considered what could be the most important out come of such a meeting?

In response to Bishops Robinson's invitation we formed the Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies! from previously friendly but separate people.

We all realized our need to be cohesive yet diverse and to respect each other for our common goal of lifting up the Transgender, Queer, Intersexed, Asexual and Questioning people from the sense of despair, frustration and anger we have found ourselves in since our exclusion from the national GLB human rights movement.

Dallas Transgender Advocates and Allies are now extending our hand in friendship and welcome to the RMN. We are everything, from radical to conservative and there are no guarantees. It is a leap of faith.

We are so different yet so much the same. This realization of our humanity is due to Bishop Robinson "Stepping UP!"

Queers United asks ; Please Save One Life

By Kelli Busey

Queers United wants to save a life. Just one Life.

Please help by signing a petition asking the British government not to deport John Bosco Nyombi to Uganda.

Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender people in Uganda face homicide directed by Uganda's president Yoweri Museveni and protested by Amnesty International.

Bishop Eria Paul Luzinda of the Uganda's Anglican Mukono diocese has urged the government of Uganda to keep homosexuality illegal. Both of these people by their actions encourage state and religious sponsored homicide. In Uganda to be homosexual is punishable by life in prison. A "death sentence" in prison for a gay person is HIV/AIDs, communicated by a judge and jury in rape by fellow prisoners. How can a government proclaiming to be a defender of freedom send people to their death? Please do not deport John Bosco Nyombi to Uganda.