Rev. Janine Stock: Care, Meddling, or Cashing In

Today on Facebook, I made a comment about a book from 2008.  It is titled, Made in God's Image.  I am not opposed to these types of books; however, I am leery of them as a scholar, member of the GLBT community, a remnant theology Christian, and as a theistic humanist.  The number one criticism that I have of books like these is: if you are not one of us, then you really have no place telling the world how to tell us how to approach God, life, or other human beings.

The mere idea that a member of the clergy would have the insight to be able to coach or train people how to talk with, pray with, or support a GLBT member of that person's parish or family is repugnant to me.  You would do that the same way as you would do with anyone else.  GLBT parts of the body of Christ are not human beings.  I have been to the Stations of the Cross.  In fact, it used to be one of my favorite devotions.  I don't need it to be rainbowed in order to find my faith.

My faith is not dependent upon my sexuality or gender identity.  I accept that all of me has been created by God and not just parts of me.  God sought me before I knew those words or concepts.  God knit everyone including me in our mother's wombs (Psalm 139).  I was in communion with God just as every other person was before I was born.  I didn't need a prescribed way to pray or think as God came to me as He does with everyone else.

I've never seen something advertised as "Prayer for the Hetero."  Most people are in some way bisexual.  Everyone has a gender identity.  There isn't one person who isn't part of the GLBT community in one way or another.  What matters is how we define that community, and how people try to gain and negate that community?  Lots of people are finding ways to exclude while cashing in for themselves.  It's kitschy to wave a rainbow flag or place one on an altar in order to receive media attention.  It is much different to actually defend those in the church whom are ostracized because of it.  Most people's hearts can be found where they are making money and keeping it for themselves.

To have continued in communion with one another, Rev. Stock, it would have been easy for you to hear a personal experience with it or to understand that not everyone wants to have the world understand them as specialized so much that prayers need to be invented just for them.  Pride goes with money.

It's really simple to remember:  Everybody gotta birthday, and float building is not cheap!