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...the death of alex...

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iain
 
Joined in 2006
January 8, 2007, 00:10

No Anthony this grooms father isn’t gay …must have been a different wedding. But i must also add that i am surprised by the number of people who are starting to confide in me some of their private, sometimes tragic, stories…



magsdee
Disabled
Joined in 2006
January 8, 2007, 01:09

AlexW, it is amazing how many people do end up confiding in you once you tell them that you are gay/lesbian. I dont quite understand why that happens………. but it has happened to me so many times too.


I somehow think that maybe people feel that because you have come out about something that takes courage to come out in the open about, they feel safe in coming out to you about anything personal or private in their own lives.

What an honour to be trusted like that.



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
January 8, 2007, 08:28

I think its about our willingness to be honest. when we are wiling to be that honest we create a space for others to tell the truth. When i was writing my story in new that one thing was essential……totally honesty….warts and all……even the things that made me look weak and stupid. Once i began getting constant emails from readers telling me how much they apreciated that…..and then poured out their heart to me……my publisher said she’d had never seen an authour get emails like i did. there were and still are amazing. One radio announcer thanked me for my brutal honesty.


in this world that is refreshing


….just my thoughts on what happens



magsdee
Disabled
Joined in 2006
January 8, 2007, 15:25

We need “brutal honesty”. And about creating space for people to be able to be honest and open, far out, thats a God thing……….The world hasnt got it anywhere, EVERYTHING is judged.

It breaks my heart to think how many people are in hiding out of fear of judgement. YOU have broken some ground here Anthony, God is still very much employing you as his agent of change and helping people break free of bondages (like shame, condemnation etc…)

You are helping people see that God does not come down with a big stick and bash you, if you open up and are honest about where you are at or whats going on. You are showing God to be the approachable Father who just wants to love on his kids. No matter what. We desparetely need to know that.



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
January 8, 2007, 16:01

we do what we can……..i believe we are turning the tide. Iget calls and emails for people in Pentecostal churches all the time who say they are ‘struggling’ with thier homosexuality. The more of us who are willing to stand up and be counted the quicker things will change……Iain is a great example of that. So much postive stuff has come from his empowered coming out.


…..and of course getting our brother and sister heterosexuals on board is also a key.



magsdee
Disabled
Joined in 2006
January 8, 2007, 18:05

yes Iain is a great testimony ) ………….and its true we need have more of our hetrosexual brothers and sisters onboard. I am positive it will happen more and more………….It really is quite exciting. )



phil.evans777
 
Joined in 2007
January 11, 2007, 15:24

Hey Iain,


It sounds like there was a very powerful moment in that staff room that day. Perhaps somthing that may change the course of history at that school. And I hope you get to see the fruit of it yourself.


I too am a teacher only I have just finished unit and taught my first year at a Christian school near Lake Maquarie. I really feel called to continue to teach in the Christian school system. Actually I hope it is safe for me to put my name on this forum. Anyway.


I was on a one year contract at this school because i am not from their particular breed of Christian. They have not renewed my contract despite my excellent results, and say that it is because I am not from their church community. The girl who is taking my position is the head master’s step daughter, interviewed and employed before i had the chance to re-apply, and after trying really hard to get ‘one of their own’, have employed an Anglican teacher in the part time position that has been hard to fill. There are numerous other teachers there who are also not part of their community.


I know it is because of what the community have been saying about my sexuality that has stirred them to stand against me as a teacher in their school system. The principal of the school asked many staff members behind my back if I were gay, most of whom are not close to me and would never have made a point of it before. It also got back to me that the governing body of the schools will not employ me under any circumstances – and that perhaps they passed this message onto other schools in the area.


A fresh, skilled and enthusiatic teacher, applying for every position I am suitable for since September, and still no job. Hmmmm.


Anyway, in spite of this experience, there are many on staff who have been very supportive of me. I have never given a statement, because unfortunatly the Church is not in a place where Christians can be human beings. Sounds retarded. And it is. But I actually have been able to reconcile that, and unless I cling to little minority groups, that will be my experience. I sure do hope for change in the way even some of the secular people view us, but I will live strong anyway.


I will write more of my story out and post it later, but Jesus is Lord of us. Our role, not really as gays, but as believers, is to teach people compassion and acceptance by showing it.


It is so great that there is a forum like this where we can all be supported and energised for the upward cause of Christ.


God Bless Iain. I hope you go back to teaching. You are obviously really good at it and are truely making a difference.


Regards,

Phil



magsdee
Disabled
Joined in 2006
January 11, 2007, 15:37


I will write more of my story out and post it later, but Jesus is Lord of us. Our role, not really as gays, but as believers, is to teach people compassion and acceptance by showing it.


It is so great that there is a forum like this where we can all be supported and energised for the upward cause of Christ.



That is so true Phil, we do need to teach or be examples of love, compassion and acceptance by showing it. Their is no other way. Fighting and argueing achieves nothing. Its great that we have this place and many others where we can support and uphold one another.


its awesome that you shared with us………Bless you for your courage. The Lord will stand for you and with you through all this.



iain
 
Joined in 2006
January 11, 2007, 16:31

Hey Phil

Yeah, it was a strangely powerful moment …strange because, in a sense, I think that I have actually empowered my staff. Does that make sense? My initial drafts were understandably ‘heavy handed’ (…which was good therapy for me!? Lol!) but others helped me to develop a speech which could be, as Anthony puts it, a “beautiful experience for everyone”. I have very quickly seen some amazing fruit from it already!


I have discovered in my 15 years teaching in Christian schools that each school can be VERY different and, like all schools, has its positives and negatives but I do believe that Christian schools have more advantages than disadvantages. One of the positives being a remarkably caring educational environment …ironically in the face of your recent experiences!


If you were not re-employed due to your sexual preference then, we know, this is not right. But, as you know, because Christian schools are exempt from the Anti-discrimination Act then it is actually their “right” to not employ you …and me. They also have a very tight network, so word about your sexual preference (as well as mine!) may have already spread thick and fast …dare I say, maybe on a ‘prayer chain’?


Yes, Freedom 2 Be has great forums! I have found that going to the monthly meetings with the guys and girls has been one of the key supports for me to be able to get to this point …not just ‘unscathed’ but successfully!


Hope your journey is equally as successful!

iain

ps. love the Shakespearean quote!



Anthony Venn-Brown
 
Joined in 2005
January 11, 2007, 17:11

hey Phil……welcome to your frist post in our forum…….or should I say your forum. Even though we have spoken on email I didn’t realise what you had recently been going through.


it seems criminal that in this day and age that christian schools are allowed to not hire someone……not becuase they are a poor teacher but because of the sexual orientation……….and i believe that my tax payer $$$$$ help fund that kind of discrimation.


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