Can I add to the “welcomes” on your other thread. Some immediate, off-the-top-of-the-head answers to your questions:
1. Is there much opportunity for you in the traditional church to experience discipleship/mentoring in which you can be honest about who you are?
Not that I’ve found. I have a long Baptist background, followed by 20+ years in an A.O.G. church, but now back in a fairly conservative Baptist Church about 4 years. In both my current church & my former church it has been a case of I’ve had no reason to tell and have never been asked. I don’t see any point in walking in waving a rainbow flag. It’s not my style.
But as soon as I am asked, or find a relevant context to say, I am ready to enlighten them. And feel well-equipped to handle any flack. (And quite a bit of that ‘readiness’ is thanks to Freedom2b.) We have established that remaining gracious (rather than attacking back) is the most effective strategy. And knowing that probably the biggest problem is their unknowing ignorance, helps handle the issue. (I don’t mean that perjoratively.)
mrg, as Anthony and others have often said, we are all on a journey. I am pleased that you are with us. Even if your journey is a bit different, I think we are now on adjoining lanes of life’s highway.
The churches available to me which I know are accepting of gay people are either:
>>> (a) more liberal (perhaps, better – less evangelical) in their theology than I feel comfortable with; or
>>> (b) too liturgical for this non-conformist (no matter how hard I try to have communication between God and me through liturgy, it doesn’t work!!); or
>>> (c) too gay – i.e., the “we are gay” or the “we welcome gays” part of their message seems to take precedent over all else.
So, really, I have never been properly put to the test in respect to your question. I can, however, “experience discipleship/mentoring”. It’s just the ‘be honest’ bit has never been tested. Probably strange, but true.
Have never thought about it until now, but maybe they (current & former church) shy away from being honest about their atittude &/or of expecting gays to be honest??? Interesting thought? Must explore that more.
2. Is there much opportunity for you in the GLBT community to experience discipleship/mentoring in which you don’t have to talk about your sexuality all the time, but can focus on being a child of God and what it means to follow Jesus?
Again, not that I’ve found. There are some explicit Christian gay groups around (mostly associated within a denomination – either formally recognized or informally tolerated, even accepted). But, again, – in Sydney at least – not of the evangelical/pentecostal bent where I feel comfortable. Whilst such a support group would be good, it should only operate as an adjunct to local church involvement – not become my quasi-church.
Freedom2b’s charter doesn’t really extend into running that sort of group.
3. What sort of things would you really like, but haven’t been able to find, that would help you in your walk of faith?
Yair, a periodic bible study fellowship group of like-minded bods would help. BUT, being able to feel fully-accepted and comfortable and able to participate within a local church congreation is the ideal.
4. How could you be best equipped to reach your friends and family in the GLBT community who have yet to hear the gospel? Sections of the church have so damaged the church’s message and name through their homophobic rantings over the years (and continue to), that it’s really hard to break through. We need to divorce the gospel message and the reality of faith from organized Christianity. It’s really how we live our lives and demonstrate the outcome of our faith that matters and can break through. Despite mass evangelism, radio/TV programmes, flyers, books, etc., etc., the research shows that over 80% of people come to faith through the witness of a family member or friend who took an interest, initiated a range of conversations, and started bringing the person to church meetings. That’s how I do it with my non-Christian gay friends. But, it’s hard!
mrg, as Anthony and others have often said, we are all on a journey. I am pleased that you are with us. Even if your journey is a bit different, I think we are now on adjoining lanes of life’s highway.
Bless ya!
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