I grew up in Victoria and I was raised by a bitter ex-catholic mother, and a somewhat laidback protestant father until 1972 when my parents divorced.
It was in Victoria in 1979 that I was ‘born again’ during the ‘revival.’ I moved to Brisbane shortly after that, and was a member of CLC Brisbane up until a couple of years after the church moved to New Farm.
Through all that time, I knew that I was homosexual, but I chose to marry, have children, and try to “overcome” that part of my nature.
Naturally, the marriage didn’t work out, but I gave it my best for 23 years. I have three wonderful children (all grown up now) as a result of that marriage, and I wouldn’t trade them for anything.
In 2005 I decided to leave my marriage and try to sort myself out. I had more or less given up on Church by then. I still had an occasional fling with this or that AOG church, but the restlessness in my spirit proved too much for me to really settle again in any church.
At the end of 2005, I met Sandra who is my partner today and whom I love very deeply. We held a commitment ceremony in November 2006. She is my first same sex partner and I hope will be my last as well.
I stumbled across a link to Anthony’s website one night a few months ago, and I am so glad I did. It seems like one of those things we would call a divine appointment in my old Church circles.
A couple of weeks ago, I was again hanging out at Anthony’s site, wondering if I should make contact, and I happened to click on a lnk to some youtube videos. I watched the 2007 launch of Anthony’s book and something I saw there, touched me so deeply and went so much to my heart, that I broke down and sobbed my heart out for an hour.
It was the speech given by Peter.
I was a member of the church that Peter was a pastor at in Brisbane. I knew Peter, and listened to him preach many times during that time.
My heart broke for his struggle and for mine and I found myself crying out to know why the church perpetuates the secrecy and lies that have put us all through so much heartache? At the same time, those tears were ones of healing as I came to realise that even though I might have felt I was alone back then, I wasn’t.
This brief outline is just scraping the surface of my struggles over the years, but it is enough of an overview for people to know a little bit more about me. As is the nature of humanity, we will all probably learn more through interaction.
I’m glad to be here.
Maggie
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