From the Worldwide Faith News archives www.wfn.org


[PCUSANEWS] Keeping a queer eye on the church


From PCUSA NEWS <PCUSA.NEWS@ECUNET.ORG>
Date Sat, 26 Jun 2004 21:25:07 -0500

Note #8300 from PCUSA NEWS to PRESBYNEWS:

Keeping a queer eye on the church
GA04010
June 26, 2004

Keeping a queer eye on the church

Speaker at More Light dinner urges listeners to stay in the struggle

by Nancy D. Borst

RICHMOND, June 26  An audience of 200 Presbyterians was urged by a speaker
at Saturday evenings National More Light Celebration dinner to stay in the
struggle to see that all people participate fully in the life of the
Presbyterian Church (USA).

Marvin Ellison, an ethicist and author, said in his address that the struggle
will remain a church- and society-dividing issue until justice is done.

Ellison co-authored Keeping Body and Soul Together, report of a General
Assembly Task Force on Human Sexuality, which was soundly rejected by the
1991 Assembly. He recently served as co-editor of a collection of essays
titled, Body and Soul: Rethinking Sexuality as Justice Love.

Justice love should be the normative expectation for all our relationships,
he said, because God is a never-flagging lover of justice who never lets
go.

Ellison said the church needs a makeover similar to those undertaken on the
popular television program, Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, in which five
gay men serve as makeover artists, helping heterosexual men to improve their
lives, wardrobes and relationships.

Everyone should keep a queer eye on the PC(USA), he said, contending that
queer is not synonymous with gay, but is a way of evaluating issues with
unconventional definitions. He said the queer eye sees marriage, for example,
as an ever-changing, evolving institution.

Whats at stake is protecting the sanctity of all lesbian, bisexual, gay and
transgender persons, he said. Seeking peace is empowering. Stay in the
struggle, party with justice-loving friends and be prepared for a divine
makeover. After all, dont you and I believe the best is yet to come?

The dinner at the Marriott Hotel celebrated 30 years of work in the
denomination for full inclusion of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered
people. One of its more visible projects, the Shower of Stoles, announced
that it had received its 1,000th liturgical stole. Each was given by a gay,
lesbian, bisexual or transgendered person; about half were donated
anonymously because of the denominations current ordination policies. The
nine-year-old project involves 21 denominations. Many of the stoles lined the
walls of the dining room.

Two groups and four persons were honored for their work for an inclusive
church. Inclusive Church Awards were presented to the Church of the
Reconciliation in Chapel Hill, NC, and the Triangle More Light Presbyterian
chapter in the same area. They were recognized for racial reconciliation.

The David Sindt Award went to Ralph Carter, of Rochester, NY, and Rob
Cummings, of Grove City, PA, who were recognized for their leadership of the
More Light movement. The award is named for the late David Sindt, who
launched the movement during the 1974 General Assembly when he stood on his
chair and held up a sign reading, Is anybody else out there gay?

The Howard B. Warren, Jr. Award was given to David Tromblom, Las Cruces, NM,
and Cliff Frasier, of New York City, in recognition of their willingness to
cross the line, even at great personal cost, for the cause of That All May
Freely Serve. Each accepted the award beside a life-sized, full-color
cut-out of the late Warren, who was known to dress colorfully and speak
boldly on behalf of people of all sexual orientations.

This story and many others may have photos, media, video clips that can be
found at http://www.pcusa.org/ga216.htm.

To subscribe or unsubscribe, please send an email to
pcusanews-subscribe-request@halak.pcusa.org or
pcusanews-unsubscribe-request@halak.pcusa.org

To contact the owner of the list, please send an email to
pcusanews-request@halak.pcusa.org


Browse month . . . Browse month (sort by Source) . . . Advanced Search & Browse . . . WFN Home