An occurance of prejudice

[Bulldog1948]

Laura Jane, Man, this is an extrememly tough and delicate situation that you have been cast into. Something on the order of Danial in the Lions den anaology. The one thing that we do know is that God protected Danial the entire that he was in there. Those kitties never laid a claw on him.

I've been reading your post from the very first and have been impressed with your effort to educate those so-called Christians. Sorry, I can not call them true Christians or followers of our Lord Jesus Christ. He would have told the vipers to depart from His mist.

Yes, I do feel that God placed you there for a reason. Maybe it was to teach the congregation tolerance and to accept those who are different than them. I give you all the credit in the world for having handeled this unfortunate situation so graciously. You have been a lady through this entire needless ordeal and I commend you for having done so.

Yes, you see the ads thaty say UMC,open minds,hearts and so on all are welcome to attend. Now, that brings me to the Bishop in your area. If he really beleives the new doctrine within the Church and has been educated on the acceptance of trans,gays,bi, and intersex he will side with you and admonish the pastor on his utter failure to adhere to the new tennents. Otherwise, if he is as predjucided as your pastor and others in your church; no amount of pleading with him is going to change his mind. And, churches have split up over lesser issues that what you bring to their table.

I have empathy with you, as I was brought up in a small country UMC, but that was back in the 50s-early 60s. You were either straight or queer [as they put it back then]. When I turned 18 I walked out the door and didn't return until 20 years ago. But, I still encountered some of the same people spouting the same ole crap. Of course I wasn't the same person when I returned there. I came back as a man; all nice and legal. Some accepted me,some did not. But, I buried my first wife there. Now, an interesting aspect of this story is my family helped to build that church back in the 1840s; but the fools sitting in their pews didn't knew this. Oh, I wanted to get up and tell them off, but the Holy Spirit said, " No Mike-leave it alone". So, I attened another full gospel church where I was welcomed,met my 2nd wife and married here there. But, I decided to bring here back to my little country church, but it didn't work out. So, I wiped the dust from my shoes and walked on. I never walked away from the Lord and He never walked away from me. My point is, sometimes you have to walk away for your own well being. Reparative therpathy will not work whenone is a transsexual or intersexual. If it did, our prayers would have been answered years ago when we ourselves fell on our knees and asked GOD , why did you make me this way, why couldn't I have been born normal.

I beleive that God does have a plan for your life. Maybe there's another church out there waiting on a trumpet player. "Be still my soul,speak to me Holy Spirit, lead me,guide me and Bless me in the way that You want me to go". Neither myself, nor anyone else can make that decision but you and God. I hope, that in some way I have been able to help you, if nothing more than just a shoulder to lean on.

Mike

[Guest Svenna]

"I come NOT on Peace, but with a sword"...

One can randomly open the New Testament and they will find an applicable message on EVERY page...

One has to be trying VERY hard to miss the points that Jesus is constantly trying to make...

But you asked for the opinions of Christians in this particular matter, so I will take my leave..

Stay TRUE, Laura Jane..

Svenna

[Guest chngnwnd]

Laura,

As a Christian and a parent, I know that no loving parent wants their child to suffer. In my little world, God wants us to live happy, full lives and serve him as best we can. I don't know how to square that with what you are going through, though. I can say that it seems that some of the people in your church do not know the difference between their own prejudice and God's will. The indignant part of my soul says stand up in the service and pray loudly that the congregation learn to discern this difference. I am not sure that is the best course of action, but that is what they need - that kind of discernment.

At this point, I would say do not worry about them. Worry about your own spiritual walk and go where the spirit leads you.

hugs

Bobbi

[Guest Meri]

Karen,

You are undergoing a process of becoming, you have discovered your inner most beauty and want bring it to the surface for all to see. It's truly a wonderful journey. I understand this because I am on such a journey myself.

The reality is that we are living among our fellow travelers who are also in the process of becoming.Unfortunately, not everyone is at the same point of their journey and many of them are very fearful. When they behold someone such as you or I becoming, their reaction is misunderstanding and fear. Fear can lead to rejection, isolation and violence. Someday, some life, they will catch up and perhaps even find themselves in a similar situation, but not today.

I am a member in a small-town church, they are UCC's and the back page of their weekly bulletin goes on and on about how open they are and how they will accept anyone. Last weeks sermon was about lepers and untouchables, isolating and judging such people. The sermon was not very deep and this is certainly a very basic and fundamental issue. If this church is so open, why does the pastor feel the need to present such a basic topic? One would think that they had all collectively conquered their fear and would truly be open to anyone who would walk in the door.

I suspect it's not so, one on one, they are still people in different points of their journey, many harboring fear for anything or anyone outside of their experience. As an aside, I sing and play bells at the church. I know I am testing their limits.

However, in this town, this church, I don't feel as if my life is in danger in any way. I know I will roll some eyes, but no one is going to try to burn down my house or run me over with a car.

In the deep South, I am not so sure....

You choices are stay and be prepared to fight and defend yourself and your freedom or find a more open and accepting community. If your interest is mostly about self-actualization and becoming, you are far better off moving out so you can focus on becoming and not be distracted by other people's predjudice.

If you feel the need to "right this injustice" and show these uneducated and fearful people the truth, make them eat their empty words, etc., then stay... fight the good fight...

Me, I would move....

-Meri