News from the Gay, Lesbian, and Affirming Disciples Alliance
From the Moderator
The GLAD Alliance Leadership retreat began two days after the disastrous and
disheartening election results. I believe that it is hard to overstate the challenges and
danger that this election presents all of us. Whether or not "moral" issues
(often meaning homophobia) made the difference in the presidential race, it is the belief
of many that they did. Those working against us will be emboldened at every level of
society to press their beliefs. Eleven states, including my own, passed homophobic
amendments to their constitutions.
We must once again seize the fervor that we are fighting for our lives. Just last week
I received an email message on the distribution list of the National Religious Leadership
Roundtable, of which GLAD is a member, that perhaps represents the new climate. It stated
that a workshop on Gay Men’s Issues at the annual meeting of the American Academy of
Religion in San Antonio required armed guards because of threats that were received. We
simply can no longer assume that progress will occur without direct action.
I have three thoughts about that I want to share.
- We must continue to find ways to "come out" (as either a GLBT or affirming
person) on issues of inclusiveness in every forum we have and at every opportunity.
I’ve made a commitment to do that. Additionally, one of the ideas that came from our
planning was to develop a statement of why the Gospel requires inclusiveness and
hospitality of us that can be explained at a 5th grade level. We must be able
and willing to state our beliefs effectively and not just react to homophobic arguments
and cherry-picked scriptures.
- It is time for us as individuals and as an organization to say clearly and loudly to
every level of the Church that it is no longer acceptable to be silent on these issues and
to explain the pain that their silence causes us. Fear of division is no longer an
acceptable excuse. Long before there was a consensus on the issue of racial inclusiveness,
we said that racism is a sin and some people left. When I raised the issue of emphasizing
inclusivity in all forms during a committee meeting at my church, a response was
"what if the Church dies" (and survival is a major issue in that Church). What I
wish I had articulated better at the time is that to me a significant message of the
Gospel is that there are ideas and actions important enough to risk death for and that God
will be with us no matter what.
- Finally, (and I hate to admit this) we may need to accept that the road ahead is still
long and difficult. The Disciples are, after all, a red-state denomination. There is not
one Open and Affirming Disciples congregation in Oklahoma. I believe we need to be
creative about finding spiritual nurture. That means strengthening the support network
that the GLAD Alliance can offer. It also means affirming our ecumenical beliefs and
partnerships and seeking spiritual community where we can find it. In Oklahoma, there are
four strong O&A UCC congregations. Although it will tear at generations of my
Disciples roots, I can seek nurture and support from these congregations even as I work to
share the Gospel of inclusion with the Disciples.
- David Nickell