The Religious People Who Give Us Hope for Religion

[rug]

A tribute to inspiring religious folks who in 2014 gave us hope for the future of LGBT inclusion in religion.

BY Stevie St. John
December 24 2014 6:00 AM ET

OK, from Bryan Fischer to the Duggars, “sodomite semen” James David Manning, reparative therapy defenders, and even LGBT genocide supporter Steven Anderson, we’ve seen plenty of people take religiously motivated anti-LGBT stances this year.

But the news hasn’t all been bad. Many LGBT and allied people are working to make the world, and in some cases their own religions, better for queer folks. Some advocate for social change, some for change within their denominations; others focus on ministering to and affirming LGBT people.

We decided to round up a list of religious folks who give us hope. We know that religions grew more LGBT-inclusive between 2006 and 2012; hopefully 2014 marked further steps forward.

1. Rev. Frank Schaefer

Though eventually reinstated, Rev. Frank Schaefer was initially defrocked by the United Methodist Church after performing a same-sex wedding — which happened to be for his own son.

http://www.advocate.com/year-review/2014/12/24/religious-people-who-give-us-hope-religion?page=full

There are some remarkable people on the list. Sister Monica is most impressive and Fred Phelps' grandson is here.

[TexasProgresive]

1. Frank Shaefer has written a book telling the tale of his ordeal

http://www.amazon.com/Defrocked-Fathers-United-Methodist-Church/dp/0827244991/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1419592045&sr=1-1&keywords=defrocked

Edited to add from the OP link:

“The UM Church needs to find a way toward reconciliation, full inclusion of our LGBTQ community and an open altar for all God’s beloved children. I will continue the fight alongside thousands of others in the reconciling movement for full inclusion and an open altar for all. I know the day is coming when this dream will be reality and I don't think it is that far in the future,” Schaefer said in a statement when his reinstatement was affirmed in October.

[AtheistCrusader]

2. I read that very differently.

I read that as humans giving us hope for humans, despite their exposure and in some cases, elective participation in religion.


At best, it means people can potentially interpret the same religions fundamentalist jackalopes depend on, into more compatible versions for society.

[rug]

3. It's much simpler to take it as written: many people use their religion to good things.

[AtheistCrusader]

5. Many people would do good things anyway.

[rug]

6. Many people don't do good things, period.

These do.

[AtheistCrusader]

7. Which brings us full circle to my objection.

Because of, or despite religion?

[rug]

8. You're on a tangent, not on the circumference.

These people, the subject of the OP, which is the subject of the Advocate article, are being recognized for doing good within religion. It is not a binary choice. These people are good people regardless of their beliefs. Nevertheless, thet have chosen to do good through their religious their beliefs.

[AtheistCrusader]

10. Actually, it's core to understanding their motivation, as well as how to encourage others.

We actually need to know, is this because of their faith, or despite it. And if it's because they have translated their faith differently than the main herd of fellow religious travelers, how/why did they do so?

Without knowing that, it's hard to encourage others to join them, or replicate their behavior.

[TexasProgresive]

11. From Rev. Shaefer's book

He has just got off the phone with his son Tim after agreeing to officiate at Tim and Bobby's wedding in Boston.

"I thought, 'All right, I'm doing this wedding, And obviously this is against what it says in The United Methodist Church's Book of Discipline. Paragraph 2702 clearly states that a United Methodist minister can be charged and put on trial for performing same-sex marriages. So what was I supposed to do?

I can to the conclusion at the time that I needed to be honest about my plans to preside at my son's wedding to another man, even if it meant losing my job security and my career. I didn't think about the possibility of a trial so much. I just thought that the church would fire me once I made known my participation in a same-sex wedding.

I was fully prepared to lose my job when I entered a written statement in my ministry profile. Every United Methodist minister must submit a ministry profile each year to the bishop and the cabinet. In my profile that year, I wrote:

I have three children who are gay/lesbian. One of them is living at home. I am affirming gay rights in my theology. It's a social justice issue for me, I have agreed to preside over the marriage ceremony of my gay son, Tim and his fiance, Bobby in April of 2007 (my son resided in Boston Massachusetts). I have not shared this with anybody in my congregation and do not intend to do so. However is asked about it I will not lie.'"

The people in the article were formed by their faith. This does not change the fact that there are people who do not believe in God and do good works. Frank Schaefer put his life's work on the line in going against UMC policy as an act of faith. It is his theology that lead him to this decision. This is more than everyday good works it is courage that goes beyond anything I have ever done.

I added the bold.

[AtheistCrusader]

14. That sounds like an act in spite of the teachings of his faith.

I give him full credit for doing it, and especially with the knowledge that his church would likely rebuke him for it.

I don't see where the faith itself is deserving any credit at all here.

[TexasProgresive]

17. I find it high irony that an atheist would be making a charge of heresy.

Frank's faith is in the love of Christ not in the arbitrary policy of the UMC.

"I think a lot of my church members thought I was going to say to the trial court, 'Well, it was my son, and I did it out of love. But I apologize for doing it, and I am never going to do it again.' A number of my parishioners thought I would basically just ask for forgiveness. But I wasn't going to do that, because that's not what I believe. I couldn't stand before the press and lie about my theology. I had to tel the truth."

"I was actually facing two judicial charges. The first was that I had performed a same-sex marriage. And it was pretty clear to all of us that I was going to be found guilty of that. I pled not guilty on this charge. My reasoning on that was this: If I said, 'I'm guilty of it.' I would be acknowledging that the law was right and not discriminatory, So I refused to plead guilty to this first charge."

[AtheistCrusader]

18. You misunderstand.

He was thrown out of his church, for a period of time, while the church itself underwent a serious internal fight over the issue.

I can't see him as a heretic, just as I can't see him as a sinner. Neither state 'exists' for me.

[okasha]

20. Ironic but not surprising.

The hosts of the Atheists and Agnostics group regularly excommunicate those judged to be "atheists" as opposed to "real atheists,"

[cbayer]

4. Exellent and thanks to the advocate for doing this.

It is imperative that liberals and progressives support these people and all the others that are working for GLBT equality.

There is also the NALT project, which they unfortunately don't mention.

[AtheistCrusader]

9. How do they rate on Contraceptives/Abortion? Torture? Sex ed in schools?

Physician assisted suicide? Social programs administered by the government? (SOCAILISM HISSS)

Etc.

Thanks for blindly embracing people who diverge from the herd on ONE ISSUE with no clue what other baggage they are bringing to the table.

[okasha]

12. You may be clueless about where these religious leaders stand on other issues.

That doesn't mean people here, or the writer of the article, are equally in the dark.

[AtheistCrusader]

13. Sounds like you're unable to answer the question.

A for effort though.

[okasha]

15. Nope.

Just unwilling to spend the time to educate you. Look them up if you really want to know.

[AtheistCrusader]

16. Schaefer has been reinstated by the methodist church.

The Methodist church opposes physician-assisted suicide.

So, yeah, bunch of shitty baggage.

United Methodist Church

The United Methodist Church opposes physician-assisted suicide. The denomination teaches that “dying well” is an integral part of Christian life, says James Thobaben, a professor of bioethics and social ethics at the Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Ky. “We believe that in dying, we must do the best we can to proclaim Christ’s glory,” according to Thobaben. With this in mind, he says, it is important for Methodists to show their family, friends and others that they remain believing and committed Christians even if they are suffering “on the deathbed.” Trying “to control death in a late, modern, hyper-individualistic way, or [being] afraid of pain” is contrary to what the church considers its great tradition, Thobaben says.

The church also opposes euthanasia, although there is no requirement that the terminally ill avail themselves of every possible treatment as long as their actions are not intended to hasten death. “There is a difference between not needlessly extending the dying process and accelerating it,” Thobaben says.

For more information:
The United Methodist Church. 2004. The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church. “Suicide.”
The United Methodist Church. 2004. Book of Resolutions. “Faithful Care for Persons Suffering and Dying.”

[okasha]

19. And you have what evidence

that Schaefer agrees?

[AtheistCrusader]

21. They haven't thrown him back out.

Beyond that I have no access to the internals of his mind. Found no reference to his position on that issue broadcast in the clear.

He once went under the radar, unwilling to lie, but also not broadcasting his position on SSM, so there is some leeway there for him, personally.