Blogs
Greater NW Pride: The Moral Arc Bending Towards Justice and LGBTQ+ People
7/17/2019
The Moral Arc of the Universe is Bending Towards Justice and LGBTQ+ People Martin Luther King, Jr., once stated that, “the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” I was reminded of this quote as I read the current news regarding churches, denominations, and LGBTQ+ people. After the US Supreme Court ruled in the Obergefell v. Hodges landmark civil rights case, that we who are LGBTQ+ have the right to marry, guaranteed by both the Due Process Clause and the Equal...
Greater NW Pride: Stealing Rainbows
7/12/2019
Stealing Rainbows This past Wednesday, July 10, 2019, I met up with some United Methodists from the Vancouver-Camas, Washington area, to talk about issues confronting LGBTQI+ folks and straight allies in local Methodist congregations in light of the decision made during the specially called General Conference of The United Methodist Church in St. Louis, MO. It was a great conversation with two pastors from the area and lay leaders, some straight and others LGBTQ+. What struck out to me was ...
Greater PNW Pride: Godly Resistance!
7/3/2019
Godly Resistance! At last month’s Annual Conference gathering of the Oregon-Idaho United Methodist Church Conference in Eugene, Oregon, there were people wearing t-shirts—including the Bishop—that quoted part of the baptismal covenant used within the UMC. The words that stand out on this shirt, in various rainbow colors, are “Resisting evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.” The people wearing the shirts are saying that they are resisting evil, such as ...
Greater NW Pride: My Blood Is Wanted
6/27/2019
My Blood is Wanted: The Red Cross, Giving Blood, HIV, and Being Gay My blood is wanted. To be more exact, in the last few days, a lesbian friend reminded me on Facebook about an opportunity to give blood to the Red Cross. She spoke about giving blood as one of the more noble causes and activities in her life. Giving blood is for a good purpose, namely saving the lives of others in need of blood. Giving blood is one of the ways we can fulfill what Jesus is calling us to do in loving one ...
Inspiring Generosity
6/26/2019
Getting a New Pastor? 3 Tips to Help Them (and You!) Inspire Generosity
Greater NW Pride: So Much Love!
6/21/2019
“So Much Love!” Last Saturday, June 15, 2019, I had an educational experience of being in two very different cultural contexts, both located on Interstate 5 in Oregon. In the morning, I participated and observed the last day of Annual Conference of the Oregon-Idaho United Methodist Church (UMC) Conference in Eugene, Oregon. That afternoon, I drove north to Portland, OR to the festival area that was part of the Portland LGBTQ+ Pride festivities, participating in the parade the next day (June...