Can we talk?
Design by Sarah Duet (Feel free to download & share!)
I'm celebrating what I believe is a great victory this weekend. And I am so happy for the friends, family, neighbors, and others who have waited and worked so long for this day!
Acknowledging that not all will see Friday's Supreme Court ruling as a reason to celebrate, I'm also praying for gracious dialogue and willingness to listen across lines of difference...That we can see the good, true, and beautiful in each other and find more to unite on than by which to divide ourselves. That we can remember (and relearn wherever necessary) what Love is and asks of us.
To be honest, I'm also deeply concerned about what Sunday morning will look like, sound like, and feel like in many places as congregations gather across the country. I'm afraid I have no eloquence to add to this concern–only a commitment to pray, to engage conversations that go beyond link bait on social media, and to be speaking/singing a stream of continual Lord, have mercies.
For anyone looking for examples of constructive conversations around this topic, I thought I'd share a few that I've found here on the blog...
1. The Future of Marriage (On Being)
(October 10, 2012) Humphrey School of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota:
"Redefining the definition of marriage is a monumental cultural transition. But we’ve reduced our public deliberation of this matter – even inside our religious institutions – to a matter of votes and laws. The reality is, even one-third of Democrats still express opposition to gay marriage. But younger people of every political and moral persuasion are coming to a collective comfort level and consensus. Jonathan Rauch is a gay man and gay marriage advocate who respects the values and concerns of social conservatives and wants them taken seriously. David Blankenhorn is a self-identified liberal democrat and long time family and marriage advocate, who testified for gay marriage opponents during California’s Prop. 8 ballot initiative. But he has recently withdrawn his legal opposition to gay marriage, acknowledging the emerging moral consensus. They have developed a friendship that has surprised and changed them both. We’ll listen in on their common struggle to respond compassionately to both sides of our human and civilizational encounter with same sex union, and to discuss it in terms of civil society and a pro-family agenda."
2. Indigo Girls Conversation (On Being)
For so many reasons, I just want everyone to listen to this conversation.
Long-time musicians, activists, people of faith, and lesbians, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers have a uniquely valuable depth of wisdom and a beauty about how they articulate the stories of their lives, their music, their discovery of their sexuality as young people in the "Bible Belt," their contribution to the gay rights movement and countless other stands for justice, equality, love, and care for all of creation.
My respect for them is immense and my gratitude ever-growing. Listen in here, if you will.
Ps- Join me in reading the book Emily co-wrote with her father and Methodist pastor Don Saliers? It's on my Amazon order list this month: A Song to Sing, A Life to Live: Reflections on Music as Spiritual Practice by Don and Emily Saliers.
3. The Liturgists Podcast, Ep. 20 LGBTQ
Donald Miller and J.J. Peterson; Matthew Vines; Melissa Greene, Stan Mitchell, and Tabitha from GracePointe; Preston Sprinkle; and Ed Gungor join Science Mike and Michael Gungor to share their stories and perspectives on LGBTQ persons and the Church.
Don't let the length of this podcast scare you off. It is the result of the long lineup of folks contributing to the conversation, which I think represent well the diverse spectrum of Christian perspectives on LGBTQ theologies, relationships, etc.
Thanks for reading, friends. And do let me know if you want to talk more about any of this.
In hope of unity,
sd.