| A Safe Space for Progressive & Liberal Christians |
[entries|friends|calendar] |
|
|
A Safe Space for Progressive & Liberal Christians
|
|
|
| You are invited... |
[11 Mar 2009|07:24am] |
I'd like to extend an invitation for folks here to also join us in a new community: Christians For Progressive Change. Take a look at our profile and if it sounds like your cup of tea, sign up and say hello. We'd be glad to see you there.
Thanks to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif) legolastn for allowing us to share the invitation with you. Best to you and yours.
|
|
|
[07 Mar 2009|10:00pm] |
All Things New: Publication of the Student Christian Movement of Canada
www.scmcanada.org
NEXT ISSUE: “SHINE: A Dream of Inclusion & Liberation!” (Spring 2009) Call-out for Submissions to All Things New Editorial Collective: Lana Wilson-Dice, Sheryl Johnson, Geoffrey Dice, Rob
Walker, Brigid Morgan We are seeking submissions to the upcoming Spring 2009 edition of the SCM’s
national magazine, All Things New! Our theme is the same as this year’s
National Conference: “SHINE: Radiating a Dream of Inclusion & Liberation.” We are discussing issues of radical inclusion and acceptance, especially as
they relate to faith communities and LGBTTQ* peoples and issues
(lesbian/gay/bisexual/trans/two-spirit/queer/questioning). Let’s hear about
Christian resistance to homophobia, and about breaking down boundaries and
building communities. Discuss your challenges and successes with Queer and
Christian Without Contradiction programming! Freely interpret the theme or
submit anything relating to our SCM goals: spirituality, justice, community.
In addition, we would also like articles or reflections based on the recent
San Francisco NARC Conference. We accept essays, personal reflections, art, cartoons, photos, theological reflections, prayers; anything you feel moved to create. We welcome news and contributions from all SCM Friends. We are also always happy to hear from people of different faith perspectives, so please spread the callout widely. Submissions can be emailed to editor (at) scmcanada.org , or mailed to: All Things New
c/o SCM National Office
310 Danforth Ave
Toronto ON M4K 1N6
Canada The views expressed in All Things New are not necessarily those of the editorial collective, the Student Christian Movement, its national coordinators, its national board or its membership.
[textile] Please spread the call-out widely! To order copies of ATN, or to join our mailing list please email: info @scmcanada.org (REMOVE SPACE)
|
|
| hi all |
[01 Apr 2008|08:47am] |
This bugs me.
http://www.themarriagebed.com/boards/viewtopic.php?p=457041#457041
She was only asking for advice, and these people were very rude to her and not understanding at all. Where's the empathy?
All she asked was for advice,and all she got was shut down. At least someone tried to stand up for her, someone had to. I am in her same boat, and my friends and family have been very supportive of my fiance and I, and things are starting to get better, and we're happy. Why should anyone be made to feel unworthy just because of their beliefs? Murder, theft, and all of the other more severe things are so much more prominent. I just won't ever get it...
|
|
| DON'T LET THE GOVERNMENT PERPETUATE HATRED! |
[09 Oct 2007|06:28pm] |
Leaders in the U.S. House say we can't pass a version of ENDA that includes all gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people. They say they just don't have enough votes.
We have 10 days – or less – to prove them wrong.
But we have our work cut out for us. We still need to change the hearts and minds of more than a few Members of Congress. We succeeded in getting the House to delay their vote for no more than 10 days – so we have a very short window of opportunity.
Can you get 10 of your friends to make a call to Congress in the next 10 days?
I pledge to join the "10 in 10" campaign and get 10 friends to call Congress!
The issue at hand is which version of ENDA will pass the House. The inclusive version? Or the new version that leaves part of the GLBT community behind?
Since last week, when House leaders decided to move a version of ENDA that includes sexual orientation only, we have been working around the clock to make sure the original bill, HR 2015, which includes sexual orientation and gender identity, is the version that Congress considers.
Supporters like you have generated 80,000 emails, calls, letters, and visits to members of Congress to support the right version of ENDA – the inclusive version – and we thank you! We have 10 days or less to show Congress that our community will not be divided.
Take the pledge and get 10 friends involved!
People like Susan Stanton understand why this is so important. Susan had been the City Manager in Largo, FL, for about 14 years, and had received excellent job evaluations, when a news article reported that she was transgender and planning to transition from a man to a woman. City commissioners fired her six days later.
Our HRC Board of Directors – joined by other HRC citizen volunteers – went to Capitol Hill in recent days to personally lobby members of Congress to pass HR 2015. HRC has coordinated more lobby visits on this issue than any other GLBT or allied organization. But it won't be enough unless the public support is overwhelming.
We need you and your friends to be part of these efforts by pledging to contact 10 people today, no matter your representative's position on the bill. Even our allies need to know how strong our support is for an ENDA that covers the full GLBT community.
Take the "10 in 10" pledge now!
Scroll down for a letter you can send your friends and family right now. And thank you for helping us fight for equality for all GLBT people, together.
Warmly,
Joe Solmonese
President
P.S. Forward the message below, right now!
Hi,
In most states, you can be fired for being gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, regardless of your performance or qualifications. That's just not right.
The Human Rights Campaign is leading the charge to end this injustice by passing a federal bill called the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA). But Congressional leaders recently decided to change the language of ENDA so that it only includes sexual orientation and NOT gender identity.
I contacted Congress to make sure the entire GLBT community is included in ENDA. I'm hoping you'll join me, and then tell 10 more friends in the next 10 days. We have a short window of opportunity on this one.
Please join me at:
http://www.hrcactioncenter.org/campaign/enda_oct
|
|
| Hello all! |
[30 Aug 2007|11:41pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 hopeful |
] |
I'm not sure if any of you remember me, but I wrote a few months back.. for what I wrote, read the lj-cut
( Read more... )
Anywho, since then a rough idea of what the site will look like has come about.. however, I still need your help.
I was hoping that some of you might be willing to submit some stuff for the site.. whether that be researched papers concerning any topic of interest related to the site, poems, personal stories or coming out stories.. even pics of you with your significant other or from pride or anything of the sort would be great.
Essentially I want this to be a site where we can feel personally involved and personally effected, while at the same time finding a ground for becoming active in our own communities. The site is to be called "United We Roar!" -- and I hope that the name will embody the truth of all of us. (and not to promote, but I created a community under the same name, as a place to discuss the future of the site among other things).
I hope you all will consider helping.. also if anyone is really good at creating webpages, I could use some help spiffing up the site layout would be awesome. :) Thanks in advance!!
Crossposted.
|
|
| hello |
[07 May 2007|02:04pm] |
|
hello everyone! I just joined here so thought I'd introduce myself: I'm Helen, I'm 23 from Liverpool in the UK. yep, think that's about it for now, but hello to you all....
|
|
| Jesus Love |
[29 Apr 2007|08:03pm] |
How does Jesus define an enemy when he says, "love your enemy" (Mt 5:43).
And, if we are all God's children and thus should love each other indiscriminately, what does love mean? And then why does he command that we should hate? "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple" (Lk 14:26).
Biblical or textual support for further reading of your arguments would be dandy.
|
|
| A letter from a peacemaker in Palestine |
[16 Nov 2006|03:20pm] |
>Dear Family and Peacemakers,
>
>There is only a few minutes until dinnerand I'mon the computer with
>a bad space bar. Please understand.
>
>We spent the day today with Christian Peacemaker Teams (CPT), first
>in At-tuwani and then Hebron. In At-tuwani 4 CPT liveand spend much
>oftheir timeaccompanying children to and from school; somecome
>fromneighboring villages, an easy walk forthem except that it passes
>the settlements. The settlers throw stones, chase them, etc. The
>CPT safely accompany them. More later.
>
>Next came Hebron and that's the reason forthis very rushed
>message. I have no idea what you may have heard coming from the
>news today. We met with the CPT; they live on the border between
>Israeli and Palestinian Hebron (of course all of Hebron isconsidered
>Palestinian bythe International Community, but Israeli settlements
>are developing in old Hebron, evicting and harassing the
>Palestinians asthey go. The settlers here are considered the
>"ideological ones",they are determined to take all ofPalestine
>astheir God given right. They throw bricks, stones, bottles down on
>the shop keepers living below (they have taken over house upper
>floors). Palestinians have covered the street with wirewhich stops
>the rocks, etc.
>
>After meeting with the CPT staff, the woman who had spoken to us
>took us up to the rooftop of their building because ofthe wonderful
>view of Hebron. First she said no pictures facing the Israeli
>areas; indeed there were a half dozen military posts in our
>view. She was pointing out the various sites. Suddenly shots rang
>out. One of our group said, "I see the gunman; it's a
>settler." Indeed we could see him. At that point I decided the
>roof wasn't a place I wanted to be. Others stayed; one
>surreptitiously took photos and has a couple of good pictures of
>him. More gunfire erupted. After awhile the Israeli military
>police came. They are allowed to do nothing involving
>settlers. They gave him back his gun (I'm not sure why, but there
>is a picture of him stuffing it into the back of a car) and walked
>up the hill with him.
>
>I have no idea whether anyone was injured orkilled; I don'tknow if
>it will makethe news, but some ofyou may know we were in Hebron
>today, and I don't want you to worry. I'm safe. Tomorrow we go to
>Bethlehem; nothing will happen there because it's a tourist spot.
>
>After we boardedthe bus we stopped at the home of a wonderful
>Palestinian family. A mother with 4 sons and 1 daughter. Her
>husband was in Israeli jail for 5 years after the 67 war. He died a
>few years ago. She baked cakes, cookies, and served grapes from
>their own yard, also bananas. One son has a PhD; one is third year
>civil engineer; the youngest is a daugher who is in high
>school. All are determined to live lives of non violence and get
>educated. In that place. In Hebron. In spite of it all... what a delight!
>
>Late to dinner.
>
>Love and peace to all,
>Judy
|
|
| Rich year, huh? |
[26 Jul 2006|10:43pm] |
This year's been real rich in all kinds of attacks on religious people so far, from the infamous cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad to the highly-advertised and spinned "The Da Vinci Code" film.
The problem is "the certain people" were "deeply shocked" at that "terrible Muslim rampage" which of course quite naturally followed the cartoon publication and republication. "Barbarians!" - shouted some representatives of so-called "civilized Europe", not noticing the real barbarian in this case.
A gay star Sir Ian McKellen (who played in "The Da Vinci Code" one of the main characters), while at the Cannes Film Festival in France, managed to say that he entirely supports Dan Brown's (the author of the book "The Da Vinci Code") plot that Jesus married Mary Magdalene, because it would prove the prophet wasn't a homosexual and that Christians all over the world should be happy with this idea. Saying that, the actor as if emphasized "If you, my dear Christians, think Jesus wasn't married, then he was a gay!". Funny and acid. And completely
inappropriate.
The French paper "France Soir", which reproduced a set of Danish caricatures depicting the Prophet Muhammad, said it had decided to republish them "because no religious dogma can impose itself on a democratic and secular society", fogetting that in "a democratic and secular society" live a great lot of different people, with different religious and cultural sets of beliefs, and even if you don't share, don't approve and don't understand these beliefs you mustn't forget you live in society and if you live in society you must show respect to any member of it regardless of his origin and creed. It is highly disgusting that some members of "modern society" are just not aware of that simple rule and by their hostile behavior they kindle the flame of an ethnic conflict.
Jacques Lefranc, managing director of "France Soir" was fired. That was a good step. No one has a right to justify his immoral and antisocial conduct by taking refuge in "democracy and freedom of speech" -- these poor terms are being highly abused these times. Almost every journalist nowadays immediately mentions them to apply to his dirty work -- and sometimes it works. I am glad that it didn't work this time. The cartoon scandal must be a good lesson to such pretenders.
But if society can fight certain criminals in the journalist circles, it almost can't fight the big and powerful machine of Hollywood. The Hollywood criminals have strong money ammunition and with this powerful weapon you can shoot the whole army of your potential enemies. And who is the Hollywood's potential enemy? Oh they're so many! Look at the Christians. Their god is so merciful, so kind -- and totally boring. What does he give them? And look at our Big Green Dollar God -- he gives you anything. Anything you just wish for. "The Da Vinci Code" has grossed more than 200$ million -- who cares about God, Christians, Muslims, Buddhists and so on? But wait, we earned 200$ million on the name of Jesus so that's okay -- thank you Jeez.
With Big Green Dollar God you can say and do what you want -- you will not be punished because it's His Majesty Big Green Dollar God -- the most merciful of all gods. You may not pay respect to anyone at all
but they'll all be respecting you even more than themselves -- because you're very strong, because you worship Big Green Dollar God. You're not a part of society -- you live in your own small but incredibly powerful society of Big Green Dollar God.
So if you're going to ask me how to fight this machine anyway because it has to be fought I'll say the only way to fight this monster -- not to be silent. To unmask the real purposes of Hollywood producers hidden beneath "the creative process". And always remember their opinions and views are that of a minority -- that's why they scream so loud to be heard.
T. H. Harrier
http://t-h-harrier.livejournal.com/
|
|
| Love Welcomes All - Focus on the Family Conference |
[20 Apr 2006|11:20am] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
 busy |
] |
LOVE WELCOMES ALL A conference to affirm gay people and to counter the anti-gay misinformation of Focus on the Family’s, “Love Won Out.”at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church As Focus on the Family’s conference convenes on Saturday, May 6, 2006, we will come together with parents, friends, allies, clergy, and loved ones to hear from nationally recognized speakers to expose the truth about the hurtful and destructive messages of so-called, “reparative therapy.”
Saturday, May 6, 2006
1:00 to 4:30 p.m.
First Congregational Church of Fort Lauderdale
United Church of Christ
2501 Northeast 30th Street
Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33306
(travel one block east of Federal Highway on Oakland Boulevard; turn right on Middle River Drive; one block)
An optional peaceful protest/prayer vigil will follow the conference at Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church Guest Speakers
Jack Drescher, MD
psychiatrist, author, reparative therapy critic The Reverend Elder Nori Rost
MCC minister and activist The Reverend Dr. Jerry Stephenson
counselor, author, minister, ex “ex-gay” Wayne Besen
author, activist Sponsored by the South Florida GLBT and Friends Interfaith Clergy Association and PFLAG For more information or to reserve a space, contact
The Reverend Dr. Jerry Stephenson JERYLST@aol.com
$15.00 suggested donation
Sponsored by the South Florida GLBT and Friends Interfaith Clergy Association and PFLAG
x-posted to ![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/community.gif) lgbtx,glbt_christians,jesusliberationreligious_leftchristianleft
|
|
| Theo-Hypothetical Question. |
[12 Apr 2006|03:44pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
amused |
] |
I have no clue where I came up with this. Perhaps while I was making my icon. It's just a hypothetical question to promote discussion.
Suppose for a moment, that Jesus and Mary Magdelene had a child or two, (as per DaVinci Code) and Mary took herself and the children to settle in France.
Fast-forward to today.. Scientists examining the Shroud of Turin (Working independantly with a larger sample of blood containingfibrils, pathologist Pier Baima Bollone, using immunochemistry,confirms Heller and Adler’s findings and identifies theblood of the AB blood group. (BaimaBollone, P., La Sindone-Scienza e Fide 1981, 169-179; BaimeBollone, P., Jorio, M., Massaro, A. L., Sindon 23, 5, 1981; BaimaBollone, Jorio, M., Massaro, A. L., Sindon 24, 31, 1982, pp 5-9;Baima Bollone, P., Gaglio, A. Sindon 26, 33, 1984, pp 9-13; BaimaBollone, P., Massaro, A. L. Shroud Spectrum 6, 1983, pp 3-6.)> identified not only the blood-type but could extract DNA from that. They are offering a test to those who carry that blood type. Would you get the test ?
Pretend that your blood-type matches and some DNA strands match and you could be tested. How would this affect you ? How would it change your perspective, actions, choices ? Or what if someone you knew was a match ? What social ramifications do you think would occur globally and within the church ?
I know my mind works strangely sometimes....I have no clue sometimes where I come up with this stuff.
|
|
| *ahem* |
[01 Apr 2006|06:10pm] |
| [ |
mood |
| |
amused |
] |
| [ |
music |
| |
Echo and the Bunnymen, "Lips Like Sugar" |
] |
So the AFA is doing an online poll on illegal immigration and trying to be all serious about it, stating that they'll send the results "to Speaker of the House Dennis Hastert, Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, and President George Bush." Their solution to illegal immigration? "The first step in dealing with the illegal immigration problem is to seal the borders and keep additional illegal immigrants out."
Of course, it'd be a shame if their poll turned out not to be one-sided...
(x-posted)
|
|
| navigation |
| [ |
viewing |
| |
most recent entries |
] |
| [ |
go |
| |
earlier |
] |
|
|
|
|
contemplative