23 Wednesday Jan 2019
Tags
Yesterday there was a storm.
Lighthouses are used for navigation during stormy, dangerous weather. To warn captains of hazards before them and to guide them safely into port.
Yesterday there was a storm
A friend and I visited the Oregon Coast on a blustery, rainy Tuesday afternoon.
Yesterday there was a storm.
Through the haze of stormy weather, Heceta Head lighthouse shined brightly on the land and sea.
Yesterday there was a storm. Continue reading
24 Wednesday Oct 2018
Posted in Culture
“However, it is not right to profess oneness and equality in Christ through sacramental covenants and then to deny them by word or action. Such behavior wounds Christ’s body and denies what is resolved eternally in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.” – Community of Christ Holy Text
I see Gayle. Who has inspired me with her journey. Who provided beautiful pastoral ministry that was just what I needed while in retreat with others in the LGBTQIA+ community and our allies.
I see Ramsley. Who is strong and courageous in being a voice for themself. Who helps so many new people gain a deeper awareness and understanding because they share their story with all of us. Continue reading
13 Saturday Oct 2018
Posted in Culture
Tags
Bisexual, Blogging, Bullying, Coming Out, Equality, Faith, Gay, Gun Control, Lesbian, LGBT, Social Justice
On October 6, 1998, Matthew Shepard was beaten and tortured because he was gay. Tied 
to a fence in the middle of nowhere, he was left to die. Though he was found 18 hours later, he did pass away on October 12, 1998. Yesterday was 20 years since Matthew’s death.
I was a 13 year old 8th grader at Olympic View Middle School in Mukilteo, Washington, as these events unfolded in the media. As a confused and closeted young teenager struggling with understanding my own sexuality, events like this shaped my struggle for self and communal acceptance. What if I came out, could this happen to me? Could I be beaten and tortured for who I am? Could I be killed? My reality… Yes to all of it. This has been the reality for so many of us through the years.
13 Monday Aug 2018
Tags
Bisexual, BiVisibility, discipleship, Faith, Gay, LGBT, Religion, Social Justice, Sugarland
“Words matter. Think about what you say.”
That was the sentiment on the screen as Sugarland sang a cover of “Tony” by Patty Griffin. They went on to share messages like “It is UP TO US to protect all of our LGBTQ kids whether they are our kids, our neighbors’ kids, or our classmates”, “Our homes can be affirming places. Our schools. Our churches. Our communities.”, and “We must STAND UP for them when other don’t and TALK TO and resist those who reject and bully them.” They ended the song with information shared about The Trevor Project and Human Rights Campaign.
Overcome with emotion and pride, I immediately posted this on my Facebook as Sugarland kept on singing:
As if I didn’t already love them, Sugarland just sang “Tony” by Patty Griffin. I was moved by the song as they sang it with these words and more behind them on the screen. As I now read the actual lyrics on my phone, I am even more deeply moved that they choose to highlight LGBTQ suicide among youth in their concert and that they chose this song to do so. 🏳️🌈💚💛🏳️🌈🧡🏳️🌈❤️💜🏳️🌈
Pride isn’t about needing to feel special and recognized for our sexuality. It is about being seen. It is about being loved and having safe space to express love. It’s about equality. It’s about bringing awareness to the fact that people are literally dying or hurting themselves because of the hateful words and actions taken by churches, families, classmates, bakers, businesses, governments, and more. Pride is about experiencing freedom. The freedom to be. The freedom to love. The freedom to claim our own truth.
Thank you, Sugarland! You had me on the edge of tears! Deep gratitude for bringing your spirit of equality to the country music community, a community that I love but one that isn’t usually the most supportive of LGBTQIA+ rights.
As I approached this summer, I pondered how I was going to express myself as a human who was part of the LGBTQIA+ community during the various youth ministry events that I staffed this summer. It wasn’t about feeling the need to do it for myself but for everyone else that was present. For the youth who were out and publicly living their truth, it was to be a sign of solidarity. For those who were still hiding an integral part of themselves from the world, it was to be a sign of hope and safety. To know there were others in leadership roles who had a similar identity and who had walked a similar journey as a teen. To everyone else, it was to help normalize same-sex attraction (because guess what… It’s normal.). Continue reading
06 Monday Nov 2017
Posted in Community of Christ, discipleship, Religion
Part of my role as a full-time minister for Community of Christ is serving as the Invitation Support Minister for the Greater Pacific Northwest Mission Center. This post was my Invitation Support Minister article that was printed in the Autumn 2017/Winter 2018 edition of The Chinook, our GPNW MC Biannual Newsletter.
Claim your unique and sacred place within the circle of those who call upon the name of Jesus Christ. Be faithful to the spirit of the Restoration, mindful that it is a spirit of adventure, openness, and searching. – Doctrine & Covenants 162:2a
Over Labor Day Weekend, I had the honor to join with others who identified somewhere on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum as well as straight allies at a GALA Retreat at Camp Red Cliffe in Huntsville, UT. GALA is an organization whose mission seeks to “Providing sanctuary, spirituality, and transformation: For persons of ALL sexual orientations and gender identities through our shared faith experience in Community of Christ building bridges of understanding”. A common theme at the retreat was the concept of “coming out”. It was present while people shared their personal stories of faith and sexuality in their journey as a disciple. We occasionally wept tears of pain, hope, and even joy, as we listened to one another share their stories of courage. Stories that reflected the sharing of their authentic truth with others. Continue reading
