Wilderness Wanderings

This is God's Love in Action

It has been eleven years since Matthew Shepherd was a victim of a vicious hate crime because he was gay, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd, Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act passed the Senate today and now heads to President Obama's desk for signature.  The act expands the 1969 United States federal hate-crime law to include crimes motivated by a victim's actual or perceived gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or disability. The Shepards turned their pain into a lasting gift for millions and I wanted to share the news and say thank you.  Thank you for pushing through the pain, thank you for not giving up when that could have been the convenient action, thank you for standing with us and for us.  Thank you for truly showing God's love.

Bill Clinton and Gay Marriage

Some may say a little too late, but I say, thank you. What many in the gay rights circles fail to understand is that people have to come to their own conclusions on their own time. What we can do to help speed this understanding up is more education and living by example, rather than the yelling and shouting. The more we educate and put ourselves and families out there, he momentum will continue in our favor.

Summary from AP on Gay Policies within Large Protestant Churches

Gay clergy: Where large Protestant churches stand

By The Associated Press (AP) – 3 days ago

A look at where the largest Protestant churches stand on the issue of gay clergy:

_ UNITED METHODIST CHURCH: 7.9 million U.S. members. The most conservative of the largest mainline denominations on gay clergy. An effort to repeal a ban on non-celibate gay clergy failed at the church's last General Conference, in 2008.

_ EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH IN AMERICA: 4.7 million U.S. members. The church voted Friday to strike down a policy that required celibacy of gay clergy, becoming the largest U.S. denomination to take that stance. The change allows those in committed same-gender relationships to be on official ELCA church rosters and serve as pastors at congregations that want them.

_ PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH (USA): 2.9 million U.S. members. Ministers must live in "fidelity within the covenant of marriage between and a man and a woman, or chastity in singleness." The church's General Assembly voted last year to drop that requirement, but the move did not receive required approval from presbyteries.

_ EPISCOPAL CHURCH: 2.1 million U.S. members. The splintering global Anglican fellowship has moved to the brink of a full schism since the 2003 consecration of the first openly gay Episcopal bishop. Last month, the Episcopal General Convention approved a resolution saying "God has called and may call" gays in committed relationships to any ordained ministry in the church.

_ AMERICAN BAPTIST CHURCHES IN THE USA: 1.3 million U.S. members. Holds that "the practice of homosexuality is incompatible with Christian teaching." The Baptist tradition emphasizes local autonomy, and some churches have appointed openly gay ministers, creating tensions.

_ UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST: 1.1 million U.S. members. Boasts a long track record of welcoming gay clergy. Allowed ordination of an openly gay man and openly lesbian woman in the 1970s. Ordination of practicing homosexuals was officially accepted in 1980.

SOURCES: AP research; 2009 Yearbook of American & Canadian Churches; Religion Newswriters Association  Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.