What do I do with this?
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Your fear is justifiable. As an out, married gay clergy person - especially one in the South - whose progressive stances are pretty visible within the community, I know that fear well. I live with it on a weekly basis as I step into the pulpit. Today was particularly risky, as I needed to speak honestly to the congregation the first Sunday after the election. Adding to the stress was that immediately following the service, there would be a congregational meeting to review and vote on my 2025 Terms of Call (compensation package).
The sermon was measured, as compassionate as possible, but unflinchingly honest and critical of the incoming regime as antithetical to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the church's established moral/social teachings and theology. It bluntly called for a rejection of those ideologies.
It was a very difficult morning.
For what it's worth, my Terms of Call were still approved.
But I don't have any illusions. I'm sure that there will be much division and ugliness in doing my job these next several years. I/we may very well become victims of harassment and abuse, or worse, assuming I'm even able to remain in my position and we're able to remain residents of the United States without having to relocate for our own safety. It's terrifying.
Still, I have to do what I have to do, in order to know at the end of my days that I've lived up to my ordination vows and my pastoral call, and that I've stood on the right side of history. I hope you'll do the same. Capitulation is what they're counting on. If we aren't all willing to take a stand, even in the face of potential risk, they'll have already won.
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Your fear is justifiable. As an out, married gay clergy person - especially one in the South - whose progressive stances are pretty visible within the community, I know that fear well. I live with it on a weekly basis as I step into the pulpit. Today was particularly risky, as I needed to speak honestly to the congregation the first Sunday after the election. Adding to the stress was that immediately following the service, there would be a congregational meeting to review and vote on my 2025 Terms of Call (compensation package).
The sermon was measured, as compassionate as possible, but unflinchingly honest and critical of the incoming regime as antithetical to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the church's established moral/social teachings and theology. It bluntly called for a rejection of those ideologies.
It was a very difficult morning.
For what it's worth, my Terms of Call were still approved.
But I don't have any illusions. I'm sure that there will be much division and ugliness in doing my job these next several years. I/we may very well become victims of harassment and abuse, or worse, assuming I'm even able to remain in my position and we're able to remain residents of the United States without having to relocate for our own safety. It's terrifying.
Still, I have to do what I have to do, in order to know at the end of my days that I've lived up to my ordination vows and my pastoral call, and that I've stood on the right side of history. I hope you'll do the same. Capitulation is what they're counting on. If we aren't all willing to take a stand, even in the face of potential risk, they'll have already won.
@DeweyLOU Thank you for doing your part. Every person who stands in their truth despite this election is a part of the solution.
I bet your congregation admires your integrity. What you did reminds me of Pete Buttigeig deciding to out himself right before his mayoral election, knowing that he had to, above all, be true to himself, and not hide. Even if it meant he loses the election. Of course people voted for him!
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Your fear is justifiable. As an out, married gay clergy person - especially one in the South - whose progressive stances are pretty visible within the community, I know that fear well. I live with it on a weekly basis as I step into the pulpit. Today was particularly risky, as I needed to speak honestly to the congregation the first Sunday after the election. Adding to the stress was that immediately following the service, there would be a congregational meeting to review and vote on my 2025 Terms of Call (compensation package).
The sermon was measured, as compassionate as possible, but unflinchingly honest and critical of the incoming regime as antithetical to the teaching of Jesus Christ and the church's established moral/social teachings and theology. It bluntly called for a rejection of those ideologies.
It was a very difficult morning.
For what it's worth, my Terms of Call were still approved.
But I don't have any illusions. I'm sure that there will be much division and ugliness in doing my job these next several years. I/we may very well become victims of harassment and abuse, or worse, assuming I'm even able to remain in my position and we're able to remain residents of the United States without having to relocate for our own safety. It's terrifying.
Still, I have to do what I have to do, in order to know at the end of my days that I've lived up to my ordination vows and my pastoral call, and that I've stood on the right side of history. I hope you'll do the same. Capitulation is what they're counting on. If we aren't all willing to take a stand, even in the face of potential risk, they'll have already won.
Thank you for sharing this!
It’s tempting to say something like “my work isn’t as important as yours” as a way to excuse myself from taking the risk. But:
@DeweyLOU said in What do I do with this?:
Capitulation is what they're counting on. If we aren't all willing to take a stand, even in the face of potential risk, they'll have already won.
This is a powerful message, one I don’t take lightly.
