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A mother speaks about the cost of
"O"
[3-10-01]
When people oppose Amendment O, a major reason
seems to be their recognition of the human cost of such exclusion.
Elder Millie Sieber of Cleveland, Tennessee, represented that cost
clearly in the discussion in East Tennessee Presbytery. We are
honored to share it here.
Mr. Moderator, Fellow Presbyters, I am Millie Sieber,
elder Northside Church, Cleveland, TN. I am a proud mother of a gay son
and a grieving member of the Presbyterian Church (USA). I speak in
opposition to Amendment O.
Not many of you know our Bob. You won't see him in
church unless he goes to sing with his chorus, or to attend memorial
services for family or friends. Oh, he grew up in the church, but....
Bob was a tow-headed, blue-eyed boy of eight when he
asked me, "Why do I have to be so different?" All through high
school and into college, he tried to be heterosexual, but it didn't
work.
He is a gay man,
a terrific brother,
an appreciative son,
a loving uncle.
Because of him, the world is a better place.
But he does not seek out the Church -- why would he?!
The way we live,
the way we talk -- or keep silent (And that is my sin!),
and the amendments we pass
say to him and to millions like him, in effect,
"You are not our kind."
"Your sins are worse than ours."
"You are not wanted here."
Brothers and sisters, we did not learn this from Jesus Christ! He sought
out those who were cast out of "respectable society,"
"Follow me...."
"I'm coming to your house to eat today."
"Stretch out your hand."
"God is like a father who RUNS to welcome a lost
son and restore him to the family, and God is like the father who
reassures the self-righteous son that he too belongs to the
family."
Brothers and sisters, these are OUR sons and daughters, our brothers and
sisters! They have 2 parents, 4 grandparents, brothers and sisters,
cousins, uncles, aunts, and friends. By God's mercy, some of them have
not yet given up on the church, and they still worship with us, sing in
the choir, teach Sunday School, and share God's love with us and with
the world. It HURTS them -- and us -- when a part of the church tries to
limit God's grace!
To be faithful, our ministry can have no other bounds than the love and
grace of Jesus Christ!
[Here I was stopped by the two-minute time limit.]
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If you like what
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Some blogs worth visiting |
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PVJ's
Facebook page
Mitch Trigger, PVJ's
Secretary/Communicator, has created a Facebook page where
Witherspoon members and others can gather to exchange news and
views. Mitch and a few others have posted bits of news, both
personal and organizational. But there’s room for more!
You can post your own news and views,
or initiate a conversation about a topic of interest to you. |
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Voices of Sophia blog
Heather Reichgott, who has created
this new blog for Voices of Sophia, introduces it:
After fifteen years of scholarship
and activism, Voices of Sophia presents a blog. Here, we present the
voices of feminist theologians of all stripes: scholars, clergy,
students, exiles, missionaries, workers, thinkers, artists, lovers
and devotees, from many parts of the world, all children of the God
in whose image women are made. .... This blog seeks to glorify God
through prayer, work, art, and intellectual reflection. Through
articles and ensuing discussion we hope to become an active and
thoughtful community. |
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John Harris’ Summit to
Shore blogspot
Theological and philosophical
reflections on everything between summit to shore, including
kayaking, climbing, religion, spirituality, philosophy, theology,
politics, culture, travel, The Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), New
York City and the Queens neighborhood of Ridgewood by a progressive
New York City Presbyterian Pastor. John is a former member of the
Witherspoon board, and is designated pastor of North Presbyterian
Church in Flushing, NY. |
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John Shuck’s Shuck and Jive
A Presbyterian minister, currently
serving as pastor of First Presbyterian Church of Elizabethton,
Tenn., blogs about spirituality, culture, religion (both organized
and disorganized), life, evolution, literature, Jesus, and
lightening up. |
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Got more blogs to recommend?
Please
send a note, and we'll see what we can do! |
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