Bit of Mapping the Changing Ground

The terrain has been moving again with regard to LGBT and faith in the UK. There are also some exciting things are also happening as a result of the current LGBT History Month focus on Religion, Belief and Philosophy. It therefore seemed like time to map the movement again.

Firstly, we have seen the launch of LGBTI Mission recently. This is a group which has come together to explicitly fight for change in the Church of England over the next five years (the time that members of the General Synod have recently been elected for). It is made up of various people including a coalition of other groups including: LGCM, Inclusive Church, AcceptingEvangelicals, Changing Attitude, Evangelical Fellowship of Lesbian and GayChristians and Sybils.

They have published a nine point manifesto under three headings: “living, loving and serving” and it is really positive to see within this the T and I are being taken as seriously as the LGB.

The exclusively Anglican focus may seem jarring to some and to be honest I have gone through a change of mind on this one over the last few months. The key reasons I think this approach is right are here:

1)    In LEP’s whatever other churches decide the Anglican policy will influence what can be done on the ground.

2)    Many of the other churches are generally ahead of the Anglicans in terms of what has already been agreed (for example in Methodism it has been agreed that being in a same sex marriage will not be a bar to ministry of lay preachers or ministers).

3)    The CofE is larger than the other denominations and so what happens in that Church has an impact for better or worse on the situation many of the rest of us are in.

4)    The Methodists and Anglicans already have a covenant in place which commits them to seeking to move closer to each other. The Anglicans at the moment have policies in place which discriminate in a way in which Methodist ones don’t which would be a serious barrier against closer working together for some of us.

5)    Most of the main denominations have ongoing discussions going on around the whole area of marriage. In some ways it seems a bit like they are playing who’ll blink first and if the CofE positively moves then that will have an impact on our own discussions.

As I said this is a group which has involved a number of people coming together to work together including

These are the campaigning groups. However, we know others have less of an activist purpose to their work and it is good that they have been moving forward in their work too. The Two:23 Network has moved into a new venue and Diverse Church continues the excellent work they are doing with young people and their parents and continue to offer churches the chance to hear their stories, particularly through a new piece of art work they've commissioned. Email them via their website for details.

Following on from a similar event last year Oasis have an Open Church conference in June. The focus of this conference is positive because it seems more focused on mission than the activism.

The website for the event says,

“While the debate around the Bible, sexuality and inclusion is likely to continue across the Christian Church for a generation, those already convinced of the need to embrace LGBT people must act now.   

Through contributions from the world of public health, equalities specialists and representatives from different church communities, together we will explore how our churches can become safe havens of welcome and healing for LGBT people and how we can win back the trust of those who may feel they have much to fear.”

This to me points to the fact we are coming to accept that we need to live whilst the debates continue to rumble on in the background and people continue working to get to that point when we can have good disagreement.

As I’ve mentioned before the Methodist Church have produced some excellent resources to help people reach that point of good disagreement.

This is all positive to see in LGBT History month with its focus on religion, belief and philosophy. There are a range of exhibitions and events going on as part of this month including Christian Voices Coming Out, an exhibition at the LSE. Stonewall have also produced a range of stories from different people of faith together with some posters.

I have wondered whether to blog on this stuff because I have a couple of worries which I am sure other LGBT people must share:

1)    Am I going to be pigeon holed in the LGBT box? My interests, involvements and faith concerns go far beyond this area but I find myself talking about it far more than I would like should I shut up and leave it to others to raise their voices about it.

2)    I am bored by talking about this and so would rather we change the subject. By posts like this one am I contributing to the problem and the wider fatigue around the subject?

3)    I don’t want to be seen as a trouble maker. I am somebody who wants to positively work with others and I don’t want to be doing or saying things that can put that in jeopardy.

Yet at the same time I know I have friends who might read this stuff who only find out about it by occasionally reading the blog. It has been a quick glance about who has been coming to this blog whilst it's been less active which has alerted me to the fact people read these posts every so often. This means some might accidently find it and as a result be signposted to groups which might help them. Finally my husband has been involved in the Stonewall stuff and  talking with him has led me to ask myself again if I am to live with integrity and speak out against what I see as injustice which is harming mission do I have any right to shut up?