Posts Tagged ‘biblical interpretation’
Two Films Inspiring Social Change Toward LGBT Equality
During the 2013 Seattle Lesbian and Gay Film Festival, I caught two films that highlight the impact religious bigotry plays in the actual lives of LGBT individuals. In the film Bridegroom, Designing Women creator Linda Bloodworth-Thomason crafted a full-length documentary out of Shane Bitney Crone’s viral video “It Could Happen to You.” Recorded on the…
Read MoreRev. Gil Caldwell Officiates His First Same-Sex Marriage
As a Civil Rights Movement “foot soldier”, I have used these words of Martin Luther King, Jr. to guide my activism, not just for people of African descent, but for all justice struggles; “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” I officiated my first same-sex marriage the Sunday of this year’s Martin Luther King weekend,…
Read MoreStarkville: Mississippi’s First City To Recognize LGBT Equality
On January 21, 2014, the Starkville Board of Aldermen took a historic step making our city the first municipality in Mississippi to pass a resolution showing support for its lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender residents. The passage of this resolution brings hope to the LGBT community of Starkville, as we struggle daily with claiming our…
Read More“If I Could Straighten Out!”: That’s What He Told Me
My name is Johnie Guerra. I’m straight and happily married with four wonderful boys. I’m the grandson of two pastors and my parents did their best to raise me with a Bible-based upbringing. Recently, I’ve started attending a church with an inclusive ministry for LGBT people, volunteering at a youth group for LGBT kids, and…
Read MoreWe All Lost The Duck Dynasty Debate
Last week, news reports, talk shows, and social networks were saturated with updates from the great Duck Dynasty debate of 2013. I logged onto Facebook to see comments from both sides—from conservative friends lamenting the persecution of Phil Robertson to queer friends suffering from the hurtful debates circling their news feed. After only a week, Robertson’s suspension…
Read MoreChristmas In The Closet
My brother has been with his girlfriend for 6 months, and she’s spending Christmas with my family this year. My first thought was, Whoa. What the hell?! It’s not that I don’t like her. I do! But as someone who lived in the closet of a secret relationship for years, I cannot relate to the…
Read MoreA Duck Dynasty Christmas
It’s only days until Christmas, and I, like many LGBT people, spent much of the day alternately dodging and engaging yet another “gays vs. Christians” media firestorm. Even if you’ve never heard of him before, by now you’ve probably heard about Phil Robertson. Robertson is the patriarch of A&E’s hit show Duck Dynasty, and he…
Read MoreThe Myth Of Biblical Inerrancy
Perhaps it is a bad idea to write about something that one feels needs to begin with a defense, but I’m going to do it anyway. Before I talk about why I think the idea of biblical inerrancy has limited the gift of scripture for us, I want to go on record as saying that…
Read MoreGod Of The Whirlwind: Confronting Chaos From The Margins
In seminary, I took a whole class on the Book of Job. It was taught by one of my favorite professors, who happens to be the expert on the subject, and what I remember most from our studies is how Job’s afflictions introduced him to the reality of chaos in the world. Once a respected…
Read MoreThe Queer Jesus Saved My Soul
Before my feet could touch the ground under the pew of the Southern Baptist church of my youth, I was afraid. Every time the preacher screamed and pointed eternal damnations, I knew he was screaming and pointing at me. Sunday nights were awful. The fears were fresh and pressed deeply into the soft tissue of…
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