Gill Swales handed in some resources about this organisation. The map in the picture charts where it is most dangerous to practice Christianity openly.
“Our very mission is called ‘Open Doors’ because we believe that any door is open, anytime and anywhere. I literally believe that. Every door is open to go in and proclaim Christ, as long as you are willing to go and are not worried about coming back.”
How aware are we of the experience of being persecuted?
What are the differences between the experience of disagreement with opinions or beliefs which we hold, and rejection of and opposition to the continued practicing of being who we are?
As well as campaigning and supplying resources intercessory prayer is also a way to support people. In wee small rooms it is possible to change ourselves and change the world.
Vicky Beeching is a former Christian music star and a popular religious commentator and media personality. She has emerged as a leading voice for Christian acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. In 2014, she came out in an interview with a national UK newspaper.
“No one should have to choose between their religious faith and their gay, lesbian or bisexual orientation. We are all God’s children, created to love and be loved.
Vicky Beeching, 2014
She is calling religious leaders, and particularly Christians, back to its roots in love.
You can read more on the United Nations “Free and Equal” campaign website.
More than a third of the world’s countries criminalize consensual, loving same-sex relationships, entrenching prejudice and putting millions of people at risk of blackmail, arrest and imprisonment. Many countries force transgender people to undergo medical treatment, sterilization or meet other onerous preconditions before they can obtain legal recognition of their gender identity. Intersex children are often subjected to unnecessary surgery, causing physical and psychological pain and suffering. In many cases, a lack of adequate legal protections combined with hostile public attitudes leads to widespread discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and intersex people – including workers being fired from jobs, students bullied and expelled from schools, and patients denied essential healthcare.
This organisation is based in the USA, and their primary focus is understandably on where they live. The shared heritage between the UK and USA means that a lot of it is relevant however.
Tools for equality and inclusion.
Our goal at the Human Rights Campaign is to ensure that every LGBTQ+ person is free to live their life openly, with their equal rights ensured. We know that goal requires that we keep educating, supporting and inspiring ourselves and each other. In the spirit of that continual growth, we’ve compiled information and advice on a range of topics, including resources from the HRC Foundation.
They have published a quick report on faith positions in the USA to LGBTQ+
(Episcopal in this context means American Episcopal)
https://www.hrc.org/resources/religion-faith
Political change might be slow, but it does happen. If you are a minority changes which are significant to you might take place without the general population even knowing. Up until the 1980’s in Scotland not only were same sex relationship not protected by the rule of law, some couples would be criminalised by it. Since then things have changed.
However this timeline (again from the USA) charts a story of real fears of what a hostile government might do in a short space of time.
Timeline showing the evolution of the churches of Scotland from 1560 (wiki)
There is a tendency for LGBT discussions to polarise people. People respond both intellectually and emotionally to these issues as well. It is a common experience to find that ones intellectual response and emotional gut response are not in harmony. Reading someone else’s thoughts can help find words to refine ones own.
The timeline on the left gives an idea of the history of diversity within church gatherings in even a small area such as Scotland. To respect the diversity of belief and opinion this post contains links to expressions of concern about the changes which have taken place as well as statements of belief which deplore and condemn them.
Some of the language might be hard reading.
2014 – Scottish evangelicals respond to Synod Marriage vote
This months forest Church will be a little different. It is midsummer midweek so we are doing special things on the weekends before and after it.
Walking as a way to pray
Before:
On the 18th of June at the usual time of 14.00 and usual place outside the Crichton chapel we will be training to contribute to the Stove Networks Creative Caerlaverock event. Some people are familiar with the Quartz use of Labyrinths and religious art in public, but this is an opportunity for anyone to experience how we go about doing it. There will also be the opportunity to have a go at walking a labyrinth and trying out some medieval chants.
After:
On Saturday the 24th of June from 13.00 -16.00 (with set up from 12.00) we will take part in the event we have trained for. The team don’t need to be there the whole time, but you will need to have been trained beforehand! There is also the opportunity to follow the example of brother Robert from the siege of Carlaverock in 1300 and explore physics by using a trebuchet.
On Sunday the 25th we plan to meet up on Wardlaw hill for a Forest Church Midsummer-ish service. This service will have it’s own page with full details.
“Creative Caerlaverock”
As part of the Stove networks “Creative Caerlaverock” project Quartz will be helping people encounter the earliest mention of the lands of Caerlaverock. This is from 1160AD when it was part of the Cistercian Abbey lands of Holm Cultrum. We will use a labyrinth and an interpretation of monastic life to help people immerse themselves in the spiritual experience of the environment and become more aware of this. People will be invited to walk the labyrinth and we have cards which introduce historical and contemporary ways of doing this. Once set up people can take part in this at their own time and pace. Members of the quartz team will also be there to answer questions and converse. Some of the team will also re-enact a simplified version of the monastic hours and have clothing and other replicas objects to provide an immersive experience of life in a C12th monastic community.
This is not an evangelistic outreach event. Quartz takes cultural sensitivity and inclusive use of religious art in public seriously. The team will need to be aware that all these activities need to be conducted out in a manner which the general public can participate in at the level they choose with integrity whatever their religious or philosophical beliefs. It is however an opportunity to explore the heritage of Caerlaverock, medieval monasticism and to create a shared space for honest chats about the things which make human being special. We should perhaps expect to reap without sowing and discover revelations in unexpected places.
Has anyone been to see – experience – the punchdrunk retelling of the aftermath of the Trojan war?
This post is a reflection on their use of art, based on watching the trailers and listening to the opinions expressed in then.
Their aim is to retell an ancient story, immerse the audience in it, and give them the opportunity to go away changed. Can you see any similarities with what Christians do when they gather for a service? There are also significant differences though.
I’ve listed some of the similarities and differences below, what could you add?
This is an immersive experience. There is use of a variety of arts – visual arts in the setting and clothing, music, dance, spoken word.
Not better than traditional theatre, but different.
Led by a team of skilled professionals
Those who come are presented with multiple options that give/require them to make choices. To become participants rather than a passive audience.
An authoritative retelling by approved leaders to an audience.
An enhanced experience of #SensingOtherness through the use of special clothing, or normal clothing used differently.
Choose to follow the narrative, or simply enjoy one special moment then time to share personal experiences of the whole event with a group of trusted friends.
Familiar themes and phrases repeated week after week, that participants can join in with.
Emphasis on people discovering their own experience of the story, finding or even creating, personal meaning within the collective experience.
Eating and drinking together.
Six years in preparation, high quality
What appeals to you, makes you feel excited, when you think about both settings (the play and say, an 11 O’Clock service at St Johns)
There are deeper questions to ask;
Where the meaning lies in a story (author, reader, the process of telling?)
What does each approach to the story tell us about the underlying approach to historical, emotional or literary truth?
What prior experience, and follow up, does each telling require in order for participants to benefit fully from the experience?
There are examples of services which use similar approach to celebrating as “Burnt City” does elsewhere on this blog. – but what are your thoughts?
Knowing your place is a difficult business. If you stand out, or seem to be adopting to high an impression of yourself people will feel the need to put you down. If you aren’t sure of your place then it can be difficult to accept praise that is intended to build you up.
If you identify with a group of people who have been despised, persecuted, criminalised and misrepresented for generations then actively having pride is necessary just to hold yourself in a place others would consider normal.
In Dumfries and beyond, the month of June is used to celebrate the presence of LGBTQ+ people within the community. While there are still people pushing anonymous hate mail through LGBTQ + office doors, and claiming to be doing so in Jesus name, the Church has work to do. Until the balance of “normal” in our community has shifted and it becomes clear that any such hate message sent in Jesus name is unrepresentative of the Church then we have work to do.
This post aims to help redress the balance. To help anyone reading this engage with this work, what follows is a collection of links to resources to help you explore, reflect on, and express your beliefs positively. Love will find a way.
This section is intended as a work in process, please comment and e-mail us to help it develop.
