Dear [Reverend 1] and [Reverend 2];
Please remove my name from the membership roll.
I feel the need to explain my decision as [church] had been a formative place in my youth. The Methodist Church's stance on gay, lesbian, transgender and bisexual people is completely at odds with my understanding of the world and God's involvement and love of humanity.
The God I know does not want people to completely shut off an important aspect of one's self simply because of whom they love. If we are to be full people, engaged in the community around us, we must be true to ourselves and embrace and love ourselves. By proxy, the institution of the church should accept and welcome the community as full people, some of whom may love people of the same gender.
If we are created in God's image and loved as such, then GLBTQ individuals are created in God's image and loved by God as well. While the Methodist Church finds homosexuality to be incompatible with Christ's teachings, I find the alienation, exclusion and disdain of GLBTQ individuals to be incompatible with Christ's teachings.
The Methodist Church is sorrowfully behind on accepting GLBTQ populations and it's embarrassing to hear that the WI Conference took 4 days to discussion to agree to begin a dialogue on the topic.
Thank you for your stewardship of a church I once called home; however, I cannot be a member of an organization that blatantly discriminates against a class of people and is blind to Jesus' call to welcome and love all people.
Thank you.
P.S. Jesus practiced radical inclusion. I hope you can do the same as a reconciling church.
Showing posts with label speaking out. Show all posts
Showing posts with label speaking out. Show all posts
December 11, 2011
November 8, 2009
my weekend in pictures and me yelling at a woman on the street
Some of the events of the weekend:
Saturday night I went to sleep at 9:30, woke up when the neighbors went to the bar, woke up when they came back from the bar, considered yelling at them and/or calling in a noise complaint, lay in bed angry and pissed off but doing nothing until they went inside and I eventually fell asleep. In other news, I turned 90.
5k! I kept up with the pace of the race I ran on October, which is good. It was a small race, which means that I came in last. I am a-ok with this because it wasn't like I was super slow... I was just the slowest of the runners. I'm comfortable enough with myself and my running that it doesn't matter to me.
Pumpkin pie! Homemade crust and filler. Yum.
I had leftover pumpkin mash from the pie, thus ... Pumpkin bread!
Homemade pumpkin pie and bread means ... Pumpkin seeds!
An angry and hesitant shared picture of tortilla soup!
Kari and I were walking back from the bus and a woman came riding up on her bike beside us, talking about how crappy men are and how unlucky in love she is. We mumbled in agreement, etc, and thought we left her behind us. Then she rode up again and started talking about how men are wusses and pansies and girls when they don't do their "job" (whatever that is). I told her I didn't appreciate her comparing weak men to women, saying that it put women in a hierarchy under men. Well, I said it less academically. Eventually we ended up shouting and she called us lesbians, and then somehow I ended up yelling across the SA gas area, "'Man up' is not an acceptable term!" At that point, I became the yelling lady and the circle was complete. The student became the teacher.
Honestly, I started talking back to her because I've had enough with people not living their beliefs. I believe in gender equality, even - especially - in language. How we speak and the words and idioms we use reveals our inner biases and beliefs. Inclusive language in church is another fine example of this exact thing. All in all, I just didn't want to think later, "Why didn't I say anything?" Casual sexism is sexism is sexism.
The End! Now off to take a pumpkin mush bath with my pumpkin shampoo...
Saturday night I went to sleep at 9:30, woke up when the neighbors went to the bar, woke up when they came back from the bar, considered yelling at them and/or calling in a noise complaint, lay in bed angry and pissed off but doing nothing until they went inside and I eventually fell asleep. In other news, I turned 90.
5k! I kept up with the pace of the race I ran on October, which is good. It was a small race, which means that I came in last. I am a-ok with this because it wasn't like I was super slow... I was just the slowest of the runners. I'm comfortable enough with myself and my running that it doesn't matter to me.
Pumpkin pie! Homemade crust and filler. Yum.
I had leftover pumpkin mash from the pie, thus ... Pumpkin bread!
Homemade pumpkin pie and bread means ... Pumpkin seeds!
An angry and hesitant shared picture of tortilla soup!
Kari and I were walking back from the bus and a woman came riding up on her bike beside us, talking about how crappy men are and how unlucky in love she is. We mumbled in agreement, etc, and thought we left her behind us. Then she rode up again and started talking about how men are wusses and pansies and girls when they don't do their "job" (whatever that is). I told her I didn't appreciate her comparing weak men to women, saying that it put women in a hierarchy under men. Well, I said it less academically. Eventually we ended up shouting and she called us lesbians, and then somehow I ended up yelling across the SA gas area, "'Man up' is not an acceptable term!" At that point, I became the yelling lady and the circle was complete. The student became the teacher.
Honestly, I started talking back to her because I've had enough with people not living their beliefs. I believe in gender equality, even - especially - in language. How we speak and the words and idioms we use reveals our inner biases and beliefs. Inclusive language in church is another fine example of this exact thing. All in all, I just didn't want to think later, "Why didn't I say anything?" Casual sexism is sexism is sexism.
The End! Now off to take a pumpkin mush bath with my pumpkin shampoo...
April 15, 2008
Bush approved torture
From the ACLU:
Take a minute to send a letter to your congressperson demanding an independent investigation here.WASHINGTON – In a stunning admission to ABC news Friday night, President Bush declared that he knew his top national security advisers discussed and approved specific details of the CIA's use of torture. Bush reportedly told ABC, "I'm aware our national security team met on this issue. And I approved." Bush also defended the use of waterboarding.
Recent reports indicate that high-level advisers including Dick Cheney, Condoleeza Rice, Donald Rumsfeld, Colin Powell and George Tenet were part of the National Security Council's "Principals Committee" that met regularly and approved the CIA's use of "combined" "enhanced" interrogation techniques, even pushing the limits of the now infamous 2002 Justice Department "torture memo." These top advisers reportedly signed off on how the CIA would interrogate suspects – whether they would be slapped, deprived of sleep or subjected to simulated drowning.
"We have always known that the CIA's use of torture was approved from the very top levels of the U.S. government, yet the latest revelations about knowledge from the president himself and authorization from his top advisers only confirms our worst fears," said Anthony D. Romero, Executive Director of the ACLU. "It is a very sad day when the president of the United States subverts the Constitution, the rule of law, and American values of justice."
Romero added, "It is more important than ever that the U.S. government, when seeking justice against those it suspects of harming us, adhere to our commitment to due process and the rule of law. That's why the ACLU has taken the extraordinary step to offer our assistance to those being prosecuted under the unconstitutional military commissions process. We unfortunately can't erase or make up for what has already happened, but at least we can attempt to restore some of the values and some semblance of due process that the Bush administration has squandered in the name of national security."
The American Civil Liberties Union is calling on Congress to demand an independent prosecutor to investigate possible violations by the Bush administration of laws including the War Crimes Act, the federal Anti-Torture Act, and federal assault laws.
"No one in the executive branch of government can be trusted to fairly investigate or prosecute any crimes since the head of every relevant department, along with the president and vice president, either knew or participated in the planning and approval of illegal acts," said Caroline Fredrickson, Director of the ACLU Washington Legislative Office. "Congress cannot look the other way; it must demand an independent investigation and independent prosecutor."
Fredrickson added, "Congress is duty-bound by the Constitution not only to hold the president, vice president, and all civil officers to account, but it must also send a message to future presidents that it will use its constitutional powers to prevent illegal, and immoral conduct."
The ACLU's letter calling for an independent prosecutor for torture crimes and any criminal cover up is available at:
www.aclu.org/pdfs/safefree/lettertocongress_2007_1213.pdfABC's recent news story is available online at:
abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/LawPolitics/story?id=4635175&page=1
January 15, 2008
Al Gore and his hurricane producing factories
I watched An Inconvenient Truth today for the first time, and let me just say that I learned a ton from Al Gore.
Did you know that Al Gore owns a factory at his childhood tobacco farm that can produce a hurricane? He's so smug about it he even put it on the movie poster. I say we vote against Al Gore and take away his hurricanes!
NO GORE IN 08 - DO IT FOR THE HURRICANES.
Love,
Lindsay
Did you know that Al Gore owns a factory at his childhood tobacco farm that can produce a hurricane? He's so smug about it he even put it on the movie poster. I say we vote against Al Gore and take away his hurricanes!
NO GORE IN 08 - DO IT FOR THE HURRICANES.
Love,
Lindsay
January 11, 2008
50% of the country has a vagina - get used to it
Anyone else mad at the sexism running rampant around the media coverage of Hilary Clinton's campaign? Anything think, in particular, Chris Matthews of MSNBC is ridiculous because he can't stop being amazed that a woman is running for president? Called her a she-devil and put up a graphic of Hilary with horns? Pinches the cheek of a presidential candidate?
Me too.
Media Matters put out a call to let MSNBC know that this isn't acceptable anymore, and I highly suggest you take the 2 minutes to e-mail MSNBC and Hardball to tell them Chris Matthews shouldn't be on television.
Maybe it's because it's late, and maybe it's because I'm tired, but I really feel like concerned people everywhere need to do something about this one. If you call yourself a feminist, write in. If you think that a woman should be paid the same rate as a man for the same job, write in. If you think everyone, regardless of chromosomes, should be able to vote, write in. If you think Matthews has a silly haircut, write in. Whatever you do, just write MSNBC.
The mere fact that this is a problem in the first place is utterly demoralizing and insulting. This is so important, because it sends the press the message that we don't want bullshit pundits who are more concerned about sound bites than about debating real issues.
Vote for who you want to vote for, but don't let the campaign become one where the press spends more time writing about a candidate's "cackle" or clothes. If she's going to lose, it had better be over issues and not over the fact that she's got a vagina.
And by the way, I'll let you know that Mitt Romney has cried three times during this election season, and YESTERDAY Bush had tears in his eyes at Israel's Holocaust Memorial. Where's the news coverage on that?
Me too.
Media Matters put out a call to let MSNBC know that this isn't acceptable anymore, and I highly suggest you take the 2 minutes to e-mail MSNBC and Hardball to tell them Chris Matthews shouldn't be on television.
I am just so sick of this. Stop pretending like it's not happening, because it is. Do something about it. If we let this slide, it'll get worse.MSNBC
letters@msnbc.com
Chris Matthews
hardball@msnbc.com
Maybe it's because it's late, and maybe it's because I'm tired, but I really feel like concerned people everywhere need to do something about this one. If you call yourself a feminist, write in. If you think that a woman should be paid the same rate as a man for the same job, write in. If you think everyone, regardless of chromosomes, should be able to vote, write in. If you think Matthews has a silly haircut, write in. Whatever you do, just write MSNBC.
The mere fact that this is a problem in the first place is utterly demoralizing and insulting. This is so important, because it sends the press the message that we don't want bullshit pundits who are more concerned about sound bites than about debating real issues.
Vote for who you want to vote for, but don't let the campaign become one where the press spends more time writing about a candidate's "cackle" or clothes. If she's going to lose, it had better be over issues and not over the fact that she's got a vagina.
And by the way, I'll let you know that Mitt Romney has cried three times during this election season, and YESTERDAY Bush had tears in his eyes at Israel's Holocaust Memorial. Where's the news coverage on that?
November 6, 2007
Floods in Mexico!
Thought you should be aware - there's massive flooding in Tabasco, Mexico; we're talking like 90% under water, 1 million+ people displaced, ect. Not only is the American media largely silent on the issue, the United States government has pledged $300,000 in aid. That's 30 cents per displaced person.
The Red Cross, as always, is giving much needed support. There's worries of typhoid and other diseases, but they're also in need of basic supplies like food and fresh water.
It'll take 90 seconds and three mouse clicks to help out.
The Red Cross, as always, is giving much needed support. There's worries of typhoid and other diseases, but they're also in need of basic supplies like food and fresh water.
It'll take 90 seconds and three mouse clicks to help out.
October 17, 2007
Use the voice you have
Awhile back I said I was going to make a conscious effort to be vocal about my support or dislike on certain things. This issue certainly lies in that category.
Bush has appointed Susan Orr to the head of the family planning section of the Department of Health and Human Resources. This position "oversees $283 million in annual grants to provide low-income families and others with contraceptive services, counseling and preventive screenings."
Orr, however, doesn't put the "plan" in "family planning." In 2001 when Bush moved to remove the requirement that federal employee's health insurance cover birth control options, Orr said, "We're quite pleased because fertility is not a disease. It's not a medical necessity that you have [contraception]." Another fine quote from Orr, "It’s not about choice,” said Orr. “It’s not about health care. It’s about making everyone collaborators with the culture of death.”
Additionally, she's a strong supporter of the Global Gag Rule, which states that no federal money can be sent overseas to any health clinic that doesn't promote a straight abstinence-only policy. Health providers can lose all funding for any mention of family planning, or god forbid, abortion. (Thankfully this provision has been removed in the past few weeks, after being in place since early 2001, when Bush approved it in his first few days in office). There's lots of reasons why this doctor shouldn't be in a position of power to approve funding for low-income individuals and families in need of family planning and reproductive health services.
Unfortunately, the position is appointed and not subject to congressional approval. However, you can sign this petition and let Bush know how you feel. I did.
More information found here and here.
Bush has appointed Susan Orr to the head of the family planning section of the Department of Health and Human Resources. This position "oversees $283 million in annual grants to provide low-income families and others with contraceptive services, counseling and preventive screenings."
Orr, however, doesn't put the "plan" in "family planning." In 2001 when Bush moved to remove the requirement that federal employee's health insurance cover birth control options, Orr said, "We're quite pleased because fertility is not a disease. It's not a medical necessity that you have [contraception]." Another fine quote from Orr, "It’s not about choice,” said Orr. “It’s not about health care. It’s about making everyone collaborators with the culture of death.”
Additionally, she's a strong supporter of the Global Gag Rule, which states that no federal money can be sent overseas to any health clinic that doesn't promote a straight abstinence-only policy. Health providers can lose all funding for any mention of family planning, or god forbid, abortion. (Thankfully this provision has been removed in the past few weeks, after being in place since early 2001, when Bush approved it in his first few days in office). There's lots of reasons why this doctor shouldn't be in a position of power to approve funding for low-income individuals and families in need of family planning and reproductive health services.
Unfortunately, the position is appointed and not subject to congressional approval. However, you can sign this petition and let Bush know how you feel. I did.
More information found here and here.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
