I Took a Leap of Faith

Faith Church wants to build a student outreach center across the street from my house.  They have every right to do that.  The question before the city council was whether they should be allowed tax-exempt bonds to help finance the non-religious portion of the project.  To me, if was a no-brainer, because they had done the exact same thing on the other side of the river about 8 years ago.  I was more troubled by the accusations, especially from Councilman Peter Bunder, who commented on Faith Church's treatment of women, gays, and lesbians.

I spent a long time, writing and re-writing my comments for the City Council meeting.  I did a little research, and went to the website of Faith Church--primarily to find out what they called their minister (pastor, reverend--I did not want to get it wrong, because I do try not to be disrespectful).  Remember my last blog?  About the little kid in Indiana who was taught hateful speech in his church?  I was so pleased to see this blog, written by a member of their clergy.

It made me more certain that I should make my leap of faith.  The city council meeting was attended by close to 500 people, and from the comments and applause, I can only estimate that the crowd was fairly evenly divided on the issue.  Nearly 40 people spoke about the issue, and many of my friends took the opposite side from what I knew I wanted to say.

I do not usually have trouble speaking in front of crowds.  But what I had to say was very personal, and to some, controversial.  I approached the microphone, and found myself trembling.  Literally, my knees were knocking!
Here is what I said:

"Good evening.  I'm Gale Charlotte, and I live on Windsor Dr.  I recently came before you to speak in favor of the Faith Church building project. 

I am compelled to speak here tonight, because a number of people--who know I live in the neighborhood--have asked me what I think about the request by Faith Church for tax exempt bonds.  I feel this issue has already been settled, at least in our local community, by the Tippecanoe County Council, who agreed a number of years ago to allow Faith Church to finance expansion at their east side location in just this way.  And, there have been other entities in West Lafayette who have requested, and received, tax exempt bonds from the city of West Lafayette.  There will be others in the future who will come before this government entity--yes, Muslim...Italian...fill in the blank--and I'm sure you will give them the same consideration you are giving to Faith Church. 

Why am I here tonight?  Because I feel I must speak in defense of Faith Church.  This bond process has led to some passionate speeches, including remarks made by a City Council member, mostly against allowing Faith Church to receive tax exempt bonds.  I cannot speak for the way people were treated in the past by Faith Church, nor can I speak about anything except my own experience with Pastor Viars and members of his church.

In case you don't know, I'm a woman.  And, I'm a lesbian.  Evidently, that makes me uniquely qualified to speak--at least, according to the city council member who spoke out against allowing Faith Church to receive the bond.  So, I will. 

I have lived in this community over 20 years, so I have read guest columns written by Pastor Viars in the local paper, and I have also read quotes attributed to him.  It’s been clear to me that he’s been against the “homosexual lifestyle”.  His printed opinions on the subject have made me angry, and have made me sad.  So, when I heard Faith Church was considering a planned development—literally in my front yard—I was taken aback.  Then, Faith Church contacted the neighbors, and asked to meet with us.  Well—that was interesting.  I didn’t want to go, didn’t want to hear from someone who clearly didn’t like me without even knowing me.

But I remembered some lessons I learned from my religious upbringing: 

·        The Golden Rule:  “Treat others as you would like to be treated.”

·        These words, attributed to Jesus, “Turn the other cheek.”

·        And my very own thought—that our children look to us to provide the example for how to treat other people. 

So, I decided to go, to hear what Pastor Viars and his congregation was planning, and to provide input if asked.  I’m glad I went, because from the very first meeting, my partner and I were welcomed warmly.  Pastor  Viars and members of his committee listened to our ideas, answered our questions, and invited us back for the next meeting.  Yes, you could say that they needed our support, but there were plenty of other neighbors they could use for that purpose—they didn’t need us.  We went back to the next meeting, and the next.  I never felt discriminated against, nor did I ever feel my opinions were discounted in any way.  The committee listened to me, listened to my neighbors, and developed a great vision for the site.  They said, over and over, that the neighbors would be welcome to use the facilities.  And you know what?  I believe them. 

In closing, I have to say that in recent days, I’ve seen some terrible things on the internet—American men, purporting to be holy, who say that gays and lesbians should be thrown in concentration camps, should be killed, and there were men right here in Indiana who stood and cheered, loudly, when tiny kids sang, “Homos don’t get to go to heaven.”   It’s enough to turn any gay or lesbian against any type of religion.  But I’m taking a leap of faith, and I am going to do my part, right here, right now, to build my section of the bridge of human understanding in our local community.  If members of Faith Church decide to join me on this bridge, so much the better.  Because we just might set a good example for our children.   

 I urge the Council to let the church have bonds to build the non-religious parts of the project—I BELIEVE they will use the money to make this community a better place."

Based on the thanks and more words of welcome from members of Faith Church after the meeting, I think there are a number of people who are willing to join me on that bridge.  That's good, really good.  

This is, sadly, probably not the worst thing you will read this month

Because, after all, this is Gay Pride Month, and because of that very thing, we will probably hear more tirades from those "Christian" ministers who purport to know the word of God the word of the angry voices in their head. 
I've read Leviticus.  I know what is considered an abomination, and if you don't pick and choose, the following are all considered abominations:

• Eating shellfish
• Tattoos
• "shaping" your beard and hair
• And there are about 100 times you need to clean yourself--farmers would be the cleanest people ever if they followed the rules of Leviticus--they would also be the poorest, because they would have a huge water bill and no time to do anything but wash.

Anyway, let's put that all aside.  If you're Christian, the words coming directly from Jesus (Sermon on the Mount, etc) are the most important and the most sacred, right?  Well then, the following are the words, attributed to Jesus, about homosexuality: 

"                                                                                                                        ."

That's right, he said nothing.  It had been a subject so frickin important to him, I think he would have said something memorable, something his disciples would say, "Whoa!  That's important.  Let's invent the computer so we can write that one down."  But he didn't, and they didn't. 

I digress.  It seems that recently, the raving loonies of the religious branch of government have been full-throttle spewing their ideas of what should be done with the gays.  I'm making light of it, but it this past week, all this hatred in the name of religion really began to get to me. 

First was this minister--he preached the message of "punch your kid if he appears to be homosexual":

Oh, it's OK--he "apologized" later, but can never, ever take back his words, or the impact they had on the youth of his congregation.

Then came this guy--he said gays should all be put into concentration camps, with barbed wire--that way, according to his warped thinking, all gays would die out because of course, they can't reproduce.  Huh???? Ummmmm......it's those breeding HETEROsexuals who make those gay kids, who grow up to be adults...but of course, you know that.  Still, it's pretty damn depressing to be told "your kind" need to be eliminated...

But the worst one--the one I hope is the worst one I will ever see in my lifetime--is this one. 

The kid can't help what he's been told to say.  I feel sorry for him.  But I curse--yes, damn to real Hell--those ignorant, hateful, homophobic "humans" who stand up and whoop and cheer this poor kid on.  It sickened me to watch it, and then I got really depressed.  Maybe because this happened in the state I live in?  Maybe because that's how the next generation of bigots are born?  Or maybe because I hear nobody, of any stature in the Christian community, repudiate these low-life bozos. 
What else am I to think, except that maybe all Christians are like this?
That there are people who I come in contact with, every day, who feel the same way these "ministers" do?  That maybe all LGBT people should go and live together in...California? What if it is the majority of people who feel like this?  How does that impact the life I want to live.  Now, keep in mind that I'm a secure, loved adult thinking these things, then think how much harder it is for an adolescent to be thinking these same things, with no support structure in their life? 

Add all of this to the fact that a local Baptist church wants to build an outreach compound in my neighborhood, and it all gets interesting.....especially since I plan to speak in favor of the project at tomorrow night's City Council meeting. 
Stay tuned........