In which Marvin gets asked to take on additional responsibilities as a result of a church sex scandal.
Last night I performed Transfigurations-Transgressing Gender in the Bible at Imago Dei Metropolitan Community Church in Glen Mills, PA (about 15 miles outside of Philly). I had a diverse audience of about 45 people -- college students, Quakers, straight, bi, trans and lesbian, young and old. I took my time with the piece maintaining a gentle meditative pace. For the ending when I reveal the identity of the narrator, I had instructed the light tech to dim the lights. Then as the closing music swelled, I asked her to raise the lights to their brigthest intensity. With the music playing, I exited. Always (up until last night) at this point the audience applauds, I wait 5 seconds then come out to take a bow. Last night I exited and then nothing. No one clapped. They sat quietly as the music played. I stood back stage puzzled, baffled. Now what do I do? Wait? Go out anyway? And I wondered for a moment, Did they hate it? Did I confuse them? Offend them? Bore them into a coma? After what ...
Comments
I agree with you that there is a bit of hypocracy in your church. Church employees were so out of control that they couldn't stop looking at internet porn, but they also couldn't refrain from looking at it while at work. And yet they're still employed there. Meanwhile, Rachel's gone.
How are you going to handle the Internet, Marvin? You can't even handle JC Penny's.
-Jon in Iowa City (who's not very impressed with your new employer right now...)
Say, church ministry is often the stuff of scandal. If you want to read about such stuff that I got to watch first hand, pick up the newly released book "Fleeing Fundamentalism" by Carlene Cross. Carlene is the ex-wife of the pastor of the church I attended in the 80s. In the book, she recounts her difficult journey through religious nonsense in order to discover faith.
Churches certainly do keep Satan busy.
something doesn't add up if your "brethren" have put you on staff to minister to homosexual strugglers and yet they are not the least bit tolerant of those who struggle heterosexually....yikes! be careful who you trust marvin!!!!
;)