Marvin Creates the Great Schism

In which Marvin learns (through an unnamed church informant) that his recent letter to families is causing a church split.

He also shares an explanation why he reacted so strongly to being told he should not work with children--he brings his skeletons out of the closet.

Comments

Willie Hewes said…

Yes, you are a child of God. There is nothing wrong with you.

6:22 PM

Christine Bakke said…

Hey Marvin. Wow, again, I can relate. It's almost spooky.

I am so sad that it brought up all this crap for you.

When I was growing up, I always wanted to work with kids. I wanted to be a missionary. I wanted to teach.

And the first thing someone said to me when I came out was, "Well you can forget about working with kids." And this was from a friend who was gay! I was so upset about that.

And that whole not being able to work with kids thing has been a very painful thing with me, as I think I've written to you about previously (I hope Peterson has been able to get you our comments; I know he's been so busy lately).

Anyway, I know how it feels. And I still think it was good you wrote the letter...

And Willie is right - you are a child of God and there is not a thing wrong with you.

7:32 PM

My Gay Husband--A Spouse Speaks Out

The other day I received the following e-mail from Susanne, a woman who found out her some years ago that her husband has same-sex attractions. I felt so moved by her words that I asked her permission to share them with you on the blog. I (recently) saw your Doin Time... and I was the one who asked about your wife during the discussion period that followed. I just read your thoughts on What About the Spouse ....and I can say, most women who find out their husbands are gay feel ALL of those things you wondered about....some in more degrees than others... When my husband was dragged out of the closet because of his irreverent, immoral, and amoral behavior that our, then, 14 and 16 year old sons had to find on our home computer, I went into the closet. I didn't know what to pray for.... Do I pray that this will go away? Do I pray that he could go back to the way things were in our family before we knew about him,? Do I pray that I could go back to the way things were? After all ,...

The False Image of LIA

John Smid and me-Graduation 1998 (above) & John Smid today (left) By now many have heard that Tennessee's Department of Mental Health & Developmental Disabilities determined that the "ex-gay" program, Love in Action, is operating two “unlicensed mental health supportive living facilities”. LIA has until Friday, September 23 to respond. If LIA statements in Eartha Jane Melzer's article are indicative to how the "change" program might respond, we may see LIA change right before our eyes from a clinical mental health compound into a house of praise and worship. Gerard Wellman, business administrator for Love in Action, and a former Love in Action client, said Sept. 13 that the organization has been in contact with the state but would not comment further. “As a church, we operate under a different set of rules,” Wellman said. Curious, and what rules might these be? What is even more curious is that according to LIA's site only one staff member ...

Puzzled

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 ...

Peterson Toscano's A Musing

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