Becoming Reality

I know I am a slack blogger. I am trying to fit it into life but, rest assured, I have been busy behind the scenes.

The pub church is still meeting in the gay bar in Newcastle. We now meet every Tuesday and have put up posters in the pub thanks to the supportive staff.

In September there are plans to launch a gay-friendly, inclusive, Jesus-centred church in Newcastle. Is it possible? I don't know but God is opening the doors and we're going to keep on walking forward in faith.

I have a friend working on a website for "Become" which is the name we've settled on for the church so watch this space.

In the next couple of weeks I should find out that I have been formally accepted onto the Masters research program at Newcastle University.

Thanks for your prayers, support and comments.

A positive message to GLBT in Newcastle that God really does love and affirm them is becoming a reality. Yes, there are some other voices but it is largely a very conservative climate and we want to be a voice of hope especially to those young GLBT people who are suicidal and need to be included and healed by Jesus.

Part of what I want to offer is counselling support. There are some good secular bodies in our area but there is a room for a positive evangelical voice. Please continue to pray for us as we seek to follow Jesus' path.

Bridge the Gap Synchroblog

My post today is part of a larger initiative of more than 50 bloggers all sharing their thoughts on how to ‘bridge the gap’ between the straight and gay Christian communities. You can check out the other links at: www.btgproject.blogspot.com

I have been incredibly slack and am a little late but I encourage you to check out the great work of "Bridge the Gap". They have a wonderful dvd project to encourage evangelical Christians to listen to some other sides of the "gay" story.

Here in Newcastle, NSW I have been holding the germ of a Christian discussion group at the city's gay bar. This Tuesday we begin a fortnightly Bible study as an inclusive Christian study group to supplement the discussion group project. The plan is to form the nucleus of a group that will be the basis of an inclusive Church.

Always in my ministry my heart's desire is to positively connect with those outside of the church. The gay community has been pushed away from God in many ways and my desire is to find ways of engaging in conversations about God and authentically loving people of same-sex orientation.

Please check out "Bridge the Gap" and the other wonderful synchrobloggers. Some people might say that I am focussing too narrowly on a specific group. My Masters thesis will be looking at a positive perspective on same-sex orientation and so I can understand the concern but I feel a strong calling to reach out missionally to a group of people who have been marginalized and who need to know that God loves them passionately.

Please pray for the project here in Newcastle. I have a small nucleus but few resources and would value support however you may feel called to do that. Please pray for this ministry and if you can help with purchasing books for my Masters study through Amazon then I would welcome the assistance.

New Study Direction

I am 3 subjects into an 8 subject Masters but there seemed to be a potential stumbling block in terms of my tentative proposal exploring a reframing of same-sex relationships for helping evangelical Christians (primarily in Australia) to come at the issue from a more wholistic, ethical perspective and not simply from the issue of semantics and hermeneutics.

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting with the Professor of Theology at Newcastle University, John McDowell. John is Northern Irish and has spent the past few years lecturing at Edinburgh University. At the beginning of this year he took on the role of establishing the new theology department at the university.

John and I got on very well and he is interested in, and supportive of, the basic proposal for a doctoral thesis. I have to stress that it is very early days and we are currently in the process of establishing the best method for me to get on a track that will lead to a PhD thesis.

I will cease my current Masters of Theology because there is not sufficient connection for a transfer. I will commence the Masters at Newcastle Uni specializing in Religious Studies. This is a purely research-based Masters. John has tentatively suggested that I work with Moltmann and Bonhoeffer in formulating an ethical thesis for approaching the issue of supporting and affirming same-sex relationships from a Christian perspective.

I will use the Masters to become more familiar with the nuances of Bonhoeffer's work and then if the research is progressing satisfactorily I will be able to move onto a PhD late next year. I am very excited about these developments and feel God's purposes are being worked out in my life. I have a strong desire to develop a professional academic and teaching role as well as the missional ministry through the pub.

If anyone has significant knowledge of Bonhoeffer or helpful resources please let me know.

Thank you all once again for your love, interest and support.

“God Hates Gays”

I thought the headline might grab some attention as well as put in clear written words the absurdity, rudeness and arrogance of the sometimes unspoken, and often spoken, sentiments of large sections of the Christian community.

This past week I attended the sub-regional conference of the Metropolitan Community Church. It was a great weekend of networking, worship and friendship. The biggest thing I took away was an increased commitment to support same-sex relationships and stand up for the rights of gay people to live full and active lives as followers of Jesus Christ.

I was privileged to be invited into the private lives of some special people who told me stories of rejection by their families, society but mostly stories of rejection by the Church that call itself Christian. I heard stories from people who were sincere believers who loved and served Jesus in their place in the world.

To say that God hates anyone is a disgusting statement fuelled by a narrow, homophobic worldview. To claim a biblical foundation for this sentiment of bigotry saddens me more than I can say.

Of course, by writing such a post, I am prepared to engage in theological debate but want I want you to understand is that this weekend I have hugged gay men and lesbian women. I have heard stories of despair but also stories of hope and redemption as lives have been touch by the God who is love. Wherever the debate goes I will be there but wherever people need to be affirmed and supported to live lives as children of God I will also be there.

I have seen the power of God’s love and it does not flourish in the dark halls of a conservative agenda.

A story of magic

I have just finished watching Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium with Samuel and Thomas. It is the second time we have seen it and I still got sucked in by the magic and wonder of the story and it feels SO good to be captivated by the special things in life.

The story is about a magical toy store run by Mr Magorium who is 243 years old. The toys are alive and bouncing and it is a haven for children of all ages. The secret is that Mr Magorium believes in the store but one day he announces that he is leaving. In fact he says that he is "leaving this world" and he hands over the store to his young assistant.

The assistant is horrifed. She doesn't want Mr Magorium to "leave" and to make matters worse the store reacts badly and eventually shuts itself down and all the magic departs as well as the customers. The movie has a wonderful moment when assistant takes Mr Magorium on a special day to help him see the magic of life. He understands at the best last day of life ever. They jump on beds in a bedroom store; they roll out a giant sheet of bubble wrap and dance on it to the sound of popping and laughter and they set all the clocks in a grandfather clock shop to the same time so the whole store breaks out into chiming at the same time.

As the film continues the assistant must either sell the store or discover the source of the store's magic. We had a great time. Thomas and I were lying on bean bags and had a big blanket over us. Samuel was curled up under his blanket and we laughed and imagined and dreamt dreams.

We agreed to hunt out giant bubble wrap and take it to one of the shopping malls to dance. Thomas wants to put out a hat to see if we can get some money!

For the past 6 weeks I have had Thomas off school. For most of that time Thomas and I have been in our new house. I have him for 5 nights a week but due to behavioural issues I agreed to take him out of school before the end of last term and we have only just got word on funding for a teacher's aide and his case worker is liasing with the school to make his reintroduction a more positive experience for everyone.

I have to say we have had the best time. I recalled this when Mr Magorium's assistant said that they needed to wait 37 seconds for the clocks to start chiming. He replied "No. We breathe. We pulse. We regenerate. Our hearts beat. Our minds create. Our souls ingest. 37 seconds, well used, is a lifetime."

6 weeks well used has been a lifetime of memories. We have climbed up to the helicopter in McDonald's playgrounds; we have swung on swings; we have laughed, hugged and sung songs; we have bought large cuddly toys and had heaps of fun.

There is still magic in the world if only we take the time to look and realize that 37 seconds well used is a lifetime.

Newcastle University

I am still here in the land of the living and, although my internet access is still limited to the local library, I haven't slacked off in terms of my thinking. I have been put in touch with the head of the theology department at Newcastle University and on May 6th I am meeting John McDowell to discuss transferring my Masters across to Newcastle and also to plan ahead for my doctoral thesis.

I am really excited about the potential for expanding my research and John seems to be open to a broader theological perspective which will allow me to explore the intersections of theology, exegesis and culturally-imposed worldviews. I will keep you posted on the journey.

Thanks for all the comments and emails over the last couple of months. I have been encouraged in all aspects of my life.

Sacramental Theology

I am beginning to explore Sacramental Theology and Liturgy. I am on the beginning of the learning curve but wish to explore this issue both from a theological perspective and also to understand how sacrament helps those who are spiritual seekers to connect with "mystery" and "otherness".

I am hopeful that you, my faithful readership, can be a part of the process by sending or recommending resources that I can utilize.

I am going to my first ever Anglican service this coming Sunday morning.

Thank you as well for all of the love and encouragement I have received these past few weeks.