As a result of the Golden Rule Pledge effort, I have met some really great folks. I am only going to mention one with this post but there are many more. I hope to share their experiences at the new Golden Rule Pledge website soon. I did want to here share one very early report from JK, a student at Appalachian State University in Boone, NC. JK was an early supporter of the Golden Rule Pledge and as you will see, used it as a springboard to mobilize Christian groups on her campus for outreach. She wrote to me today (Saturday, the 26th) with her experiences of the day. It is long but well worth the read…
Yesterday was the Day of Silence. A national event where students on their campuses are silent for the entire day to bring awareness to the silencing of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender) students. This community has been daily silenced by the name-calling, bullying, and harassment simply because of their sexuality. Many Christians are confused about how to respond to this day because they do not agree with homosexuality, but they do agree that hatred based on it is not acceptable.
This year I decided to get involved. I went to Campus Crusade for Christ as well as Intervarsity Fellowship to present the idea of participating. They both said they wanted to participate but I was absolutely astonished when Campus Crusade said that not only did they want to support it as individuals, but as a ministry. When I heard this, my heart was pounding- it was a prayer come true.
I can’t give you a count of how many students from the ministries actually participated. It might have been one, or many. But to me, it was their sincere desire to do something that really hit me hard. I have long been frustrated with the Christian community’s response to the GLBT group. When Crusade called me, a little piece of anger towards the church was cast away.
Students at our school chose to participate by duct taping their mouths shut in complete silence, and when people asked why, handing them a slip of paper that explained. While I was more than fine with doing this, I wanted to do more. I wanted to make it clear that not only do I love them, but Christ does also. So I made my own slips, not to preach, but to break down the walls between the Christian and LGBT communities. The slips I made said this:
“Today I am pledging to be silent to bring attention to the name-calling, bullying and harassment experienced by LGBT students.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you. Luke 6:31
As a follower of Christ, I believe that all people are created in the image of God and therefore deserve love and respect.”
Yesterday morning, when I went to the SAGA (Sexuality and Gender Alliance) table to receive my piece of duct tape, I showed them my slips and told them that several ministries would be participating as well. The look on their faces was priceless. They were shocked, but ecstatic. This alone would have been enough to make my day.
But there was still more to be done. Eric Heistand from Campus Crusade for Christ had the idea of bringing a flower to the head faculty advisor of SAGA. We left flowers and a card that read,
“Dear Mary Ballard and SAGA: As followers of Christ, we want to stand beside you in silence to bring attention to the name-calling, bullying and harassment on college campuses around the world directed toward the LGBT community. We believe that all people have been created in the image of God and therefore have infinite worth and dignity. May these flowers and our silence be a symbol of our desire to show true love and concern. May they also be small step in breaking down some of the walls that sometimes divide us. In silence we stand with you, JK, and Eric Heistand on behalf of Campus Crusade for Christ.”
At 5 pm, the students who participated gathered at a theatre to break the silence by letting a scream go and then talking about their experiences. I was 10 minutes late due to a nap, but when I got there people greeted me with hugs, handshakes, and smiling faces. I discovered that Mary Ballard, the teacher who we gave the flowers and card, read the card aloud to the community.
People came up to me shocked. Over and over, people said to me, “Thank you. You don’t know how much this means to me. I’m amazed. Thank you!” The students seemed really surprised that a ministry, especially a Christian ministry would do that. I talked with several students, but one student spoke with me for a while. She told me that she was so surprised and couldn’t believe her eyes that she had to read the card twice even before it was read aloud. I’m so grateful for the relationships that were begun yesterday just by pledging to be silent for less than 24 hours. Later that night I went to eat with several of them and hung out until the wee hours of the morning. It was wonderful.
To those of you reading, I wish I could tell you in person because this day deserves more than a short summary. Yesterday, the LGBT community saw something revolutionary- they saw Christians loving them and more than that, they saw the love of Christ. What would happen if next year, hundreds of Christian students walked around with duct tape in silence?
I have to tell you about how I felt yesterday walking around in silence with duct tape. I felt humiliated at times, and other times proud. You see, everywhere I went, people stared. I felt like a leper, completely stigmatized from people. In fact, I was experiencing what the LGBT community has experienced for decades.
As I was walking to my dorm, I realized why 30% of LGBT students report having missed one or more days of school per year out of fear. Walking by a dorm, someone opened their window and yelled a derogatory statement to me. I was scared. There was such anger in his voice that I was fearful to walk by the dorm again later that day. I was reminded of Lawrence King, a 14 year old who was murdered because of his homosexuality just two months ago.
Yesterday was amazing. The best day of the year by far. The truth is, this group has been disappointed by the church. I know that as people read that, some will become angry with me. ‘Not my church’ they will say. But when “Christians” hold signs on campus that read, “ God hates Fags.” and “fags burn in hell,” the LGBT community associates that with Christianity. Many people have told me that they have never said anything derogatory to the gay community, but the problem is they haven’t said anything at all. You see, half of the church is screaming hate at them, and the other half is silent. If there is one thing I have learned, it is that silence is powerful. The failure to not say anything, has said a lot.
This [Golden Rule Pledge] was a great first step for me to get out there in ministry. So thanks so much to you!
I don’t know how to end this note, but hopefully there won’t be an end. This is just the beginning…
I have to tell you, I am moved and humbled. I am proud of those Campus Crusade and IVP ministries and others like them around the country who stepped away from fear and up to the plate. More stories to come…
Eddy,
It is easier said than done. I was just posting it AGAIN as a reminder. When Jesus said it, it sounded easy then too.
I was just signing off for awhile because I am overwhelmingly busy with this project and my peace out is a big lets try to treat each other better and call it a day…as over simplified as that sounds.
Anyway, grateful for your no…I don’t really have any more room anyway and I just wanted you to feel included because I thought after you realized you had me confused with someone else and I had never asked you to participate , the least I could do is ask you. SO I did.
I would love to go into HERMIT MODE. Enjoy it. Sounds very appealing to me.
Wish you well EDDY.
Lisa
Lisa–
As they say in the movies: “Ditto!” LOL. I read your last post in my inbox rather than on the site and, I’ve gotta say, you’ve got the conversation down better than most of us. I went to hit ‘reply’ and caught myself. I think I’m pretty good at conversation but I do have a leaning towards ‘preachy/exhorty’ when on a topic; that usually dampens a conversation. In person, I have a laugh and a sense of humor to buffer but that’s very difficult to convey via keyboard.
You will keep us informed of the progress, won’t you? We may not still be hanging around on this topic thread but peek up in recently commented and find us there. Or, if it’s really newsworthy, give Warren a shout and perhaps your news will become the topic of the day. Then we’ll find you! Thanks for being a refreshing and optimistic voice!
Thank you Eddy my new friend!
Love you brother. You made me smile.
In the word of Arnold Schwarzenegger, I’ll be back!
LOL
Love to all of you!
Lisa
Eddy,
Actually, you didn’t answer any of my questions. My concern is, when does and when should, if ever, our vote reflect our religious beliefs, and when should it not? Should we vote so that our gay neighbor, who may not believe as we do, is denied certain rights and privileges? This is not a question that you answered, and one I believed I asked
Do you believe it is alright to deny our gay neighbors certain rights simply because our religious beliefs dictate that we, and others who may not believe as we do, behave certain ways?
Let me reiterate that it is a fact that some conservative Christians have and continue to use FEAR and twisted facts as a way of managing and controlling their congregations – especially when it comes to voting against their gay neighbor. This is something that I still do not see these groups trying to make amends for. It is sad.
Jayhuck–
Ah yes, your concerns….your concerns….yes, it’s always about your concerns. Even though I had just stated several times that I had no interest in any further talk in the ‘bash the conservatives’ vein…and even though I hadn’t been talking about politics, “your concerns” gave you the right to direct that question to me. (Silly me for thinking it must have been connected to something I actually said.)
And that, after you had just returned to posting on this thread, still ignoring Ann’s question that she posted at least twice to you.
With Evan, you decided to be hung-up on the definiton of atypical while you yourself used the even more vague term ‘stereotypical’. And then, while still puzzling over atypical, rehash your own bisexual theories which are, IMHO, a lot less clear than Evan’s discourse on atypicalism. (I secretly found great humor in this. You seem to assume that if you can’t grasp something, it’s either incomprehensible or the speaker is unintelligible. You never seem to catch on that it might also suggest that you are bull-headed and close-minded. You also seem to think that the conversation must stop until you’ve declared that you now understand. I, for one, have no trouble with leaving you behind…or allowing you to read on the sidelines until you grasp what’s being said. LOL. I picture a student in the first day of physics class constantly interupting the teacher with ‘but you still haven’t explained ‘quantum physics’.)
(I often don’t engage in conversations with drowssap…not because I think what he’s saying is foolish…but rather, because the conversations are ‘out of my league’. I read and try to learn from the sidelines. LOL. And when he and Evan get going, I find that I actually do develop a better understanding of what they’re talking about.)
Then I post several long and thoughtful posts about considering the possibility of any sources of homophobia that aren’t rooted in conservative religion and you don’t acknowledge the merits (or lack thereof) of anything I said, instead you feel compelled to ask me to address your concerns.
You pretended your question was just ‘your concern’ but you conveniently addressed it to me (again, why the need to address it to me?)…and put your remarks re secret bigots saying they have gay friends in quotes…I believe, to purposely suggest that the friends I mentioned reaching were probably still quite homophobic at some level. But, as always, the reference is just vague enough that you can scream “oh no, that’s not what I intended at all; you’re being way too sensitive”.
Re the answer to your question. I’m going to ask that you use deductive reasoning, read my posts here and answer the question for yourself. If that fails you, use your recall abilities to remember when we’ve discussed politics before. I answered quite specifically then. At the moment, I’m not in the mood for dancing.
Yes, it’s true that many Christians aren’t loving; it’s also true that many liberals aren’t open-minded. That’s a truth that bears reiterating.
Jamie,
I’m not avoiding answering – I have been out of town and unable to respond. I have quickly read through your response and will answer shortly – maybe tomorrow or the next day. A couple of items take precedence at this moment.
Mary,
How dare you have a life and any other priorities outside of answering my questions! I am incensed!…ya right….LOL.
Thank you for being so conscientious and for the quick note in the midst of your busyness. I truly appreciate the time and the insights you’ve shared as I’ve muddled through this conversation.
Godspeed in your endeavours.
Jamie,
I tried to keep this short and avoid theological arguments, hoping to clarify some points.
Let me lay some foundations in my thinking.
The quick reference used to the Catholic/Protestant split was to illustrate that the break was never fixed; the two still pass in the scripture, and no one belief system impressed the other enough to change so completely. Yet, they respectfully agree to disagree on matters. That is all – nothing more. Please don’t read more into a simple example.
While this can derail into a long conversation on theology and who is saved – my intent was to cut to the chase. The theologies of affirming churches are never going to meet with the theologies of non-affirming churches.
Consider this, there are several theological issues in which evangelicals differ. Some are concerning Rapture, Tribulation (pre, mid, post) Interpretation of Revelations, Grace vs. Works, etc… The basic need of respect goes to those when they differ on these issues but somehow has been overlooked when it concerns those people who believe that homosexuality is either acceptable or unacceptable.
Thus far, all the preaching and “intentions” of just wanting to tell the truth and “save” others has moved hundreds of thousands of people away from Christ. My biggest concern when we attempt to activate the great commission is that we shoot our toes off because we are tripping on our own feet. Telling the truth might be heard more clearly if we lived the truth. One of the most impressive things to me about Jesus’ life is that he ate with those who were cast away from the church of his day. And he befriended them.
The table I was referring to was not one of agreement and but one of respect. Nor was it the table where only evangelical Christians sit. Before I am slammed for being some ecumenical messenger, I am not saying we must believe in the peace and unity of people under one banner of faith or religion. Not at all. I am saying befriend others.
Most of all let the religion go.