RGMCjim
02-20-03, 04:54 PM
How well and how often do people in the straight community understand and sympathize with the lives of GLBTI people? Can we ever expect them to be supportive let alone actually advocate for our inclusion as valuable members of the larger community? The following is taken directly from the Congregational newsletter of the First Unitarian Church in Rochester, NY. I was one of the group of GLBTI people who spoke to their eighth graders about our lives. It was a group of about 25 kids, and they were very welcoming and asked sensitive and intelligent questions.
Jim Costich (G & I of the GLBTI Rainbow)
Church School Administrators R.E.port – February 2003
You may recall that the eighth grade Our Whole Lives students sponsored a bake sale last month in appreciation for the adults who spoke with them about sexual orientation and gender identity. After the sale, I sent a letter and check to the Open Door Mission. My letter explained that the students in our sexuality education program were making a donation to the Open Door Mission not only to sponsor its work, but also to honor former director Kaye Fox (who was denounced by the Open Door Mission following her gender change). I concluded by saying, "we send this gift in the spirit of open-mindedness and compassion, which we hope that you will embrace."
Last week, I received a reply from the Open Door Mission's board of directors. There letter reads, in part, "…. because of the sentiments of your letter regarding the honoring of the former executive director, we cannot accept your generous donation. The Open Door Mission is a Bible-believing rescue mission that promotes the love of our Savior…."
Well, we tried. Although we were disappointed by this response, it offered some valuable lessons. As one teacher succinctly put it, "We made a donation on principal, and they rejected it on principle." Despite this particular organizations position on this issue, the students understand that believing in the Bible and loving Jesus should not be equated with closed mindedness!
Bake sale proceeds will still help people in need; the students have chosen to split the $150 between St. Joseph's House of Hospitality and the Southeast Ecumenical Ministry.
Jim Costich (G & I of the GLBTI Rainbow)
Church School Administrators R.E.port – February 2003
You may recall that the eighth grade Our Whole Lives students sponsored a bake sale last month in appreciation for the adults who spoke with them about sexual orientation and gender identity. After the sale, I sent a letter and check to the Open Door Mission. My letter explained that the students in our sexuality education program were making a donation to the Open Door Mission not only to sponsor its work, but also to honor former director Kaye Fox (who was denounced by the Open Door Mission following her gender change). I concluded by saying, "we send this gift in the spirit of open-mindedness and compassion, which we hope that you will embrace."
Last week, I received a reply from the Open Door Mission's board of directors. There letter reads, in part, "…. because of the sentiments of your letter regarding the honoring of the former executive director, we cannot accept your generous donation. The Open Door Mission is a Bible-believing rescue mission that promotes the love of our Savior…."
Well, we tried. Although we were disappointed by this response, it offered some valuable lessons. As one teacher succinctly put it, "We made a donation on principal, and they rejected it on principle." Despite this particular organizations position on this issue, the students understand that believing in the Bible and loving Jesus should not be equated with closed mindedness!
Bake sale proceeds will still help people in need; the students have chosen to split the $150 between St. Joseph's House of Hospitality and the Southeast Ecumenical Ministry.