Stunning - Just Stunning (Maybe not)

I found myself stunned in the wake of the news that has been building up over the last several weeks of several young men who have committed suicide in the wake of anti-gay bullying. I'm not stunned that young men have committed suicide. I'm not stunned that other young people have been bullying them about their sexuality. What I'm stunned by is that I read on a fairly regular basis some Church Blogs - that is, Blogs by people serving in or a part of congregations (many of them United Methodist). And not one of those blogs has mentioned these suicides - but many of them have commented on the decision by Foundry United Methodist Church in Washington, DC to "come out" (so to speak) and speak a word to the larger United Methodist Church that they will be a place where gay and lesbian marriages can and will be celebrated and that they will support their clergy who choose to celebrate these marriages inside and outside the church.

I can understand that there are different opinions with the larger society and even the Church on this issue. What I find impossible to understand - truly impossible - is how there can be so much more energy about (and in many cases against - in some cases in disparaging and graphic terms) people celebrating the love between two consenting adults than there can be about the bullying that has gone on (often fed by the theology and practice and teachings of the Church) toward young people struggling to come to terms with who they are in a culture that still makes little room, but to condemn - that has at the least has not been helpful to creating a climate where young people who are gay are treated with respect and at the worst played an all too active role in the suicides of these young people.

It makes me grateful that I know young people grow up at Broadway and that if and when they learn that they are gay, they know that they are beloved children of God and that they are valued for who they are and for what they have to give to the world as a human being and as a follower of Jesus Christ. I love it that parents whose children have "come out" to them think that it has been made possible because they see gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgendered people being leaders of our church. It challenges me to continue to find ways in which we can keep our eyes open to young people around us who are struggling with bullying and the effects of a larger culture (including Christianity) that seems to have a lot more words for condemnation than we have for truly seeking, welcoming and valuing our sisters and brothers who are in pain, and who our world would be poorer without.

So, I am stunned, saddened, and more than a little angry this morning. Yes, by all means let's get our outrage and discomfort out in the open about people who love each other and are faithful to each other and care so much about marriage that they are willing to break the law in order to be married. And let's keep our mouths shut about those who die as they cannot seem to find a safe haven in the world we have helped create.