back after a break...

stoles at the more light booth 

general assembly of the presbyterian church (u.s.a)

i just returned from the meeting 

of the general assembly meeting of 

the presbyterian church (u.s.a.) held

in pittsburgh, pennsylvania.

i had thought i might have time to 

offer a few posts while there

but that turned out not to be a reality.

gathering that many presbyterians 

in one place is a sight to behold.

as interesting as the sight were the 

sounds we made with all our 

talking.

one man

who is not a presbyterian

got to know us well.

he drove the shuttle bus back and forth 

between the convention center and the nearby hotels.

when asked what he thought about all the

presbyterians he was transporting he said 

something like this:

"you know they forget that i can hear them talking.

i heard all their passionate words around the 

issues concerning the country of israel 
and palestine.  
there is so much concern and care 
about palestinian justice and also for the jews.

but you know...

in the same conversations about justice 

for palestinians i heard words of 

condemnation concerning homosexuals.

don't they get that issues about equality 

for homosexuals is a justice issue 

just like the ones they lift up for palestinans and jews?

how can you have compassion for one group of people

and not another?"

that was our bus driver!

he got it!

he gets it!

unlike others in the denomination i serve 

he has listened and is willing to listen to 

the stories of lgbtq people. 

though the presbyterian church (u.s.a.) 

did not provide a way for ministers to 

officiate in same sex marriages...

the good news is
the vote was rather close....

the good news is that 

gay ministers stood on 

the floor of the general assembly and spoke 

identifying themselves as gay.

the good news is that 

space has been made

for lgbtq folks to tell their stories openly 

and introduce their life partners.

the good news is once this level of openness

becomes a reality there is no turning back.

though it will be another two years 

before the presbyterian church (u.s.a.)

will have an opportunity to make lasting changes 

concerning the full inclusion of lgbtq 

children of GOD...

the good news is

we continue to have the conversation
making space

to talk and live and pray...

to sing and dance and laugh!