Ladies and Gentlemen:
My name is
Rev. Carol Chambers and I am the pastor of Open Circle Metropolitan Church, a
church with members from Lake, Sumter, Marion, and Citrus Counties. I appreciate the opportunity to speak to you
tonight in unequivocal support of Baylie and others in their efforts to have a
Gay and Straight Alliance in their school.
Lesbians, gay men, transgender and bi-sexual people have suffered at the
hands and voices of religious zealots for centuries. Sadly, those seemingly well-meaning people
have used the Bible, the Word of God, to justify their position and vilify all
persons who believe differently than they do.
This is sin. God is not the
author of discrimination; and Jesus, while on earth preached only inclusion and
acceptance of all. I will not bother to
quote to you those verses used to denigrate us as less than God’s chosen
people. I’m sure they either have been
or will be presented by my colleagues who represent the religious maligning of
Gays, Lesbians, Trans folk and Bi-sexuals.
The passages where Jesus welcomes us all far outnumber those few
passages, which, when taken out of cultural context seem to stigmatize us.
I
am a gay woman, a lesbian, standing in front of you wearing a cross and the
clerical garb of my calling. I want you
to realize that there are churches here in this area—Open Circle MCC and others
that not only welcome those whom you are trying to discriminate against, but
also advocate for the full rights of all peoples regardless of their sexual or
gender orientation. The denial of the
request for a GSA expressed by young people who have themselves been the target
of bullying and harassment is morally and ethically wrong. God created us all
to be exactly what we are—these young people need to hear this message of
unconditional love and acceptance—not hatred and fear. Jesus’, God here on earth, worked constantly
for justice. And justice demands that
these teenagers be protected and safeguarded by the adults who have the power
to do so. Giving teens a safe place
where they can talk and learn to communicate with each other is the first step
in changing the educational world where these young people spend the majority
of their week. There is a movement that
has spread far and wide based on one simple question—would Jesus discriminate? The answer to that question is clear. Jesus would not discriminate and I,
prayerfully and—in the name of a God who created every one of us to be all that
we can be in this world—I ask you to refrain from discrimination as well. Thank you for your consideration of my words
and may God be with you as you ponder your response.
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