tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post2324692297263633393..comments2023-05-02T04:17:09.271-07:00Comments on [Un] Closeted Pastor: An OutingCeciliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812791378130572065noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-79739228527057195612008-01-11T11:45:00.000-08:002008-01-11T11:45:00.000-08:00I'm with the general consensus. People have to de...I'm with the general consensus. People have to decide where and who they are at their own time. I was closeted for many years, and I certainly dont make a point of my sexuality and stay low key for professional reasons. I know it's better to be "out" than it was to be "in" but I completely respect the decision of those who cannot (yet) open the door.<BR/><BR/> What's wrong about the Bishop Dennis bravely outed is that he is attacking out gay people from a position of dishonesty, to do them harm. This is just like a Ted Haggard or a Larry Craig wanting the closet to cover their own sins but having no compunction in flinging stones at out gay people. And I say, no way. My willingness to hold my tongue ends when they start attacking "family". Dennis simply told the truth. Good for you, Dennis.<BR/><BR/>Now, some may say the Bishop is now celibate, repents of his homosexuality, and fervantly DOES believe in what he is doing. Maybe he does. But he no less owes honesty than if he still defines as gay or is still having sex with men. <BR/><BR/>Let him say, "I was wrong all those years ago", and fine. I could respect that. But he doesn't get a retrospective closet any more than a current one.<BR/><BR/>I hope one day C can be fully herself "out" as she does too. But I am very confident she is doing no harm to anyone else while "in". And that is the big difference. <BR/><BR/>ITAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-63859893160227058722008-01-10T22:20:00.000-08:002008-01-10T22:20:00.000-08:00I had taken it down to avoid controversy and becau...I had taken it down to avoid controversy and because I was scared by a few bloggers posting my workplace and my name and other details. But it does no good to post it and then to hide it. So it is back up.Dennishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01945343859290558131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-24775546479977270492008-01-10T08:56:00.000-08:002008-01-10T08:56:00.000-08:00Be well. Be at peace. Journey at your own pace. ...Be well. Be at peace. Journey at your own pace. The Spirit will guide you even when it doesn't seem like it, and I know you know that. Even though I am totally out I still try to keep a low profile. The world is not altogether safe, yet we were not given a spirit of fear. Joy be yours.Paulhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06090720645937634051noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-14013891005392896732008-01-08T09:08:00.000-08:002008-01-08T09:08:00.000-08:00Cecilia---what klady said. You will make your own ...Cecilia---what klady said. You will make your own way, in your own good time. <BR/><BR/>I only wish I could be there to see the glorious day when you burst out of that closet and discover that people love you, no matter what. <BR/><BR/>Cheers,<BR/>DoxyWormwood's Doxyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10882756844690851674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-46101903691967746412008-01-06T11:18:00.000-08:002008-01-06T11:18:00.000-08:00I agree that no one should use the pulpit to bully...I agree that no one should use the pulpit to bully - no matter what the issue.<BR/><BR/>In as much as you do to the least of these, so you do to me.<BR/><BR/>I regret that Dennis had to be the one to say, "Stop." Guilt seems to automatically attach itself to the ones who do that. But, I thank you, Dennis, for what you have done.sharecropperhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15138522185303347235noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-79439680556378604982008-01-06T06:18:00.000-08:002008-01-06T06:18:00.000-08:00I heartily agree with Bishop Harris. I was lucky ...I heartily agree with Bishop Harris. I was lucky to attend a conference she lead a few years ago. She exuded love, humor, wisdom. So Amen Alleluia Bishop H.<BR/><BR/>Another gay alcoholic and I were at a meeting the other day and part of AA literature contains a sentence about peope who are constitutionally incapable of being honest. It says "they are not at fault, they seem to have been born that way". That dayreader said it, "they seem to have been born THAT WAY". We looked at each other and chuckled. <BR/><BR/>I have no problem with people in the closet; that is their choice. But for someone who was created by God and "born that way" to attack others created the same way is pure hypocrisy and deserves to be called on it.<BR/><BR/>Strength and Peace to you. LisaAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-25824897004128078472008-01-06T04:03:00.000-08:002008-01-06T04:03:00.000-08:00Dennis, I have been trying to think of a good anal...Dennis, I have been trying to think of a good analogy to explain why I feel so strongly that you have done the right thing, but my brain is just not cooperating. I think the Barbara Harris quote still comes closest. ++Horsham had his right to his closet. But he gave it up when he started attacking his own (a population already vulnerable to both physical and mental hate crimes begin with) from the bully pulpit provided by his place of enormous, enormous privilege. He could have had his privacy. No one would have begrudged him that (or, not many). <BR/><BR/>You told the truth. Period. You told the truth. As one of your commenters mentioned, it's no different than Jesus would have done. And that is why there is (and will be) an outpouring of anger from some quarters. In the words of the immortal Jack Nicholson, "They can't handle the truth."<BR/><BR/>Pax, C.Ceciliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10812791378130572065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-58680529957774157522008-01-05T19:44:00.000-08:002008-01-05T19:44:00.000-08:00sweets. a sniper's nest? you? um. don't think so. ...sweets. a sniper's nest? you? um. don't think so. ok? ok.LittleMaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06178617028863825445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-29327176719233752182008-01-05T15:30:00.000-08:002008-01-05T15:30:00.000-08:00thank you for what you say.And yet I have to tell ...thank you for what you say.<BR/><BR/>And yet I have to tell you that I feel incredibly guilty about letting this cat out of the bag.<BR/><BR/>there is at least some degree of expectations that hook-ups will be kept quiet. Now I'm not into the whole hookup scene anymore, but 15 years ago I was young and, well, basically stupid. But even back then I tried to live by a rule of not kissing-and-telling. So this feels a bit dirty, really.<BR/><BR/>I really don't feel that I have the right to do something like this. But I do feel that his support for the bigots and homophobes and misogynists means that someone should do it. And if it had to be me then so be it.<BR/><BR/>It is too late to feel regret for outing him, I know. <I>Iacta alea est</I>. But it seems a shame to live in a world where a gay man can be moving up the ladder as a leader among those who bitterly oppose the ordination of gays, lesbians and women. <BR/><BR/>I talked with <A HREF="http://thewoundedbird.blogspot.com/" REL="nofollow">Grandmere Mimi</A> about this by telephone today. Mimi kept going back to the Presiding Bishop's comments to the BBC last week. She really was certain that that framed this whole event in the ongoing debate. I agree. <BR/><BR/>It just sucks to be part of the process of bringing honesty. (And it can't be fun for someone like Bp Lindsay to be on the receiving end of this either.)<BR/><BR/>Thanks for your words. Keep our whole church in your thoughts and prayers. <BR/><BR/>And klady (whom I had the opportunity to meet back in October) is right when she says that answers for you (and by extension all of us) will come in God's due time.Dennishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01945343859290558131noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-2235921716224870462008-01-05T12:49:00.000-08:002008-01-05T12:49:00.000-08:00((Cecilia)). Your situation is quite different, a...((Cecilia)). Your situation is quite different, as I'm sure you know on various levels. Amen, definitely. Please know that there are many of us out here who are praying for you. You will find the answers to your own situation in due time with the grace of God. In the meantime, please know I, for one, consider myself privileged to hear about you, your life, and your ministry, which we you know you are serving with great thoughtfulness, care, and compassion for all.kladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09526715552795733402noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-74421689494598583672008-01-05T11:59:00.000-08:002008-01-05T11:59:00.000-08:00I think Barbara Harris is right on and so are you ...I think Barbara Harris is right on and so are you to quote her. <BR/><BR/>Thank you for alerting me to this piece of news, of which I had not been aware.<BR/><BR/>Prayers always.Dr. Laura Marie Grimeshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10372741914558791844noreply@blogger.com