tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post6252782173477748799..comments2023-05-02T04:17:09.271-07:00Comments on [Un] Closeted Pastor: AftermathCeciliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10812791378130572065noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-90047135574211370612008-11-21T18:23:00.000-08:002008-11-21T18:23:00.000-08:00wow. i am physically affected by this reading. i...wow. i am physically affected by this reading. i am new to this site, and your story is a VERY familiar one. my love is a closeted pastor, who feels lesbianism is a sin, and is torn between her love of Christ and wanting to follow her giftings, and her love of me, the physical love of her life. i will be back often to get insight and strength. thank you, thank you, thank you.anniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05765686511785027829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-14909187483917497742008-11-20T07:50:00.000-08:002008-11-20T07:50:00.000-08:00Just a quick pop in to say its been to long since ...Just a quick pop in to say its been to long since I have been here, and bless you bless you bless you. MUCH love.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01930235556546609531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-81888673925167601552008-11-17T17:31:00.000-08:002008-11-17T17:31:00.000-08:00Oh yeah. I hear you my sister.Have been there, kno...Oh yeah. I hear you my sister.<BR/><BR/>Have been there, know the pain and need to cry out.... totally know that. <BR/><BR/>I feel so blessed that we (BP and I) were able to emerge from that and hope that you and your Beloved will too. Beause regardless of why you are in the closet, it builds up toxicity.<BR/><BR/>BTW I have designed a blogbadge for supporters of Gay Marriage, which is over at the <A HREF="friends-of-jake.blogspot.com" REL="nofollow">Friends of Jake</A> blog. Please ANYONE who wants it, swipe it for your blog. <BR/><BR/>ITIThttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09605163506396013904noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-59281822393833365562008-11-17T02:58:00.000-08:002008-11-17T02:58:00.000-08:00As a "closeted gay pastor" whose sexuality is only...As a "closeted gay pastor" whose sexuality is only known to three or maybe four friends, I simply get on with the task of living my life acknowledging that part of me is presently private. I do not feel the need to publicly proclaim who I am. Maybe that's because I am basically a private person, and my emotional struggles have always been laid at God's feet, so that he/she can deal with me directly. I don't have a "soul friend" or "spiritual advisor" even though my ordaining bishop told me that either I found one or he would appoint one for me. I found one - and they moved to another continent two years later (not because of me!) and I haven't replaced them. I truly don't feel the need for one. Maybe I'm blessed in that repect.<BR/><BR/>Of course I long for the time/opportunity when I can be open about my desires, who I find attractive etc. but now is not that time. I have a calling to fulfil which presently requires me to put myself on the "back burner". I am a servant of the Servant, and I wait for when he/she decides that I can come out of the clerical closet. I recognise that this is not the same for everyone in a similar position, and that is one reason I "lurk" on your blog so that I can "read, learn, and inwardly digest." <BR/><BR/>Apologies for this being an "Anon" comment.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-68717249839403257562008-11-16T20:17:00.000-08:002008-11-16T20:17:00.000-08:00((((Cecilia)))))Yet, all of this "stuff" contribut...((((Cecilia)))))<BR/><BR/>Yet, all of this "stuff" contributes to our being of greater earthly, and heavenly, good. Go figure.<BR/><BR/>Of course you and your Beloved's current living situation is not ideal, and likely exaggerates the small and big stuff. But even when the time comes for an open life together, ideal circumstances will come and go, but love will not.KJhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15701224049914946896noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-83740515760344852822008-11-16T09:22:00.000-08:002008-11-16T09:22:00.000-08:00lighting a candlelighting a candlePamBGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11324370506889227234noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-41470667368803190552008-11-16T06:40:00.000-08:002008-11-16T06:40:00.000-08:00you are strong and inspiring c, and blessed with a...you are strong and inspiring c, and blessed with abundant love, but yes, songbird is right, burdened too... ((((((((c)))))))) may God heal our wounded world, our broken church. <BR/><BR/>i'm soooo proud of you for overcoming your addiction yet again in this difficult week. <BR/><BR/>love you.Sarah S-Dhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02839861820297123884noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-79864110290371653872008-11-16T05:17:00.000-08:002008-11-16T05:17:00.000-08:00sometimes i'm slow...but of course your "episode" ...sometimes i'm slow...but of course your "episode" is related to what you heard this week. duh. i love you so, really i do.LittleMaryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06178617028863825445noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-77764635475722405672008-11-15T19:48:00.000-08:002008-11-15T19:48:00.000-08:00January 736, I'm sorry I wasn't clear. I did not m...January 736, I'm sorry I wasn't clear. I did not mean to imply that his truth is shameful, only that it feels so to him, or might be regarded so by bigots: I agree completely with you in this regard. The truth of each person is how God made him or her, and that is to be cherished, of course. Again, I apologize for any lack of clarity. You and I share this truth.<BR/><BR/>Friends, thank you all.<BR/><BR/>Pax, C.Ceciliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10812791378130572065noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-51353343582021187102008-11-15T19:10:00.000-08:002008-11-15T19:10:00.000-08:00Dear Cecilia,You wrote:"What about the closeted ga...Dear Cecilia,<BR/>You wrote:<BR/>"What about the closeted gay pastor who has no one, no one to whom he can reveal his shameful truth, and who can only protect himself by preaching his own self-hate?"<BR/>His truth is NOT shameful. His truth, that he is a gay man, is the truth of God Who loves him and cherishes him as His child of light. If others see that truth as shameful, that's truly their problem. Do you mean that it seems shameful to him because he has been conditioned by the bigotry and fear of others? If that's what you mean, I understand. Been there.<BR/>Blessings, January 736Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-38436436986294316112008-11-15T16:04:00.000-08:002008-11-15T16:04:00.000-08:00While all the advantages you name are true, you st...While all the advantages you name are true, you still bear the weight of living in the closet, and I hope you won't minimize the strain that creates for you, as it would for anyone.<BR/>(((C)))Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08235049965406944684noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-36278244518081271632008-11-15T15:38:00.000-08:002008-11-15T15:38:00.000-08:00Oh, C, I'm so sorry. (((((((((C)))))))))Yeah, your...Oh, C, I'm so sorry. <BR/><BR/>(((((((((C)))))))))<BR/><BR/>Yeah, your last couple of paragraphs are right...and sad. And so we keep moving that Giant Rock of Bigotry an inch at a time. It's not enough, but there's real power in that effort...and real connection.<BR/><BR/>Much love to you and your Beloved.Choralgrrlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06657324651887737580noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7538801849812784311.post-90244321719180618502008-11-15T14:58:00.000-08:002008-11-15T14:58:00.000-08:00I hear you, sister. So much to be thankful for,and...I hear you, sister. So much to be thankful for,and yet...<BR/><BR/>May God continue to bless you, Cecilia--and to send you angels to comfort and keep you.<BR/><BR/>Pax,<BR/>DoxyWormwood's Doxyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10882756844690851674noreply@blogger.com