HOMOPHOBIA

Today I received this message from a member of the Burton Community Church.  It is a statement made by the pastor in response to homophobia in many of the Christian/Baptist Churches.

 

I've never been trusing of organized religion, but my experience with the Burton Community Church (Vashon Island, WA) has been amazing. 

 

I lived across the street from the church for many years.  These are a loving accepting group of people who have consistently amazed me.  I think if  more "Christians" showed this loving and accepting attitude, it would be a reassurance to many vulnerable people.

 

Thank you Bruce for this statement.  And thank you Burton Community Church for the kindness you have shown me.

Morgan

 

PHOTO

Burton Community Church on Vashon Island

www.burtonchurch.org

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"As many of you are likely aware, in light of the recent vote on marriage equality in North Carolina and President Obama's statement on marriage equality, the level of rhetoric has increased dramatically.

Of special concern to me as a Christian, as a Baptist, and as a pastor, is the violence of some of the speech coming from pulpits around the nation. Especially troubling were the Rev. Sean Harris giving his congregation "permission" to "beat the gay out of their sons and the butch out of their daughters" and, more recently, the Rev. Charles Worley telling his congregation that gays and lesbians should be put in concentration camps and allowed to "die out as they could not have more children." While the sheer ignorance of these statements is mind boggling, they were said from the pulpit in Baptist churches. I cringe to think of what it must of felt like to be a glbt youth sitting in the pews of one of those churches.

As a Baptist, I want another voice heard, another voice to go viral - a voice of love and inclusion.

I currently serve on the board of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists. AWAB has been the voice calling for welcome, love, and inclusion into the Baptist community for nearly 30 years. Our executive director, the Rev. Robin Lunn, has been tirelessly traveling the country, being that voice of love and inclusion.

At this critical juncture in life of our nation and our faith communities, I am asking that you would make a donation to the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists to help us continue this vital work. You can do this at www.awab.org. If you would like to make a donation on behalf of the Rev. Sean Harris or the Rev. Charles Worley, we will be sending a postcard of thanks to them (your name will not be mentioned on the postcard.) You can do this by adding a note in the message line on the donation page.

For those of you who have other denominational affiliations, please make a donation to your denominational voice for full LGBT inclusion. For those of you with no denominational affiliations, please give to organizations within your state working for equality.

Blessings on all of you. I am who I am today, because of the impact that you have had on my life."

Grace and Peace,

Bruce

Rev. Bruce Chittick
2005 S. Pearl Street
Seattle, WA 98108
206-353-5758 (C)
brucechittick@yahoo.com