Are We Not Men?

Mel Smith
May 8 2006, 10:30AM

You right Keith. I emailed Bishop Owens and I will send him a letter today. When straight black people were afraid to challenge segregation in the 1940s, A black gay man by the name of Bayard Rustin was attacked by police officers for trying to desegregate buses down south. Therefore, who's the "sissie" now?

Luddite
May 8 2006, 10:41AM

As Keith said, although the content was not a surprise that audio was still painful to hear. WIth spiritual abuse like that, the media still wonders why there are so many "DL" men in the black community (rolling my eyes).

I wonder how many of these non sissy, non faggot, "Straight" men who stood up and congratulated each other for being hetero, ended up at one of the adult bookstores in Maryland or online looking for dick/ass later on that day. They would have been at the Gloryhold on Half Street and O in SE DC, but that place is now closed.

Very sad. One wonders why these Pastors keep harping on "sissies and faggots", rather than say domestic violence. Perhaps they are fighting their own personal demons?

Bernie
May 8 2006, 10:54AM

There was a time when churches worked to end hunger, poverty, homelessness and despair. Now preachers try to raise money to build million dollar cathedrals and televised sermons by picking on easy targets and basically saying nothing that uplifts anyone spiritually. THEY have lost their way.

Javier Vazquez
May 8 2006, 11:11AM

Perhaps if black gay and bisexual men would not "patronize" (yes these churches are a business) rightwing churches, then maybe the pastors and congregants of these churches would have more respect for them. WHile I deplore homophobia, I also have little sympathy for the legions of gay black men and women who still attend these churches, although they could attend liberal churches. And don't get me that pablum about not feeling at home in the liberal "white" churches either. I feel much more at home amongst white Christians who don't gay bash, then amongst black rightwing Christians who are filled with such bigotry. Homophobia is not better than racism, which is is seldom as overt as these churches' homophobia. Until black gays have enough respect for themselves to leave these churches en masse, don't expect others to sympathize with their victimization in these churches.

Troy
May 8 2006, 11:24AM

This would be the perfect opportunity to do a Day of Absence of so called Houses of the Lord that bash gay and lesbian people. E. Lynn Harris describes this in his lastest book 'I Say A Little Prayer'. Another answer might be letters we send individually denouncing this preachers' words of hatred sent directly to this church: Greater Mount Calvary Holy Church Washington, D.C. 20018 or call them and leave messages of love on their anserwing machine 202-832-8190 suggesting LOVE might get a better response of respect and attendance and 'manhood' better than name calling and judging. To fax them, their fax number is 202-723-0529. If only I still lived in D.C. this Sunday would be the perfect Sunday to protest outside this Church in one ole pink or rainbow T-shirt, sharing the love!

Mel Smith
May 8 2006, 12:08PM

That love sh!t don't get people anywhere. We are dealing with wicked people. Bishop Owens called you, I, James Baldwin, Langston Hughes, Countee Cullen, George Washington Carver, Benjamin Banneker, Bayard Rustin, and the rest of the homosexual brothers and sisters, "faggots." That's the way I see it.

Derrick from Philly
May 8 2006, 12:51PM

Mel! You don't sound like your usual gentlemanly self. You sound more like me. This preachin' nigguh done made you mad.

Why do these silly church queens feel they must attend these particular churches with anti-gay preachers who use the same language you'd hear on a prison cell block. Javier is right: black gays should take their tremendous talent (musical, fund-raising, etc.) to churches that welcome them. Those "chil'ren" must've felt like fools when they got up to go to front of the church to proclaim their "straightness". Hilarious and sadly humiliating at the same time.

But you know, the more I look at his picture, the more he looks like a big ol' queen (not a nice one like me)--an evil queen. Look like them lips was just made for blowin'

Javier Vazquez
May 8 2006, 1:14PM

Instead of a Day of Absence, how about a permanent goodbye from homophobic churches? There are other options out there, ya know.

Troy
May 8 2006, 1:27PM

The on-going joke of all of this is the facade and costume and bad make-up job in 2006 is too funny and sad as it's all become. Nobody takes the church seriously and DC of all places is the known birthplace of the bourgeois. These same preachers and congregation all creep around at night sleep with each other both male and female and yet in the same breath backstab and hate one another, so call it what you will.
Back in the eighties it was two comical groups the ones who were snooty (girls) from PG County that went to the almighty First Baptist Church or the ghetto (girls)from Baltimore that did Mt. Calvary. One in the same if you really wanted to know the truth.
Kids would rush home from the damn club just to get in a few hours sleep to be on time for the grand stage show at the church of their choice to be front and center in the choir. This was after a night of doing everything imaginable at night, these same ALL GOD'S CHILLERN. So getting big and bad on this or on other small minded ministers aint gonna do it or the only thing needed. We are better than this and needed on more important forefronts.

Mel Smith
May 8 2006, 1:48PM

You right D. They really piss me the hell off this time. I can educate a real heterosexual person. But, closeted gay people who attack other homosexuals really irk my nerves.

Troy
May 8 2006, 1:59PM

I wonder when this same uproar turns into some positive, productive acts against say, HIV-AIDS and the self hatred and self loathing and violence in our own communities....one wonders...

nreeldeep
May 8 2006, 2:00PM

Homosexuals, across the nation, sit in churches and listen to preachers obominate us and send us to hell. we just sit and listen to how unholy, vile and filthy we are. Then we go and "pay" the preacher for his sound word, in the offering.

I bet not one of us black homosexuals would stay put in a white church if we heard a white preacher say anything even HINTING that blacks aren't equal to whites.

As blacks, we don't put up with white racism because we have a deep sense of PRIDE in our race and we refuse to allow white folk to abridge that.

But when it comes to sitting in the pew and listening to the likes of Alfred E. Owens, we unequivically prove our self-shame and self-loathing by our attendance and lack of protest.

Mollyneaux
May 8 2006, 2:58PM

Dear Keith:

I am ashamed to say that I only live about TWO blocks from this shame of a church. However, Keith this church is a major gay pickup center. I have been hearing for years that Mt. Calvary Baptist Church has a major gay population. They have an ex-gay ministry and I think it is lead by an ex-gay.

This church is not Christian. My cousin went to this church and the church was not supportive of her in her time of need )

Luddite
May 8 2006, 3:01PM

I shared this article with a friend who simply said: "any gay/bi black man who was there and walked up to the altar, instead of out the door, participated in a minstrel show".

ALLEGRO
May 8 2006, 3:08PM

The goings on at GREATER MT. CALVARY is nothing new to anyone who has ever lived in the DC area. BISHOP OWENS and his wife SUSIE OWENS are notorious for spewing HOMOPHOBIC statements from the pulpit. They engage in a BERATING form of preaching that I found to be damaging not just to gay people but to others in their congregation as a whole. I lived in DC for years...visited their ministry a couple of times...but never felt compelled join a ministry where such preaching took place.

Needless to say, I am not surprised by the sermon excerpt I heard. Now, while I am no fan of his ministry in any way, nor do I condone his remarks, I think the FULL CONTEXT of his message needs to be critically examined. From what I heard, it seemed as if his intended goal was to point out that REAL MEN GO TO CHURCH..AND SHOULD BE IN CHURCH...which is not an uncommon phenomenon addressed in many churches where most churches have more females than males. However, his approach was WRONG in that his definitions and descriptions of REAL MEN was way off base. a reprimand is definitely needed for using such terms as FAGGOT, SISSY,etc. As a REAL MAN, I would not have a problem being counted in the number seeing as how I do not see myself as a FAG nor a SISSY. Now my alarms would have gone off if I had read where of the men who came to be counted, OWENS started pointing out men who should not have been up there and told them to go sit down.

Speaking as someone who is an ACTIVE CHURCH GOER, and who's faith is important to me, I think find KEITH'S viewpoint as an "OUTSIDER" and other perspectives form that vantage point oversimplified and easier said than done.

First of all, I was a Christian long before I knew I was gay. And if you ask most gay Christians which is more important to them, I am sure they would say that being CHRISTIAN would win everytime. My faith transcends ANY pastor, preacher, or pulpit personality.And I refuse to let them run me out of a place where I would otherwise come to work out my spiritual walk. Perhaps I've connected with another ministry within that church or another minister within that has allowed me to do that.

Case in point, we know that for many gays and lesbians in the church, the music ministry is a big draw. And for some, that ministers to them more than anything the preacher could ever say.

However, I think you put entirely too much responsibility on the individual to confront their pastors about HOMOPHOBIC remarks. You never know what kind of repercussions that may bring....removal from a ministry...removal from the church you love....or being called out in front of the congregation. PASTOR vs. CONGREGANT(S) is a VERY UNFAIR FIGHT. In other battles where this has occurred on other issues, the PASTOR has usually won out and those people who came against them were shamed into leaving or kicked out. Also, on a issue like homophobia, a congregant would easily be dismissed on the grounds ( and errant misperception) that the pastor knows more bible than his congregant.

Rather, I think this issue of homophobia in the black church has to be addressed has to be addressed at a PASTOR TO PASTOR level. It needs to be addressed at these PASTOR/PREACHER CONVENTIONS and MEETINGS by other preachers. That being said, I think more needs to be done get these PROMINENT GAY and GAY FRIENDLY PASTORS to be more VOCAL with their colleagues. I'm not talking about media hounds like AL SHARPTON or even MICHAEL ERIC DYSON (who's efforts in this area I actually admire). But neither of them are PASTORS. I'm talking about people like REV.DR. JEREMIAH WRIGHT out of CHICAGO of REV. DR. ALVIN O. JACKSON in DC. REV. DR. PETER GOMES of HARVARD needs to do more as well. If we can get a few of the TOP GUNS out there from major denominations to minister to their colleagues, then I think we as congregants have some ground on which to stand when dealing with our respective pastors.

Javier
May 8 2006, 3:16PM

"And I refuse to let them run me out of a place where I would otherwise come to work out my spiritual walk. Perhaps I've connected with another ministry within that church or another minister within that has allowed me to do that.

Case in point, we know that for many gays and lesbians in the church, the music ministry is a big draw. And for some, that ministers to them more than anything the preacher could ever say."

Yeah, and Jews shouldn't bolt from a Neo-Nazi rally if they think they have good barbecue and music. By sitting in the pews and paying the salaries of these hatemongers, you are complicit with the spiritual violence being done to others. You are an enabler of the bigotry and vile hatred spewing forth from these churches. If music is so important to you, get off your behind and find a non-homophobic church with good music, or in the alternative, buy from good music and worship at home.

Being a Christian is more important than being black or being a male to me, but I will not attend a church that discriminates or ridicules black or men neither. You have options, so stop acting like these are these primitive churches are the only congregations you can worship God at. Have some cojones and self-respect.

ALLEGRO
May 8 2006, 3:43PM

Yeah, and Jews shouldn't bolt from a Neo-Nazi rally if they think they have good barbecue and music. By sitting in the pews and paying the salaries of these hatemongers, you are complicit with the spiritual violence being done to others. You are an enabler of the bigotry and vile hatred spewing forth from these churches. If music is so important to you, get off your behind and find a non-homophobic church with good music, or in the alternative, buy from good music and worship at home.

Being a Christian is more important than being black or being a male to me, but I will not attend a church that discriminates or ridicules black or men neither. You have options, so stop acting like these are these primitive churches are the only congregations you can worship God at. Have some cojones and self-respect.

Sir....you are the epitome of what it means to not see the forest for trees. Your perspective is so narrow that it would be futile to even respond. You don't even know me or where I come from to even say something like "have some cojones and self-respect". You protest your way, and let me protest mine. That whole JEWISH reference was totally inappropriate and a ridiculous comparison.

Javier
May 8 2006, 4:21PM

"That whole JEWISH reference was totally inappropriate and a ridiculous comparison."

Since you don't have time to respond fully, could you please just explain how that comparison is inappropriate since anti-gay speech is just as deplorable as anti-Semitic or racist speech.

Gordon
May 9 2006, 11:19AM

In defense of Javier, the whole Jewish reference was not anti-semetic, but he simply stated it to make a point. And thank god, I got the point. Stop being so sensitive Allegro....I don't know what it is nowadays, the media and people alike can call black folk niggas all day long, but they cannot make any reference to JEWS...WHAT?

I attend a church in Chicago where I am care free and do not have to worry about what people think of me and the preacher standing in the pulpit preaching about gays like they are from another planet. My Pastor's philosophy is this and he has said it " Many preachers talk about and pick on the homosexuals," " But they do little about the whoremongers, fornicators, cheaters, liars, and backbitters". If you are going to pick on one, pick on them all.....but still that does not make it right.

Donté AKA PhillyPhile
May 9 2006, 12:09PM

Allegro,
Baby your comments upset me so much. Your actions or lack thereof of are more damage than the hateful messages of Bishop Owens and others like him.

“As a REAL MAN, I would not have a problem being counted in the number seeing has how I do not see myself as a FAG nor a SISSY.”

If you went to a predominately-white function where the white speaker asked all the black people to come up from and take a bow not the NIGGERS, I am sure you as well as most other black people would have checked that speaker. Even if the person “tried” to clarify and say that NIGGERS were just the lazy, ignorant type that can be found in jail. I am assuming that many would have been offended even although none of them would consider themselves a NIGGER. I don’t see the difference.

In addition, your whole notion that individuals are powerless against the big bad preacher. WTF! This is my church home, if I have no power at home, then what makes you think that my community; school; or local, state, and national government will ever take any issue we raise seriously.

Black LGBT are at the bottom of the totem pole, but only because we allow it. As long as we internalize this self-hate, and allow others to shame us, they will continue.

Regan DuCasse
May 9 2006, 1:36PM

I don't mind standing up for my gay family. I will contact this Owens guy and take whatever he thinks he can dish.
There have been other black ministers (or white) who I have taken to task for what they do.

I am a straight woman. I mention that often here on Keith's site. I don't know a thing about being gay.
I don't know where straight people that talk and act as if they are SO expert on gay people, motives and ability, get their conceit.
But that's what it is. If they don't like the moniker bigot or homophobe...THEY ARE CONCEITED.
Heads so full of undeserved hetero superiority complex, I WANT TO SCREAM.

It's as bad as white people deciding that blacks are inferior and as capable as they are.
Or men who have that conceit against women.
Or one religious group against another.

And if the group that struggles against this conceit, and doesn't have as many gains... straight people admitting exactly the historical context to that struggle is damn near impossible.
I'm going to tell this Owens rube, that vilifying and demonizing gay men in particular....doesn't make straight people good.
And no good has ever come of doing so.
The universality and endurance of homosexuality, regardless of what mere humans have tried to do about it, speaks to the power of a God given and rightful identity.
That is to say nothing of the considerable talent and compassion of gay folks.
Other groups just commit to violence. And with issues like too many babies and not enough fathers, gangs and drugs and poverty hitting black folks...(something for which gay people cannot be blamed for perpetuating), this minister's priorities show his lack of understanding about the real world. Let alone the ability to address it effectively.
Gay baiting is easy. Too easy.
He's an embarassment to straight people.
He can't speak for ANYONE gay OR straight. And I've had it with conceited know nothings like Owens.
He needs to find the real target-his CONCEIT and his IGNORANCE.
These are the real enemies to a civil society.
And all the things of merit that gay men and women have to offer all society.
I'm not afraid to stand up....I've been attacked before and I'll take it again. Any day.
I've got two beautiful young black gay men living with me right now.
We've made ourselves a family for each other.
They are my friends, my princes. I love them as I'd love my own sons.
Owens doesn't know gay people and doesn't want to, so he's no authority and no one gave it to him.
I have a duty as a straight person as well to say something.
I will, I DO....BELIEVE....I will!

Shabaka
May 9 2006, 2:44PM

I know I'm about to get slammed for what I'm going to say. However I gotta say it!
What are people still doing in churches anyway?!!?This is the year 2006,by now people should know and understand-oh so well- why black people are more prone to being religiously brainwashed. But for us to still be subjected to such abuse over and over and over again...That's just beyond me!! Are we honestly that ignorant?
We should be by now,able to distinguish between truth and fiction. So why aren't we doing it?...Is it intellectual laziness or is it something else I just don't get?

As per one of my favorite quotes: "Those who can make you believe absrudities can make you commit atrocities."
Come on people...Wake up!

M. Shannon Pinnick
May 9 2006, 3:03PM

Mt. Calvary has been an oxymoron for years. As a church-goer who used to frequent Mt. Calvary, it’s amazing to see the enormous number of gays in the congregation and then consistently hear belittling and hateful rhetoric from that pulpit. What is more amazing is that our gay brothers and sisters continue to support this ministry. Homosexuality is so prevalent in that church that it’s just as easy to meet a date there on Sunday morning as it is to meet on a club on Saturday night.

We can not as community continue to allow churches that degrade us every Sunday morning and then turn a blind eye by continually to support them like all is well, it is not! Gay men of color have made and continue to make tremendous contributions to our community and yet we are consistently ridiculed by the bully pulpit.

I stopped attending Mt. Calvary and churches of the same some time ago for the exact same reason. If a congregation wants to say homosexuality is a sin and denounce homosexuality great, I’m fine with that it is their choice. However, it is never appropriate or acceptable to resort to name calling under any and all circumstances; name calling should never be tolerated. Shame on Bishop Owens for name calling, shame on the members for continuing to allow it and more importantly shame on those gays that walked up to the alter at his call and then partied with me that same Sunday night at the club.

Andre
May 9 2006, 3:23PM

African American's continue to shoot themselves in the foot and add fuel to the fire. Why must we be our own worst enemy? Before coming to this site, I had just read an article in NEWSWEEK MAGAZINE entitled "The AIDS Crisis in Black America". The story discusses what many of us are aware of that hatred, education,proverty, denial and non acceptance has played a major role in a race of people who represent 13% of the poulation but have an HIV diagnosis rate of 51%. There is a problem and we need to start right with the pulpit to correct it.

alicia banks
May 9 2006, 4:34PM

amen keith!

(i love the new look!...)

only fools would attend and tithe to such blaspheming haters

i avoid black churches like the ebola virus

most are filled with amoral sinners trying to bathe the dirt off weekly anyway

i need no middle morons to visit/speak to god...i have a direct lesbian line to the goddess whenever i need HER...

peace
ab

Zeus
May 9 2006, 6:06PM

I'm sorry but this attitude will never CHANGE in black churches. Writing letters, staging protests, even suggesting the organization of "A Day Of Absence" as written in E Lynn's Harris's book will just encourage more hate.

Everytime I hear one of these preachers talking about, "Fags and sissies" I laugh at how foolish they sound. Considering that I grew up in a homophobic church Owens words doesn't suprise me in the least bit. You are dealing with people who could care less about what you think. They feel they have the moral high ground on their side biblically and their is nothing to can do to convince them otherwise.

The only solution is for gay members to seek out churches that welcome them with open arms or form their own churches. I decided a long time ago to find one and haven't left ever since. Sitting in a anti-gay church fighting to not be disrespected is nothing but a waste of energy. It would be best if gay folks saved themselves the fight and get together to organize their own churches. JMO

Mel Smith
May 9 2006, 9:02PM

Zeus, I think challenging an issue always works. During the women suffrage movement, women challenged sexist attitudes and beliefs. I'm not really concerned with silly adults. I'm concerned about those children who were in the church. I don't know what type of God you guys believe in it he/she is cool with calling one another names like children!

chris-leo
May 10 2006, 3:25AM

you won't get slammed by me, shabaka. and if you get slammed, i'll get slammed right with you too.

with the world about to blow up over who's got the best imaginary friend, it might be time for a few of us, who didn't drink the koolaid, to chime in.

these mega-mcchurches are robbing people of their time, their energy, their talent, their civil rights and their money.

kill the witch! pull the curtain; unmask the charlatan; learn all his tricks; keep asking questions; stop believing in belief.

Harry Frazier
May 10 2006, 12:04PM

Hey All,

I have been following the comments on this one closely. I remember being invited to this church by a once friend and I knew of several other gay folks that go there. I declined! I was unaware of the non-sense going on but I declined because I am not Christian. When you say that the bewildered looks begin...causing many people that feel as I do to remain silent...no more! I have intellect and the ability to reason...AND I USE THEM! Morals do NOT come from the church. Did Malcom X have moral? Did Ghandi? were they Christian?...NO! Now this is not to bash Christianity by no means. there are plenty of good churches and Christians (they are mutually exclusive). But it is beyond me why someone would sit through Rev Wilson or Owens or any other homophobic minister/pimp rhetoric.

Shabaka......love you note!

Peace

allegro
May 10 2006, 2:33PM

I concur with ZEUS. In fact, that's what I was trying to say all along.

Emails, letters, phone calls, a day of ABSENCE is all just FUTILE. I'm not scared of people like BISHOP OWENS, but the issue is WILL IT MAKE A DIFFERENCE? He probably won't even see these emails and if he does.....DELETE, DELETE, DELETE. If anything, it will make him angry....and the impact might be felt by those in his own congreagation.

Think about it....what are you to him or people like him? Are you a member of his congreagation? More importantly (to him) are you a tithing member? Are you even a Christian?

Many of you have a HORIZONTAL APPROACH to this issue, and in a VERTICAL SYSTEM....it just won't work. I mean whe you are dealing with churches and pastors....they have set up an HEIRARCHICAL SYSTEM where the pastor/bishop is the HEAD. Even worse, some are just plain dictatorships. that's why I think it is unfair to place all the responsibility in the laps of the pasrishoner....gay or otherwise.

That's why I stated earlier...that if the pastor/bishop is to truly change.....its gonna take some other pastors to help make that happen. Let some of the people I mentioned hear about what is going on with other pastors. get them to write letters and speak publicly against their homophobic peers.

And is leaving the CHURCH really the answer? Go ahead....give them EXACTLY what they want. I know that's not what God wants. Instead why don't you provide the names of churches that are more accepting and non-judgemental.

NancyP
May 10 2006, 5:08PM

Has anyone looked into the two Unity Fellowship congregations near DC? The UFCs are predominantly black lgbt congregations, presumably with worship style similar to mainstream black congregations. Info from www.ufc-usa.org website. I don't know much about them, since there aren't any near me.:

UFC-DC:
Rev. Abena McCray, Pastor
Luther Place Memorial Church
1226 Vermont Ave., NW
Washington, DC
(202) 232-1073
ufcdc@ufc-usa.org

UFC-Baltimore:
Rev. Harris Thomas
Services held at 114 W. Read St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 244-0884

NancyP
May 10 2006, 5:16PM

Allegro is right that intervention from other pastors is likely more powerful than intervention from or observation of congregational lgbt. It isn't likely to change this guy Owen, but it might change some other pastors who don't use gay-bashing as bread-and-butter sermons. The moderate pastors can be given new interpretations and new theologies to consider, and perhaps have contact with out gay folks in the community in order to see past the stereotype.

Anthony
May 11 2006, 10:11AM

What everyone must understand that each denomination of Christianity is subject to the restrictions of the leadership within that denomination. Lest that paster/bishop be removed by his/her peers.

The pressure to remove devisive language from the pulpit while staying on point with the underlying message is something that must come from church leadership. Not those on the outside (or inside) who take personal offense.

What must be kept in mind, is that the very brothas that were offended by this bishop and from Rev. Willie Wilson's comments, may, very well, have been seeking some type of personal spiritual redemption in their church. Such as THAT is. This verbally offensive approach will most likely serve to drive them further away from the church. As such, Lest that shepard (pastor/priest/preacher) go back and FIND that lost sheep, lost due to his repulsive manner of teaching, that teacher/minister will be held at a higher level of accoutability to the Christian God that he/she claims to serve. The object is to save souls not drive them away.

Dr. Rob Westmore III
May 11 2006, 2:46PM

Let's face that type of behavior is allowed because SGL people have allowed themselves to be abused. We teach people how to treat us, being a former member of that church. I walked out along with a handful of other black gays and lesbians. But why did the others remain? Because most of us that sit in gay-bashing fundamental churches believe we are unworthy of God's love and that some day we are going to be delivered. Deliverance starts with you STAND UP and STAND OUT and like the words from the public service commercial "This is sexual harassment and I'm not going to take it anymore." You don’t have to know the bible to know that GOD LOVES YOU in your fullness. Deliverance is getting the HELL out of a church that tells your nothing because of who you love. So many churches like Metropolitan Community Churches, Unity Fellowship Church, United Christian Church and many other independent affirming churches love you as you are? How much long will we black SGL people will take the abuse? Bishop Owens needs to be outed himself, verbal acts of his self hate is evident in his constant bashing. We have crossed the River Jordan now it's time to possess the land. It is time for us, SGL people to STAND UP AND OUT for our rights. How much longer will we allow the Church to treat us as infidels? The God I know doesn’t hear straight folk only and gay folk sometimes. Find out who your, God is and what he thinks about you. I like what the Hispanic immigrant did recently. WALK OUT, what would Sunday be like without the talented homosexuals? Who will preach the Word? Who will sing in the choir? Who will play the organ? Who will serve as the Deacon? Who will wave their hands in the pews? Who will pay the tithes and offerings? That sounds like an empty church. We do not realize how much we make up the structure of the local church. WALK OUT until the light shines, while you’re at it support your local affirming congregations. Find heaven in yourself and God…stay blessed family.