When Hell Freezes Over
By Keith Boykin, in spirituality
Wednesday, May 10 2006, 10:27AM
Ask some people when the black church will accept gays and lesbians are you're likely to get a curt response: "When Hell freezes over." Given all the homophobia in the black church recently, that sentiment is understandable. But for good people who care about change, that's no excuse for inaction. Though the task may seem daunting, I'm reminded of the line from the Broadway song "The Impossible Dream" in which Don Quixote sings of his quest "to be willing to march into Hell for a heavenly cause."
Despite the high profile negative incidents with homophobic ministers, every day there are new positive voices standing up and defending the role of black gays and lesbians in the black community and the black church. The latest voice is Michael Eric Dyson, who has agreed to lead the National Black Justice Coalition's religious advisory committee, the group announced recently. Dyson, the author of a book about Hurricane Katrina called Come Hell Or High Water, is also a prominent public intellectual, professor and minister. Along with Rev. Al Sharpton and other ministers, Dyson is helping to lead the charge against homophobia in the black church.
Next month, Dyson will help to lead the first annual “Faithful Call to Justice,” in which black clergy, their congregations and others across the nation are expected to come together to acknowledge the contributions of gay and same gender loving people in faith communities.
"If we are to be prophetic as spiritual leaders we have a duty to bear witness to the lessons of history, democracy and justice, culture and the law," Dyson wrote in an invitation letter to colleagues. " We must not shirk our civic and religious duties either by accommodating the anti-religious trends in American culture or by ceding the ground to those who would use religiosity to divide God’s people."
Dyson calls on faith leaders to sign on to a "statement of affirmation" that acknowledges "the spiritual worth of our gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and same gender loving brothers and sisters." The statement reads, " We welcome their fellowship in worship, and we affirm their God-given rights to life, love, liberty, and equal justice under the law.”
Along with NBJC Religious Affairs Coordinator Sylvia Rhue, Dyson also offers suggested strategies for faith leaders to participate in the call. In stage one, they are encouraged to deliver a sermon on homophobia. In stage two, they're asked to create a program that acknowledges the worth and contributions of LGBT people. And in stage three they're urged to acknowledge lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people by placing the statement of affirmation in their church bulletin.
Comments conceal
Tyler
May 10 2006, 11:29AM
NOW you are getting somewhere. Dyson is EXACTLY the kind of accessible intellectual to get stuff accomplished. You get bell hooks on board and you might really have a movement. Getting the kind of people on board of the cause who can speak to multiple populations without condescension is key.
Kudos!
javier
May 10 2006, 11:47AM
Good to hear Dyson is aboard. I remember him from his days teaching UNC. He knows how to provoke thought and change hearts.
Mel Smith
May 10 2006, 12:26PM
I like Dyson too and I'm glad he's on the board. Lets hope some of these ministers show up becaue I think too many of them are only interesting in 'holding down' their own house. Therefore, many clergy members fear or don't want people to question them or challenge their social beliefs.
maLana t.
May 10 2006, 4:14PM
I'm glad Dyson is joining the team. I will admit that I'm not the #1 fan of his writing, and not to knock the efforts of Sharpton, but it IS key to have allies that are respected and accepted as a person of knowledge and somewhat authority. Can you imagine the impact it would have if, for example, Cornel West spoke adamantly on the inclusiveness of gays? Fortunately/Unfortunately, clout makes all the difference.
Terrence
May 10 2006, 5:07PM
I was a faithful churchgoer for the first 24 of my almost 27 years of life. I left church almost two years ago and am happy I did it. I never felt completely comfortable in a church setting and I did not want to face the church as a gay man. I never agreed with their anti-gay rhetoric, but I internalized it. I fought back by leaving. I didn't discuss that part of the reason why I left with my Pastor. He may know, he may not know. There are some that do and probably more than I will ever know. I saw no reason to fight with these people to be accepted. I don't need the church or its aggravation to fellowship with like-minded people or with God himself.
We must understand that disagreeing with our "lifestyle" does not equate to homophobia. I have more respect for those that have made their own choice about homosexuality through their own soul-searching than those who just cater to the masses by agreeing to something they don't really agree with for the sake of business. Homophobics have never had a conversation with a homosexual that wasn't rife with anger, judgement calls and bibilical rhetoric. I am sure we are talking about true homophobics here but I just wanted to point out the difference.
If it comes time for me to really stand up to a homophobic pastor or church (and I am sure it will), I hope I will have to strength of mind and mouth to speak up. And I hope it will be in a manner befitting "spirit-filled" people that doesn't resort to just plain meanness on the church's part. In the meantime, I took a step in my own way.
What I just said aside, I am glad that Rev. Al and Mr. Bryson are helping with cause.
alicia
May 11 2006, 1:47PM
i revere and adore this man!
great news keith
thanks
ab
kbg
September 10 2006, 9:51AM
really glad you are discussing this
especially the hypocrisy of bishop eddie long
the double standard of the devoutly religious flourishing in the capital of the down low with it's alarming rate of new hiv infections is one of the dirtiest and most complicated aspects of the "dirty dirty south"
also for the record
Cornell West has written and spoken extensively about the incusion of the GLBT same sex loving community in his work
peace
IKE
September 12 2006, 10:05PM
I find myself torn. As a homosexual (I use this term specifically to differentiate between accepted notions of what "gay" means when applied to one's identity) I am in a minority of people who still take the Word of God as truth. Aside from all the religious rhetoric of both sides of the issue I consult with the order which I hold highest...God and His Word. If I believed that it was the choice and decision of men to accept or reject my homosexuality, I would have long dropped any questions I have with homosexuality. However I believe in the soveriegnty of a God who does not answer to any of my human notions of whats fair or just. In His title "Soverign" God gets to make the rules, not us. Therefore I'm brought to fork in the road. Do I trust in my frail human intellect and the rhetoric and politics of society. Or do I trust in the God I know to be real for myself and abide His structure. I've made my choice, as will everyone at some point. We will all get an answer when we see Him face to face.
Marlene Martineau
September 20 2006, 7:54AM
The word of God is what important, that is where we must stand. God never said to hate gays or leisbans, its the sin he hates, just as murder, theft, adultery, plus.
Any minister that chooses to bypass, or blind the eyes of men, with anything less, is not called by God.
As believers we must love our fellow men, as they are made in the image of their creator, but we cannot agree with sin, thats what God calls it.
A.J.
March 26 2007, 12:49AM
Yes, Cornel West has spoken supporting SGL folks practically every time I have seen him interviewed on Tavis Smiley (the TV program on PBS, not his radio broadcast).
(Poor Tavis, obviously uncomfortable with the issue, sits there with an awkward grin on his face and lets the moment pass as gracefully as he can manage. Maybe CW, Dyson and Maya Angelou, bless her heart, can bring Tavis around someday.)
John
September 21 2007, 3:03PM
What Dr.Dyson is doing is truly prophetic but I just learned that he has signed-on as a professor at Georgetown University (An instutiton of higher learning under the osposis of the Roman Catholic Church). I'm wondering if Dr. Dyson's efforts will be thawrted by his new employers.
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