My heart is a little heavy today. Today is Holocaust Remembrance Day all around the world. I can only imagine what it must have felt like to be rounded up, forced into trucks and trains and hauled off to destinations unknown. Furthermore, I can only imagine what it felt like to be torn away from my family and all those I loved, wondering if I would ever see them again. Moreover, I can only imagine what it must have been like to walk in a line that led to an inferno where I and all those around me would be incinerated and become victims of genocide. I can only imagine.
What I do know is how overwhelmed I was when I first approached the Holocaust Memorial in Boston. I was unprepared for what I saw; towering glass panels reaching up into the sky with name after name after name of those killed during this horrific period in our history. I prayed on that day, as I do today that we all commit ourselves to making sure nothing like that happens again in our world.
I got home from dinner last night to learn that our government was reporting the death of Osama Bin Laden. I drove by the Sarasota International Airport early that morning in 2001 and noticed how Air Force One was already parked on the tarmac, ready to go. About half way through my trip to Hillsborough County that morning, the horrible news came over the radio about the planes running into buildings and people being killed. I talked with a friend who had numerous colleagues in the World Trade Center that day, as he struggled for breath enough to speak. I prayed with him in his anguish and spent most of the day in similar conversations. I was very close to the spouse of a high ranking military official at MacDill Air Force Base and was updated frequently on safety issues. I debated as to whether I should stay in my office or go home and decided to stay. I was afraid. Still, while remembering all of that, I cannot participate in the celebration of the death of another human being. This morning, I still believe that God loves every part of God’s creation, every man, woman and child, and that no matter how horrible someone’s behavior is, they are not separated from the love of a God whose love is ALL inclusive. I believe in peace. I believe in the power of words, and I know killing leads to more killing, violence leads to more violence. I’m also reminded of a CBS News Report in 2006 that showed the number of US War Dead had already far surpassed the number of dead in the 911 tragedy. Imagine what the imbalance is today. If the death of Osama Bin Laden was the ultimate goal; it came at a very high price.
My friend Bishop Steven Charleston, wrote these words this morning:
"Vengeance is a cold hand that takes but cannot give. In the arc of night I saw shrouded figures standing by the parade. Their testimony burned my heart, though never a word was spoken, their truth a somber love, of lives lost and broken. Hate for hate never ends war's endless dance on the grave. We do not regain the fallen with more of what took them. Justice gives birth to peace, revenge is barren of hope."
Finally, I am reminded of the words of scripture:
Proverbs 24.17, "Do not gloat when your enemy falls; when they stumble, do not let your heart rejoice"; Ezekiel 18.32, "I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, says the Lord"; Matthew 5:38, "You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth’";Matthew 5:43, "but I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you."
So, on this day, I call all of us to a time of reflection. I call us to a time of prayer when we say from the depth of our souls, God, let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.
On January 24, 2011, Joel Osteen and his wife Victoria Osteen appeared on CNN’s Piers Morgan Tonight. During the interview, Mr. Osteen was asked a variety of questions on moral issues. He was also asked to clarify his stance on homosexuality, and issue on which he appears to flip-flop depending on the interview setting. Here is a link to that portion of the interview.
I would like to highlight just a couple of Mr. Osteen’s statements. First, he says, “It’s a hard issue and I don’t know that I fully understand it.” Mr. Osteen, you don’t understand it. In serious Biblical scholarship we consider the details of any scriptural phrase. We consider its historic context, its setting in that particular piece of Biblical literature, and other factors that apply. The very idea that one might pull out one piece of a list of problematic behaviors and highlight that one while completely ignoring the reminder of the list, is illogical. Biblical scholars all around the world have wrestled with the passages to which you refer and the overwhelming majority of their conclusions would support my claim that your statements are incorrect. Mr. Osteen, it is important to know before we make statements that lead to violence and self injurious acts against those most closely affected by a situation. I am horrified to hear you state that you have a number of LGBT (“gay”) people attending your church. I can only imagine the look of horror on the faces of my parishioners if they heard me imply that their lives are a sin, that their lives are less than, and that because they are the people God created them to be, they fall short of the mark with God. You and they can be sure they will never hear a statement like that from their pastor.
Your other statement, “I didn’t go to seminary; I grew up in this,” is very important. You see, Mr. Osteen, I “grew up in this,” too. I was raised a staunch Southern Baptist. I grew up hearing that I was an abomination, that I wasn’t good enough, that I could not even have a relationship with God and that I certainly could not experience a real call to ministry. Interestingly, they were wrong and that very church ordained me in 1981. I continued to live and work under that kind of oppression for nearly twenty years until I became convinced that the only way I could support their erroneous message was to find an “off switch” for my brain. I grew up in it too, and I did go to seminary. I learned the truth about what the scriptures say about a lot of issues, including homosexuality. You know, I hope, Jesus never mentioned the subject. What I learned is that God made every part of God’s creation just the way God intended us to be. God didn’t make a mistake on the day I was created. I am not less than, I do not fall short of the mark because I am the man God created. I do make mistakes just like every other human being and often fall short of what I feel called to be. That is not because I am gay, it is because I realize the high calling God has placed on my life and the absolute necessity of traveling toward that high calling every day. Seminary is important for someone in the role of pastor/teacher, especially for one with an audience like yours. I urge you to move beyond the way you grew up and the way you were raised and to learn the truth about what God/Jesus has to say about God’s beloved homosexual community.
Finally, I want to offer you a resource. My friend and colleague The Reverend Dr. Mona West who hold a Ph.D. from a reputable seminary, has provided this document. I sincerely hope you will not just read it, but that you will spend some time with it, consider it prayerfully, and try it on. You can be a messenger of God’s inclusive love for all of God’s creation by never again implying that anyone who lives the life God created them to live is less-than.
My church and I are praying for you and for all our sisters and brothers who were profoundly impacted by your statement. May God bless you and yours.
Sincerely,
The Reverend Jim Merritt, M. Div.
Trinity Metropolitan Community Church
Gainesville, Florida
Last Updated on Thursday, 03 February 2011 22:44
Focus on Haiti: MCC Disaster Relief
Written by Reverend Jim Merritt
Wednesday, 13 January 2010 23:30
Focus on Haiti: MCC Disaster Relief
Metropolitan Community Churches Calls for Emergency Action to Support People of Haiti
Yesterday, as the world watched, the island nation of Haiti suffered its worst natural disaster in 200 years. Today we must act!
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake has devastated the region, destroying hospitals, schools, homes and most government buildings, with aftershocks continuing.
Family members inside and outside the country are unable to contact each other. People inside the country who have been able to make outside contact report that voices can be heard from the rubble and the fear is that many children are among the victims trapped in afternoon classes.
"The level of distress is indescribable," said The Rev. Tania Guzman, in a phone conversation today. "People are panicked over the inability to find those they love and care for."
Rev. Tania is our MCC Pastor in the Dominican Republic, serving members in Haiti, also. She has asked that MCCers from around the globe join her in a prayer vigil at 7:30pm EST this evening. She will be leading a service via skype with as many of our members as can be contacted. A meeting to mobilize volunteer efforts will follow the service.
"What we will need," Rev. Guzman continued, "is both the spiritual and the physical support to rebuild lives and communities. There are no walls to tear down here; only the work of building up hope again."
I ask you to join me today, wherever you are, in praying with the congregation AND in making a donation now to supply emergency food, shelter, medicine and clothing, as well as phone cards so that families can reunite.
Your generous gift of $5, $50, $500 or more�whatever you can afford� will go a long way in restoring lives and rebuilding the hope of our brothers and sisters in Haiti.
Please give what you can now by going clicking the donate button to the right.
I know that our prayers and our gifts will mean everything to the MCC congregation in Haiti and the communities that they and Rev. Guzman serve.
//signed, The Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Moderator
This statement prepared in conjunction with The Moderator's Global Justice Team, The Rev. Pat Bumgardner, Chair.
Metropolitan Community Churches | PO Box 1374 | Abilene, TX 79602 (USA)
The fastest and easiest way you can help the efforts for disaster relief in Haiti is through giving. We are asking for donations of $5 and $10...or as much as you can give...to build up support and assistance to survivors in Haiti.
NOTE: You do NOT have to have a PayPal account to give! Click the link above, then scroll down to "Don't have a PayPal account" to continue without an account.
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Last Updated on Thursday, 14 January 2010 13:50
Joint Statement
Written by Reverend Jim Merritt
Friday, 04 December 2009 00:00
Tearing Down Walls. Building Up Hope.
JOINT PUBLIC STATEMENT
from Metropolitan Community Churches and The Fellowship For Immediate Release: 4 December 2009
Leaders of Two Communions
Celebrating Washington, D.C. Marriage Equality Victory
Call for Continued Dedication to the Fight for Human Equality
Expressing outrage about the December 2nd NO vote on Marriage Equality by the New York State Legislature, The Rev. Elder Nancy Wilson, Moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches, noted "Both Democrats and Republican are bowing to pressure from those opposed to human equality. As people of faith we believe Marriage Equality is a human rights issue, and one that dedication to the will of God demands we support."
"We are renewing our call to action," added Global Justice Team Chair, The Rev. Pat Bumgardner. "Today we are joining our voice to those of other human rights activists in calling all MCCers and our allies, as people of faith and conviction, to stand firm and not throw in the towel. We know that justice will prevail if we remain faithful to this good fight. Now is not the time to back away. Now is the time to let our legislators know that we are not giving up and that we will continue to press them to do the good and just thing."
While New York State's legislature moved to set back the march toward equality, the City Commission of Washington D.C. voted on Tuesday to affirm gay marriage in the District. Bishop Yvette Flunder of the Fellowship offered thanks to God for the courageous leaders in the District, and said, "This vote confirms what we knew to be true --- that the radically inclusive love of Jesus Christ knows no boundaries!"
The DC decision is subject to a second round of votes, and the possiblity of intervention by the Congress of the United States. Bishop Flunder and Elder Wilson together urged that people of faith recommit themselves to prayer and action in this interim period. "Perhaps establishing Marriage Equality in our nation's capital will be encouragement enough for states and communities around our nation to embrace this movement for justice universally," commented The Rev. Jim Merritt, Marriage Equality Coordinator for The Global Justice Team of MCC.
Elder Wilson concluded, "Although sobered by the setback, we know that in the end God's will for justice and equality will prevail and we will win."
