IN TODAY'S INBOX

Here's part of a sweet message that I received today...

"You're my hero!

Your story has kept me alive.

Tried to kill myself because I'm gay and because of how I was treated by people in the church.

Now I understand God's love for me  :-)

And your son is amazing.  Never met him before but have watched his sermon/messages online.

It sucks that you went through all of that pain but it saved a life.

...Wish you all the best!"

- PS

NATIONAL COMING OUT DAY / 6 YEARS LATER

In honor of today, October 11, being 'National Coming Out Day' ( +National Coming Out Day on Facebook), and because day after tomorrow, October 13, is the 6th anniversary of my publicly coming out, I have a few reflections and observations that I'd like to share...

First of all, I'm amazed at how time flies, and at how much things have changed in my life, in my thinking, and in the world at large concerning what it means to come out.

As of this writing, Ken and I have been together for going on 5 years, and have been legally married for nearly 2 of those years. We are very happy, very much in love, very committed to one another, our kids and grandkids are good, I am still in the ministry, still a Bishop, and for the most part live the life that I at one time only dared to imagine.

The avalanche of hate mail that I once regularly received from the mainstream Christian world after coming out has pretty much completely disintegrated, and has been replaced by a fairly regular stream of supportive correspondence from around the world. Haven't had a death threat in several years now, and most of my loudest detractors in the Christian media have either lost interest in my story or have died off.

My ministry is considerably scaled down now in size from what it was, which is frankly the way I like it, and the majority of the people who attend Metron are those who have been in covenant with me for many years. Most of them are straight, most of them are married, and most of them were a part of Church In The Now. I'm very proud of the megachurch that I started and pastored for 30 years, but I don't miss the stress of maintaining the budget, physical property and staff that was required to keep it going at all. I just do the part of ministry now that I love, and I live a happy, stress-free life because of it.

I have more to say, but I'll put the rest of the post into video form.
Please click on the link for the video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahcaY0Vc3ZY

Five years later: The Swilleys on family, coming out and inclusive LGBT ministries

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE: http://thegavoice.com/the-swilleys-five-years-later/

Gay pastor’s son to star in ‘Preachers of Atlanta’ reality series

Pastor Judah Swilley of The Movement (center) has been outspoken in support of his gay father, Bishop Jim Swilley. (Photo via NBC Universal)

Click here for link:
http://thegavoice.com/gay-pastors-soreality-series/

TESTIMONIES AND REVIEWS

"Just saw the CNN report tonight with Pastor Swilley. I don't normally email, blog, etc, however, I must share that I found his interview VERY refreshing. Never have I seen a pastor, especially of a megachurch, be so honest. I am a wife and a mother and a heterosexual. I do not attend church, mainly because of too many churchgoers wanting to cast the first stone and be so judgmental of others. I would absolutely go to church if this man was at the pulpit. He is obviously very intelligent, and I am so pleased to see him have the courage to step forth and handle his "coming out" so professionally and with confidence. Pastor Swilley, you will hear many harsh words in the coming days, weeks and months. You know what you did was right, and hopefully this will give the strength to others to stop trying to live their lives according to how others think they should. Perhaps you will even spare a suicide. Stay strong!!!"

-EM

"This weekend I happen to be surfing the web and somehow landed on your story of truth.  There are so many things I wish to express after spending time researching your story both in the past and present.  However I will not try here.

Simply, all I want to say is THANK YOU! 

Observing your courage to openly express the truth of your being gay to your spiritual community was uplifting to me.  I am a 56yo, African American gay man whose journey has been somewhat similar.  I am not a minister but have been a musician of sorts throughout my life in the church.  Having walked the Christian, Non-denomination, and now Unity path, I reached a point where I felt confused and challenged by trying to be truthful to my gayness while being a man of faith.

You have inspired me to continue the journey and have faith that God loves me.  I have a bit of fear as I get older and look towards my future.  I think by finding your ministry I will be able to connect to an online community that will help me navigate that journey in a positive.

I look forward to continuing to following, no connecting, to you and your ministry!

Peace and Blessings"

- EF

Dear Mr. Swilley I recently watched your video, in which you formally come out as gay to your congregation. For many years of my life I have ran from all forms of religion, and grew a strong hatred for Christianity. I was touched, it brought tears to my eyes to see the open mindedness and support you have given people. I honestly watched the video for distasteful reasons. I have for the majority of my life had very low expectations for Christians. Where others see love and community I see hate and slavery. What I was looking for was another reason to hate, but instead I found a reason to love. I wish you the best. I am truly happy I stumbled across this video. Maybe there is hope for the rest of the world after all. Sincerely, - J

...This is a well-crafted masterpiece. Rare and original. I'd often toyed with the idea of creating such a book based on my own studies and life. But in the past few years when I finally discovered that there were believers who had already published such affirming books I felt it was not necessary, nor did I feel any longer qualified as theirs were so good. Yours certainly joins the ranks as a "must read" and adds so much more to it that, as you said, it's not really just a book about being gay. You had something to say that no one else could have said.   I also appreciated the fact that you shared opinions/beliefs that are not necessarily in alignment with those of other authors of gay-affirming books. Such as what certain verses really say. Example, if Jesus really did (even thru implication) say anything about gays, if the word Eunuch could imply both gays AND physically mutilated men, if Paul ever had in mind any same-sex oriented men in  his writings, etc.  I'll admit when I first read books such as Gay Christian 101 (by Rick Brentlinger), The Children Are Free (Connely & Tyler?), Pastor Sandy Turnbull's latest (God's Gay Agenda), etc, I was quick to agree with their findings. We often do that, don't we? We can get so eager to "prove" our beliefs, so when we hear anything that adds weight to our argument we eat it up! "See! See! They see it too! Why can't you?!" hehehe. But you have helped me to appreciate, once again, a diversity of perspectives. Even concerning bisexuality. So I'm still digesting all you said and of course will begin reading it again probably later today or tomorrow. I'm still shaping and forming my beliefs as we all are. Right now I DO think the books of the Bible contain many affirming passages (including things Jesus said) and that in it's original language and context none of the "clobber" verses were referring to the committed love relationship found between two people. But again I take your thoughts into consideration and value them equally as well. As I've said before, our personal stories aren't identical but they do have points that are similar, so your personal letters at the end to your kids and Terri and Debye moved me personally as well. Your pain from venom-laced messages from "concerned friends" is a pain many of us have felt for decades, yet I think you probably get top-prize for volume. Take what I dealt with from others and multiply it by a gayzillion and that's probably what you went thru. Hats off to ya again! You stood your ground, kept your cool (as much as you could) and are still standing! Finally, I thought your book was complete and covered much of my favorite issues within religion, fundamentalism, and current mainstream theology. I loved the way you kept the GOOD NEWS thread clear through it all. You wrote about what you knew and that was powerful! I only have three questions that lingered in my mind as I finished. 1. You had mentioned in Chapter 9 that you'd talk about David & Jonathan but you didn't get a chance to or perhaps changed your mind about addressing your thoughts on their relationship. I'm just curious what you see there between them, if anything. 2. You mentioned not really seeing others as bisexual. I, myself, don't use that label anymore, but I still have to admit I have an attraction to women. I've read studies on how its all on a scale and that someone can be like 80% attracted to the same sex and 20% to the other or 60% to same and 40% to opposite and so on. From an early age I recall attractions to both and they were genuine. So I can't deny its a real issue for some. If we flat out deny there is such a thing as a bisexual, isn't that the same as when others flat out deny that we are born gay or that we could have possibly started having same-sex attraction at an early age? Which brings me to the final question: 3. You mentioned believing that we are born gay. I believe the same also. But do you think its hereditary? In the genes? From what limited studies I've found on it, there does seem to be some findings to suggest it, and in my own family I've seen a match on what I read but I was just curious what you think.  So once again you have created a gem, worthy to stand alongside all your other classics. Your mind, your writing style, your "realness", your wit, your ability to talk TO this generation and not over them or down to them (us) is always refreshing and once again I'm changed, encouraged, built up, inspired and more determined. Thank you, thank you, thank you! In Christ, MG

Thank you for allowing God to work through you. I watched your interview on TV and tears rolled down my eyes, I sobbed. I didn't accept who God made me since the time I was taught that who I am wasn't right. Yes, I got to a point I felt suicidal. But then you coming up an speaking out saved my life. I started to study the bible in context I learnt again that God told Moses that He is who he is, and then I began to accept myself that I am that I am. I came to conclude that Moses was homophobic when he wrote that law and some of his scholars like Paul echoed it... Paul used some of Moses laws to persecute the Christians. Moses was raised and educated by Egyptians, took up some of their habits too, how they wrote their laws and build their temples. Yes He met God and wrote the first five books from the creation story and he was used by God in an amazing way but.. We all are imperfect with a perfect God. We can't put God in our box. We can try to define God using human language and understanding and give Him names as we have always done over thousands of years and even write books but He is who He is as he told Moses. If u literally translated it from the Hebrew bible it is "I will be what I will be" or shall be. But despite what I have come to learn, there is still more and God still speaks. I want to Thank you for the step you took You brought down the images that governed my mind And I came to understand God better.  God Bless you  You and Ken are a beautiful couple and I love you  Thank you for accepting my friend request  Yours in Christ,  N

I've been waiting to write you about the autographed book you gave me while visiting my husband, Edward Blake in the hospital after he had a heart attack last October. 

Ironically, I finished the read on February 21, 2013 -- which is Cortne's birthday. Don't know what significance that is right now, but I know it was. I wrote in the margins, trying to outline various things that just stood out at me. First, let me apologize to you and all the gay and lesbian, beautiful, people! Ten years ago, I'm embarrassed to say that because of my own ignorance in understanding, I, too, had some reservations about my brothers and sisters who are in same-sex relationships. God dealt with me, severely, on it and caused my heart to line up with His word -- unconditional love just came flowing through me like a river! I was quite ashamed once the "truth" of it became clear. Your book helped further that truth. The Good News sealed it.

We tend to fear what we don't understand. I can't say that I understand everything that you write about, but I don't have to. I just love you in spite of me and in spite of you. ( I, definitely, love hanging out with God! Your book reveals Him, totally.) Isn't that how unconditional love works? 

Secondly, thank you for writing "The Good News!" As I read through it...it was hard to put it down. I didn't just read it, I listened to you speak as though we were having a conversation. I heard your words; I heard your heart. It took much courage for you to reveal yourself like that. Coming from one who is so "guarded" like me, I am overwhelmed with you right now! After serving under your ministry for 18 years, I consider myself, my ministry--your offspring. Keep writing and I'll keep reading. Maybe you will experience reading one of my books in the future. I have about 3 in me.  

I sign this note, 

Respectfully yours, 

Maxine S. Blake... and I add my AMEN!!

FIVE YEARS LATER

October 13, 2010. It's hard to believe that that was 5 years ago today...1/2 of a decade...but it was, and lot has happened in that length of time.

Today I am happily and legally married to a wonderful man with whom I've been in relationship for 3 1/2 years. Not only that, but as of today, Marriage Equality is legal in all 50 states, which is something that I wouldn't have believed would have been possible 5 years ago.

We are in our 2nd year of ministry at METRON in Midtown Atlanta, and it is a wonderful and blessed thing in my life. It is not a "gay" church, and I do not have a gay ministry. There are several excellent gay churches in the Metro area, and many more gay-affirming churches here, but METRON is something different. In a word, it is simply the ultimate manifestation of "Real People Experiencing the Real God in the Real World", and I am honestly the happiest and most spiritually fulfilled that I have been in 43 years of ministry.

After I came out publicly, we definitely lost a lot of people from Church In The Now, (the church I started in 1985), which ultimately resulted in our losing the 25 million dollar property and complex that we built there in Conyers, but CITN did not close because of what happened on 10/13/10.

The church continued to function successfully in another location in that same area with a congregation of around 500 for the four years subsequent to my coming out, and Debye, my ex-wife, continued to be my Associate Pastor for the duration of that time. I am happy that CITN continued there for those four years, because during that time we definitely all did something that had never been done before, and proved the naysayers wrong about the end of our ministry. In fact, I could have easily remained there in the Conyers/Covington area and could have bought the building that we leased there, and could easily be pastoring there even today if I had so chosen. But I felt that we had made a sufficient statement, and that our season there was over at the end of that time.

Debye still lives in Covington, has a very successful business, and is over 4 years into a relationship of her own. My kids and grandchildren are all well and each live 5-10 minutes from where Ken and I live. I see them all the time, and my sons often provide the music for METRON. Ken's sons are also doing well, and we see them often, too. He has also become a grandfather since we were married (see the previous post for a video about all our kids).

There are a couple of places on the right-hand column of this blog where you can click to see my coming out video. A few hours after it was originally posted, it went viral, and became the most-watched video on YouTube for a couple of days. It instantly connected me with 2,500 new Facebook friends in about 48 hours. To this day, five years later, I still hear weekly from someone somewhere in some part of the world who has just now discovered it online, and wants to tell me how much it meant to them. Many people have even told me that it saved their life.

I don't really get hate mail or death threats any more. Most of that stuff died off quite a while ago. My most vocal detractors have all been scattered in the last five years, and several of them have died, so I pretty much live in total peace now.

Aside from the 15 minutes of fame that I experienced when I first came out, I have been approached by 10 different reality shows in the last five years, and 2 of them are still in the works. I don't know what will happen with either of them, and I am good with whatever does or doesn't materialize with that. One thing is for sure, the Universe is obviously trying to tell my story, so we'll see.

I have no regrets about coming out. I am proud of what we accomplished in Conyers, but do not miss the stress of maintaining a Megachurch at all, so I do not consider losing the property there a failure. As I said, I am happy that we didn't lose the church, which is not a building or real estate. In fact, the majority of people who attend METRON are people who were a part of Church In The Now. The fact that we did what we did there for as long as we did it is miraculous, and still brings a lot of confidence into my life.

I am angry at no one, and have no bitterness whatsoever about the relationships that were severed by my coming out. Many of those relationships have been restored over these five years, but even without that, my life is very full, and I am surrounded by love and support. I love all and forgive all.

I am happy.
I am blessed.
I love the truth.
I love my husband.
I love my kids.
I love my life.
I love my God.

I am excited to see what the next five years bring!

It is all very, very good!

IN TODAY'S MAIL

Even though we're approaching the 5 year anniversary of 'A REAL MESSAGE TO REAL PEOPLE',  I still get letters like this great one that came in this morning fairly regularly from all over the world...this kind of thing makes it all worthwhile,  and this message in particular really made my day...scroll down to find links to the video on both Livestream and YouTube...

Dear Mr. Swilley I recently watched your video, in which you formally come out as gay to your congregation. For many years of my life I have ran from all forms of religion, and grew a strong hatred for Christianity. I was touched, it brought tears to my eyes to see the open mindedness and support you have given people. I honestly watched the video for distasteful reasons. I have for the majority of my life had very low expectations for Christians. Where others see love and community I see hate and slavery. What I was looking for was another reason to hate, but instead I found a reason to love. I wish you the best. I am truly happy I stumbled across this video. Maybe there is hope for the rest of the world after all. Sincerely, John.

Thanks, John...I really appreciate it!
- JES 

WITH GRATITUDE

I already posted these pics on Facebook, but on this beautiful Thanksgiving Eve I'm just sitting here thinking about all that I have for which to be grateful, and I wanted to post them again here on the blog...they were taken last Sunday at our METRON Community Thanksgiving event while Ken was talking about what he is most thankful for...as you can see, it was a very emotional moment...I didn't know that Bill, from our tech team, was taking them, but I'm glad that he did, because I think they capture a lot truth and feeling in them...

Tomorrow we're having Thanksgiving at Debye's house...she and Lucien are doing the cooking, and Ken is making a couple of things that we'll bring with us...her parents and my parents will be there...Ken's dad is doing Thanksgiving with his lady friend, and his boys are eating at their other grandparents' house...I think Jared will be with us tomorrow...Christina is flying in from Key West, so we're hoping she makes it in time before they have to go to her mom's house...Jonah is touring in Europe, and the band just finished up in the Netherlands and landed in London today for a gig there tonight, so he'll miss it...Judah, who blew me away with his performance last night on the local Christian TV station, will definitely be there...I'm sure it will be a wonderful day...

When I count my blessings tomorrow, I will remember to be thankful for my kids and my precious granddaughters and all the beautiful people at METRON who have stayed with me through every transition...I will be thankful to live in the USA, even with all of its problems, and will be grateful in faith for a peaceful day in our country...I will be thankful that I still have my parents with me for another Holiday Season, and that they are doing well...I will be thankful for my health, and for the fact that our Modern Family will be happily together tomorrow...but I will be especially grateful for the man in my life...I never take for granted that I found someone like Ken, even though I came out quite late in the journey...I am grateful that tomorrow I will be my authentic self, with nothing to hide, nothing to fear, nothing to dread, and nothing to regret...I am grateful for all the love in my life...I am grateful for every single thing that I have...

God is good...

Life is good...

I am so grateful...

ATLANTA PRIDE 10/12/14

THEN AND NOW

Post by Bishop Jim Swilley.

MY MODERN FAMILY, Part II

Here are two more episodes of 'In the Now with Jim Swilley' that I recently shot with all four of my kids, in which we discuss, among other things, my coming out and how it affected them...you can find more episodes of the show at www.youtube.com/bishinthenow...

 

CLICKER HERE FOR EPISODE #16, "TEACH YOUR CHILDREN": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSivbX8GiDk&list=PLATyDbK3agS1qVYO_CjjLuQ7aeLws-oGV

CLICK HERE FOR EPISODE #17, "FAMILY VALUES": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHrwNNOh7bM&list=PLATyDbK3agS1qVYO_CjjLuQ7aeLws-oGV

MY MODERN FAMILY, Part I

Here's a couple of episodes of 'In the Now with Jim Swilley' that I recently shot with all four of my kids, in which we discuss, among other things, my coming out and how it affected them...you can find more episodes of the show at www.youtube.com/bishinthenow...

CLICK HERE FOR EPISODE #14, "MODERN FAMILY I": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IvmzXIULYmI&list=PLATyDbK3agS1qVYO_CjjLuQ7aeLws-oGV


CLICK HERE FOR EPISODE #15, "MODERN FAMILY 2": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6OQ7h4Xe0Po&list=PLATyDbK3agS1qVYO_CjjLuQ7aeLws-oGV

THE NEXUS INTERVIEW, Part I

Neal Campbell

Neal Campbell is an Internet TV pioneer, producer/co-creator of Nexus, one of the most disruptive and inspiring new shows of 2014. In a previous life, he was the producer of GeekBrief.TV. He launched GeekBrief in 2005 as one of the first video podcasts.It became a podcasting hit: within about six months from launch each episode was downloaded at least 300,000 times.

The show won a People’s Choice Podcast Award in the Technology category and a 2010 Telly for an episode titled A Geek Brief Bedtime Story. In it’s five years of production, Neal wrote, edited and produced over 700 episodes. GeekBrief.TV remained in the top 10 technology podcasts in iTunes and top 100 of all podcasts in iTunes for all five years.      

                                                                                                                                                            

Jim Swilley Interview: https://machine.fm/nexus/5

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US!

      

 

I am blessed today to be celebrating the anniversary of  a beautiful and wonderful, committed relationship that I share with the kindest, sweetest, most loving man that I have ever known, Mr. Kenneth T. Marshall. For the past two years he has been there for me, taken care of me, supported me, loved me unconditionally, listened intently to every sermon that I've preached, believed in every dream that I've talked about, walked with me through every difficult moment that I've experienced, loved and celebrated my kids and my grandkids, helped me babysit the (grand)girls, gone to every local gig that my boys have played and cheered them on (even into the wee hours of the morning), helped me see about my parents and treat them as if they were his own, respected and honored the mothers of my children (especially Debye who still works with me), fixed everything that needed fixing in my house, has virtually transformed my parents' home into a showplace, helped the tech team set up and tear down for services before we got a permanent building for CITNE, helped us move into the building when we got one, fixed things there when they got broken, learned to run camera for the live streaming, nursed me back to health when I've gotten sick, stayed with me in my room when I was in the hospital, stayed up late with me for appointments without complaining even though he had to get up early for work the next morning, checked on people in the church and contacted them when they needed ministry, laughed with me, cried with me, and has just basically been the best partner that I could have ever asked for.

 

Every day of these last two years has been filled with happiness and a joy that I never thought I would experience in my lifetime. We have enjoyed every single day that we've been together, whether travelling (which we love to do), or just hanging out watching old movies together (I've made him sit through every one of my favorites).

 

My kids love and respect him, my friends appreciate him, my parents rely on him, my granddaughters adore him, and my congregation(s) have nothing but admiration, high esteem and affection for him.

 

Ken is one of the most down-to-earth, unpretentious, good-natured, optimistic, and sweet-spirited individuals that I have ever known. He is a great father to his sons, is an awesome son to his father, and was the principle caretaker for his mother in the last years of her life, caring for her right up to her death from Alzheimer's disease 3 years ago.

 

He always believes the best in people (including me), and never has a bad thing to say about anyone. There is no drama with him. He's always in a good mood. He has a true servant's heart, and his selflessness is inspirational.

 

He's an old-school, Southern Gentleman with very good manners. I've never met anyone more thoughtful. He can fix absolutely anything, is an incredibly hard worker, and does every job, from the biggest to the smallest, in total excellence.

 

He is loving, attentive, romantic, and does everything within his power to make every aspect of my life absolutely pleasurable. Making me happy is of the utmost importance to him, and he has been supremely successful in making that happen.

 

I've known that I was gay my entire life, but I didn't come out until I was 52 years old. So I honestly didn't know if I would ever be able, at my age, to find a man that I could love and admire who could accept and fit in with my very unusual life...someone who was mature enough to be able to share me with kids, grandkids, an ex-wife who is still very involved in my life, and all the many, many people who demand my attention for ministry, literally 24 hours a day.

 

But I did find that man, and he's the man that I'm in love with...a grown man of integrity who also knew his whole life that he, too, was gay, but tried to be something that he wasn't to please everyone else and to be accepted...a man who has gone through his own difficult and unique journey toward authenticity in his personal life, and has gotten to the other side of self-revelation without any shred of bitterness or regret...a man who also waited a very long time to come out, and also wondered if he would be able find someone to love and spend the rest of his life with at this late date.

 

In a word, we are both very, very thankful that we found each other.

 

Did God send Ken to me?

 

Yes, definitely.

 

Does God approve of the life we have together?

 

Not a doubt in my mind.

 

Are we blessed as a couple?

 

More than you can imagine.

 

Is this a Happy Anniversary for us?

 

Well, what do you think?

 

If you have a different opinion or viewpoint on these things, I can only tell you that you came too late to convince me otherwise (and, yes, I've read the whole Bible, and I know what Moses and Paul said)...

 

The bottom line is that I know who Ken is in my life, and I know where he came from...all good gifts come from the Father of Lights, and he is a very, very good gift to me.

 

Happy Anniversary, Kenneth.

 

I love you with all my heart.

 

 

 

 



CHURCH IN THE NOW MIDTOWN IN THE GA VOICE

CLICK HERE FOR ARTICLE: http://www.thegavoice.com/community/sports/6732--religious-organizations-at-pride-in-abundance - Or read it here (paragraphs about CHURCH IN THE NOW MIDTOWN in blue)

____________________________________________________

RELIGIOUS ORGANIZATIONS AT PRIDE IN ABUNDANCE

Written by Ryan McKenzie

Friday, 25 October 2013 12:47

Religion is often a controversial, hot button issue when it comes to the LGBT community. Although many of the more devout members of various faiths are notoriously anti-gay, numerous Christian churches as well as the LGBT-led Congregation Bet Haverim came to the 43rd annual Atlanta Pride to show their support and love for those who identify as LGBT. Pride festival attendee confronts anti-gay protestor, who refused to reveal the name of the church he attends. Clearly, they were in the majority. However, there was a small contingent of anti-LGBT individuals – most armed with placards quoting Biblical scripture – who attended specifically to protest. St. Mark’s United Methodist Church has been attending Atlanta Pride for several years and is a well-known place of worship in the Atlanta gay community. Eighty percent of the congregation is LGBT, according to church member Larry Lucas. St. Mark’s has seen its fair share of opposition, especially from First Baptist Church of Atlanta. “They were boycotting us because of our support for LGBT people, but First Baptist is no longer in Midtown. They moved to Marietta,” said Lucas. The Episcopal Church has several locations throughout the metro Atlanta area that are welcoming of the LGBT community. This year marked the 25th anniversary of Atlanta’s chapter of Integrity, which is the national Episcopal organization for its LGBT members. The Catholic Shrine of the Immaculate Conception displayed its booth to let Pride goers know that the Catholic Church is accepting of LGBT people, despite statements made by the previous Pope. “We believe that everyone deserves God’s love. We are open and accepting, no matter who you are,” said Immaculate Conception member Joe Agostini. Bishop Jim Swilley of Midtown’s Church In The Now made a bold move when he came out to his congregation a few years ago. He claimed to have lost about 2,000 of his members when he revealed that he was gay. However, he is impressed with the progress that has been made since his church has been affiliated with Pride.  “This is our third year, and each year I have been able to tell how much things have progressed,” said Swilley. “The first year I was here, I didn’t notice any families or straight couples, but this year I have seen so many people with kids and even straight couples attending. Pride is sort of a touchstone for me to see how much things have progressed, and this has been the best one yet.” Although messages of love and tolerance from churches resounded throughout Piedmont Park, there were some with a not-so-accepting ideology just beyond the park’s gates. Protestors with blaring megaphones and signs touting hate and intolerance towards gays gathered outside of the park to let Pride goers know that their church viewed the LGBT community as immoral. This led to several shouting matches between the protestors and those attending Pride. One group of Pride members sang Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’” to counter protest the negative messages. One protestor, who called himself “Brother Ben” but would not identify the specific church he was affiliated with, claimed to be “upholding the righteousness of the Bible and Jesus Christ.” When asked if he would be attending the Sunday parade, Brother Ben said, “Oh yeah. We’ll be here for that. We’ve been coming to this for 13 years.” The array of churches and religious representatives with differing viewpoints on the LGBT community that showed up at Pride exemplified the contrasting attitudes among denominations. In response to the religious protestors, Swilley said this: “Everybody has a right to say their thing. My issue with these guys is if they feel so passionate about six verses in the Bible, then why aren’t they everywhere where people are doing things that go against the Bible? I don’t understand why they are picking on this [LGBT] group specifically.”

A Word in Season

Click here:
http://teamcurtiss.com/straight-answers-about-how-and-why-i-chose-my-pastor-who-is-gay/

Today's Mailbox

I got a lot of nice messages and letters yesterday and today acknowledging my year anniversary of telling the whole truth and nothing but the truth about myself (see www.bloginthenow.blogspot.com - 'One Year Later Part I')

Thanks so much for your letters, everyone, but I think this one is my favorite...

Bish, with this whole year anniversary business going on I found myself wanting to take a longer time to listen to you today. I'm off work, fighting a tiny autumn cold, and decided to just stay in, cuddle my dogs, and listen to you while drinking tea and eating apples. Sounds picturesque, doesn't it?

I find myself truly wanting to communicate what you already know... lol. You speak in this sermon about how immature people can be in their walk debating God in one, or three, or a thousand. And you mention that you are getting affirmation that you're just aware of it and in the flow of some of the oldest news in the world. It seems to me, as a person who has wandered from mainline Lutheranism through AOG and onwards through eastern religions and back through honest and sincere prayer and pursuit, that indeed you have a key that so many have lost. If people realized how ultimately simple the Truth actually is.... but, it's more expedient for powers and principalities to separate and encourage ego over agape.

At any rate, I wish I had met you when I was wandering through Carrollton at West Georgia a decade ago. People love to insult Christianity, not always without reason.. but you really do get it, and you distill truths for people to find and pursue God in easy, loving ways. If more people had access to teaching such as yours, they wouldn't need to wander to Buddhism and other traditions to find that Christianity holds the same intelligence and teachings on curbing ego and seeking transcendence through the Holy Spirit.

I've often said that Christians now have the hardest path of all. The original message of Christ has been so perverted that believers need to focus their work even harder than followers of other faiths. The eye of a needle is the best metaphor! I still believe this is true because of the pressure to place dogma and theology over mystic experience, actual experience of God in the Now moment. However, your teachings show me it's still possible.

Don't ever stop what you are doing. Like you have written, God always provides. People want to make it about your orientation. But you know it's so much more than that.

And yes, next time I get back to Charlotte to visit family, I'll have to take the 85 hop south and wander through.

Love to you and everyone involved in your ministry.

S.D.