#pcusa

[a-queer-seminarian]

In 2017, Kate Davoli (they/them, MDiv) was dismissed from the ordination process for being polyamorous. In spite of this heartache, they have remained steadfastly part of the Presbyterian Church (USA).

In our conversation, Kate recalls the events leading up to & following their dismissal; ponders what we learn about God through polyamorous people's lives & callings; and balances the heartache of being denied ordination with the queer gift of how their liminal status facilitates ministry to church-hurt people.

Listen wherever you get podcasts — or click here for a direct link + episode transcript.

[embodiedfutures]

red flags to look out for before joining organizations, namely authoritarian and vanguard communist organizations ^^

[llewsdiary]

Yesterday during morning prayer, a 14-year-old member of our congregation found out that before women were allowed to act in theater, men would play as women characters & asked her mom if that's where drag originated from. Her mom said she didn't know, so everyone turned their heads toward myself and @whewtaewoon - the two visibly queer members of the congregation. LMAO

[blessedarethebinarybreakers]

Queer & Here to Stay! Pride month text prayers

Sup y’all! I’m a board member for More Light Presbyterians, and this Pride month, June 2023, we’ll be sharing short daily prayers with all who sign up to receive them via text.

The prayers will center around our theme for the month, “Here to Stay!” — a defiant celebration of how queer folk have always existed in our faith communities and always will.

If you’re interested in receiving these daily prayers, fill out this form — be sure to provide your phone number and check in the box that reads “I would like to receive daily text prayers in June.”

(You’ll notice that the form also has options to receive some liturgy + rsvp for a virtual service; feel free to say yes or no to those!)

I look forward to praying with you! May we remember always that queer & trans folk are beloved by the God who made us, just as we are <3

[the-garbanzo-annex-jr]

Kentucky Rabbi Stands Up to Anti-Israel Pastor, and a Jew Is Shot in Broad Daylight, by Dexter Van Zile

In a blistering letter to Nelson himself, Litvin wrote, “In your haste to attack the Jewish people, you label them slavers, and in doing so you not only defame the People of Israel but besmirch the memory of each one of these heroes, unbound by your hatred, whose commitment to civil rights extended to the Jewish people as well.”

Litvin didn’t pull any punches in his letter to Nelson, declaring, “your false accusation of slavery against the Jewish people is antisemitic. Your use and distortion of Jewish history and oppression in which your church played no small role as a weapon against the Jewish people is antisemitic. Your demand of Jewish influence being used to move the American government is antisemitic.”

Sadly, aside from the reference to the church Nelson leads, the same things could be said to Quintez Brown about his Internet postings.

But will Nelson learn from Rabbi Litvin’s letter? Probably not. Nelson isn’t all that interested in listening to criticism.

“He blocked my email,” Litvin declared in a brief interview.

[apptowonder]

Hot take: The Presbyterian continuum of churches needs to get its shit together and decide how they actually feel about queer Christians instead of just claiming to be affirming (PCUSA) without lifting a finger to make their dissenting congregations safe for us, or adhering to wildly inconsistent positions on who has full rights and dignity as children of God (Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians no I will not use their cutesy acronym), or adhering to consistent positions that are morally bankrupt (PCA)

[illness-to-wellness]

Update: I PASSED MY BIBLE CONTENT EXAM!!!!!!!!!! Thank you for praying for me! Look at God 🌟🌻

[thechairmandances]

My church’s liturgy includes what’s called an “invitation” before the Words of Institution. I tried my hand at writing one:

In the book of Acts, there’s a story of an Ethiopian eunuch - we’ve read it here together. When we encounter the Ethiopian man, we learn he’s read one passage from Isaiah that he did not understand. One misunderstood passage, coupled with one conversation, is all he has in terms of spiritual formation - and it’s enough, God calls him to be baptized, haphazardly, then and there. What is manifest  and beautiful in that story is the glee and joy of participation with God in God’s sacrament. It’s the same with the Eucharist. It is the God of Acts who compels us to take part, haphazardly, in his reality, in his goodness, both here at this table and throughout our lives.