Quaker Sexuality & Controversies

Friend and activist Bonnie Tinker dies in bike accident at FGC Gathering

There's more about this tragedy on various Facebook pages and Twitter streams. Bonnie is most well known for her work with Love Make. Family.martin_kelley 2009-07-03T12:20:36Z

Peterson T on the "Concerned" name of so many LBGTQ faith networks

Wha. like most about these names is that they don’t tie us down to ONE issue. Sure these groups focus on LGBT issues (more GL–in that order–and t. much lesser degree BT) but who’s to say that Lutherans can’t be and aren’t concerned about something else like homelessness (as the very queer trans Lutheran minister Megan Rohrer is) or that Evangelicals cannot be concerned about prison reform, assylum seekers and immigrants or the environment.mar

Friendly Funnel on A Gathered Popcorn Meeting

Friends were in unity... And this fruit of action was sown by seeds planted i. Popcorn Meeting. Meetin. dismissed as not counting as “real” worship.robinmohr 2009-06-19T18:34:44Z

Liz writes about My version of pacifism

a way to sen. message that bullying, harassing, ridiculing, and assaulting fellow students based on their gender identity or sexual orientation, real or perceived, is NOT okay.robinmohr 2009-05-07T03:29:06Z

Johan on laboratories of love embracing controversy

In my fantasy world, controversies would still occur, but the reaction of all sides would be, "With enough love and patience, we can see this through!" Our first priority would be to ensure that any decisionmaking process is transparent and trustworthy, meaning that we would do our best to let those making decisions know that we were going to uphold them in prayer, provide them with our most passionate advocacy for our insights, and the

Growing Together Will on firmly held convictions and the need for miracles

My beliefs in equality for gays and lesbians are deeply held and would not be easily changed. People who don't agree with me on this are also expressing deeply held beliefs. In any discussion like this we need to assume an equal level of sincerity, conviction and desire to be faithful on all sides. The problem is, what to do when you have sincere, faithful and deeply convicted people who disagree.martin_kelley 2009-02-12T01:13:30Z

Peterson T's "Creative Quaker Outreach," art as public events

A. refugee to the Religious Society of Friends. feel grateful that Quakers in my community did not hide their light unde. bushel but instead let others know of their involvement in the Religious Society of Friends. A. have traveled in the US and Europe doing my presentations in Quaker venues (meeting houses, colleges, study centers, schools) hundreds of people have walked through the doors to se. show, many of them connecting with Frien

Peterson shows how his meeting supports his ministry

This weeken. appeared before my local Quaker Meeting’s business meeting to report to them about the work tha. have been doing these past two years since they approve. minute to travel in the ministry. This is part of some excellent Quaker practice that gives individuals an opportunity to be supported and affirmed in the work they feel led to do while also receivin. measure of on-going accountability and clearness.martin_kelley 2009-01-21T

Will T on the suffering needed for Christian witness

I do not consider withholding funds from FUM, as it was discussed at New England YM, to b. Christian witness. It i. political act. At it's root, it i. coercive act. Mostl. think it is an act of spiritual and political narcissism. This is something that an individual can do that has no risk for them but it has the trappings o. principled moral stand. As such it serves to make the person feel better about themselves but it is not cle

New address for Peterson Toscano’s blog

Toscano's blog focuses mainly on his theatrical work around ex-gay issues but he'. Friend who travels widely among Friends.martin_kelley 2008-09-22T16:55:15Z

YouTube: Homosexuality: One Quaker's view (four part series)

One Quaker's take on homosexuality, and what did Jesus say? If Jesus was invited t. gay wedding, what would he do?martin_kelley 2008-08-13T18:12:11Z

Raised Anna on not fitting the stereotypes

I sometimes find myself in rather an interesting position. am young, very politically liberal, queer identified woman. am also very muc. Christian, and rather theologically conservative especially fo. Quaker.martin_kelley 2008-07-11T20:07:32Z

British blog: A Quaker Approach to Intolerance?

On the East African epistle controversy: As to the actual decision. do not see what partial or complete censorship could do to help. It does not protect the LGBTQ community, because while it is known that these feelings exist, they cannot be specified,martin_kelley 2008-07-07T00:12:18Z

Peterson Toscano on defensive shields around diversity work

I know we have work to do in our meetings around heterosexism and even homophobia. But when the shields go up--We have already dealt with that stuff--then the meetings can grow stagnant with some people feeling silenced or marginalized.martin_kelley 2008-03-13T20:51:18Z

Friendly Funnel's introduction to FLGBTQC

Written for her monthly meeting newsletter: "I hope that I've cleared up the necessity of each of the initials in FLGBTQC; and that by doing so have made the acronym easier to remember."martin_kelley 2008-02-14T21:55:24Z

Richard M on sexual double standards

Our greater awareness of the testimony of equality makes suc. double standard unacceptable now that we fully see it. But once seen how is the discrepancy to be fixed?.. Elimination... does not necessarily impl. low standard for everyone.martin_kelley 2007-12-06T00:33:13Z

Mark D recounts same-sex marriage discernment at his suburban Philadelphia meeting

What my folks most wanted, it seemed, was to comfort themselves wit. cost-free demonstration of their own tolerance. Inthis, they revealed what may be liberalism'⊘⊘s central failing -- its refusal to deal respectfully with facts.martin_kelley 2007-11-01T13:25:35Z