When my oldest son was born I saw myself entering into the forest of motherhood, a completely unknown territory for me. It became clear pretty swiftly that being a mother was going to take all of my energy, intelligence, imagination and love -- and that I really didn't have a...
(245) Comments | Posted February 23, 2012 | 5:38 AM
I have been ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for 35 years. About 12 years ago, I experienced an awakening -- I realized that the confusing feelings I had had all my adult life came from being bisexual. Through the process of coming out as...
(150) Comments | Posted November 11, 2011 | 12:07 PM
That justice is of the very essence of God is the clear, consistent message of Scripture. In one of my favorite examples, Psalm 146:5-7, we are told: "Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God. Who made heaven and earth,...
(2206) Comments | Posted September 24, 2011 | 8:30 AM
In my 30 years as an advocate for God's love for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, I've had countless conversations with those who think differently than me about God, Scripture and the place of the LGBT faithful in the church.
Throughout these years, I've heard, read and...
(31) Comments | Posted August 22, 2011 | 8:26 AM
"For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in ..." Matthew 25:35
This past weekend, Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, Ohio celebrated twenty years of being...
(28) Comments | Posted July 26, 2011 | 1:11 PM
One of the most deeply held aspirations of the American people is to be the shining city upon the hill, an example of the best that human beings can be in the world. And for many this aspiration stems from an understanding of Scripture and more specifically Jesus' words --...
(93) Comments | Posted July 9, 2011 | 9:10 AM
Share with me and Isaiah, God's exclamation:
"Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?" (Isaiah 43:18-19)
I've heard Rev. Dr. Janie Spahr, a caring and deeply faithful...
(230) Comments | Posted July 4, 2011 | 9:18 PM
I love having a good conversation with someone who disagrees with me. Over the years, I've had hundreds of these types of conversations -- mostly with colleagues in the church who disagree with me about the place of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender faithful.
Though I don't know many people...
(486) Comments | Posted May 10, 2011 | 11:06 PM
"And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?" (Micah 6:8)
Today we bear witness to a historic moment in my church, the Presbyterian Church (USA), and for our nation.
(490) Comments | Posted February 22, 2011 | 11:32 AM
Last week, a friend, colleague and wonderful pastor, Rev. Jean Southard, faced the highest court of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) after being accused of violating her ordination vows and the Constitution of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) by presiding at the wedding of two women.
The facts of the case --...
(7) Comments | Posted January 26, 2011 | 12:37 PM
Over the last week and a half, we the people have been engaged in some sincere soul searching over whom and what to hold responsible for the horrifying massacre in Tucson. In the days since the shootings, many politicians, advocacy groups, and media figures have pointed to our heated political...
(93) Comments | Posted October 8, 2010 | 3:05 AM
In the matter of a few weeks, we have witnessed five suicides of young people because of anti-gay bullying or abuse. And these are only the ones we know of. Whose heart does not break at these horrifying events that have led to such miserable grief and death?
...(488) Comments | Posted August 30, 2010 | 8:54 PM
What is marriage?
From a legal standpoint, Federal District Court Judge Vaughn Walker's decision repealing Proposition 8 and reinstating equal marriage rights in California could not be clearer: Civil marriage with the person of one's choice is an established right under the law. All citizens, including lesbian, gay, bisexual and...

(6) Comments | Posted May 1, 2012 | 3:27 PM