The Presbyterian Church in America has a clear stance on homosexuality. Basically, it’s a sin. Yadda, yadda, yadda.
But even their tired beliefs don’t explain the way one church treated a member of its congregation after they discovered he is gay.
The churchgoer — Justin — was outed by a trusted church official, and discovered a lengthy and insulting letter sitting in his mailbox one day.
“Regretfully it has come to our attention that you have been engaging in a homosexual lifestyle,” it begins, only continuing downhill from there.
How about we take this to the next level?
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He’s told he must defend himself at a special hearing. Instead, he replied with the perfect rebuttal.
“What was my crime? I loved. I was loved. I am capable of love. It is abundantly and sadly clear that you do not understand this,” he writes in his response.
Here’s the letter he got from the church, followed by his response:
And here’s Justin’s response:
h/t Gay Star News
Gothrykke
And this is why we have separation of Church and State. They can’t even get their own canon correct. Most of them may have stopped hunting witches, but the gays are still fair game.
Leonard Woodrow
You are well shot of such an unholy lot!
God, in his mercy, may forgive them their ignorant, sanctimonious actions and their lack of love and understanding … but they certainly don’t deserve it.
restoretherainbow
The fellow who wrote this letter is strong, he has a good deal of self-awareness and I applaud his strength, integrity and resolve to be true to himself and stand up against the tyranny of others. It’s very sad that this kind of experience is the norm for so many Gay men seeking religious guidance. It’s really unfortunate that religions designed to promote and extoll the greatest virtues in humanity are actually, hypocritically, bastions for misery, cruelty and condemnation.
Dakotahgeo
I so wish I could meet these disenfranchised Christians who have left these unchristian churches. I belong to a mainline Christian church (Mennonite yet!) that affirms, welcomes, and supports all GLBT community members! We walk the talk! I also worked for a Presbyterian church in Omaha, NE… one of the hypocritical churches I’ve ever encountered. I didn’t feel to bad though, they were a dying church and wanted it to be so. Do not give up, fellow GLBT Christians. The world is coming around slowly by surely (see the United Methodist Church’s reinstatement of a minister who married his gay son an his partner.). Grace, peace, blessings to you all! Pastor George M Melby (Ret.).
kiley481
Worth noting … the two largest Presbyterian denominations are very different. The largest, PCUSA, is actually quite progressive, as faiths go.
http://www.thegospelcoalition.org/article/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-the-pca-and-pcusa
StephK
Powerful… it would be more shaming of the elders to name the actual church and its location. The writer has more class than I do, because that is what I would have done..expose the hypocricy by name of that particular congregation. It’s no wonder that some of these less welcoming churches are dying..let them.
mr_r
Why do guys like this even belong to these churches? They have made it clear what they believe about homosexuality. Why would he be shocked and appalled?
jd2222248
I find it interesting that many Christians who “HATE the gays” (as they would say it), pick certain topics out of the Bible to follow. There are many many things that Christians do that go against the Bible.
Large Marge
tl:dr
Synopsis: FU
mbfmark
God is imaginary and prayer is superstition! It is sad that we are the only highly developed county that is shackled by beliefs created by primitive, male dominated societies for the purpose of power and control over their people. The more people who realize it doesn’t matter what the bible does or doesn’t say because none of it has any authority over how we should live in the present, the better off society will be. Followers of blind, conservative literalism hold us all back, trying in every way to deny the rights of people that don’t fit their mold of behavior, and even worse, denying the science that has the power to save the future of mankind from his past mistakes. For all its supposed promotion of morality and “love,” Christianity and its superstitious beliefs is instead a drag on society, with its anti-science, anti-education, believe in the coming apocalypse nonsense. This guy is much better off out of it – those gays that are holding on to it should educate themselves about the scriptures and their origins, the lack of physical, historical or archelogical evidence for Moses, Solomon, Jesus, etc., and seriously question what they believe. The more you learn, looking at the evidence instead of taking other’s words for granted, the better of you and society as a whole will be.
Bauhaus
“The trusted church official,” who outed him, was no doubt, an envious, self-loathing closet case.
The closet case most likely penned the nasty letter, too, with all of the ridiculous claims.
Soon enough, he’ll be caught in an adult book store, glory hole, truck stop, park, or some other seedy place closet cases can’t stay away from. Karma is a b*tch.
bobbyjoe
If the Presbyterian Church in America is going to send out letters quoting the book of 1 Timothy in order to lecture their members, let’s insist they follow through and send out letters to everyone violating any of 1 Timothy’s stated rules.
Like how about this one:
“I do not permit a woman to teach or to assume authority over a man; she must be silent.” — 1 Timothy 2:12
So unless the Presbyterian Church of America wants to admit that its run by great big bigots, who pick-and-choose bible verses on one issue so that they can target one minority they hate (the gays), they must now also send out letters to any female member of the church who teaches school (or Sunday school), who owns her own business or works as a boss or manager, or who holds any position of authority whatsoever and tell her that she must resign and let the menfolk do all the leadin’.
Let’s see how well that goes over. I double-dog dare them.
NoCagada
1. I bet most of those “churchy” people love and vote for family-values belching, republican serial-adulterers.
2. And why anybody would want to belong to a group that hypocritically judges and hates you is beyond me
Billy Budd
The horror. The horror of religion.
aliengod
Why would a person give two years of their time, and probably tithes, to a church that doesn’t accept them for who they are? It’s time the LGB community stop supporting businesses or churches that aren’t supportive of us.
LovelyLabyrs
Can we just make it clear that those that sent the letter are just people representing a particular Church. They can not speak for entire Christianity, and they certainly cannot speak for God.
It is similar to Racism or Sexism to brand an entire group of people simply because ones experience with certain people or organisations have been negative. Please remember that there are many Christians who have different stances on the subject, from: ‘i see what it says in Scripture, but it is not my position to judge’ to the acknowledgment that ‘love is the greatest’
There are many Christians that are LGBT, and many LGBT religious organisations.
Regardless of even those things, none of these can speak for God.
jimstoic
A very well-written response that I’m sure millions of LGBT people can say “amen” to. We’re kind of on our own, when it comes to ultimate meaning, but it turns out that’s a blessing. Without the church and its employees to rely on, we become stronger.
gjg64
AMEN BROTHER!
mcflyer54
Unfortunately Justin wasted time, paper and ink responding to the FPC. He changed nothing as far as the church, or original correspondent, was concerned. While I certainly hope Justin’s venting letter made him feel better I can only assure him that his best revenge will be to continue living a good and honest life as the gay man he is and get as far away from these “loving” christians as possible. It is so disturbing to see people put an invisible deity ahead of real flesh and blood human beings. I don’t hate christians I just hate their agenda.
Bad Ass Biker
Speaking as someone who has spent my entire life as a church musician for various protestant denominations, I do not find this surprising. There are a few denominations, most notably the UCC for which I now work, that are accepting and affirming of gays. However given the hard nosed attitude of most denominations, I have over the course of my life become a nonbeliever. I do not accept their Bible, their false piety or their teachings. The only thing I accept is the money they pay me for doing what I do and which I do very well.
salex
I’m a 78 year old man. I left the church because I was told by a priest when I was 10, after confessing masturbation, that “I was no better than a dog. A dog can’t stop and neither can you”.
It would seem that mainline churches are continuing to “SHAME” so they can control.
And to think that the referenced letter was written in this day and educated age when voodoo is losing it’s way.
Tackle
@LovelyLabyrs: Excellent! A very rational and intelligent post…
SteveDenver
Justin now has evidence that this particular sect and branch of religion is concocted by humans, and if he looks closely he will discover that of all religion — even if some groups are more accepting. It’s a scam. Look for hierarchy with Power, Influence and Follow the Money.
He is a thinker and that is hugely encouraging. I am so happy he is able to stand up for himself and call out that church. They didn’t even follow scriptural guides if a church member goes astray. First one person is to go to him, then a group, then he is to be brought before the church. Whomever wrote that letter took glee in telling him about his unholiness.
Then there’s the effort altogether. In the Bible, there are at the most 27 REFERENCES TO “sodomy” or “sodomites” — simply references.
How about “fornicator” or “fornication” in a heterosexual context: 173
Let’s try “adulterer” or “adultery” in a heterosexual context: 281
And that doesn’t even touch “harlot” or “lascivious” or “lust.” (982, by the way)
Then there’s the simple fact that Jesus never uttered a word on the subject.
What does the God of the Christian Fable seem more concerned about?
Does this council of numbskulls demean or cast out its fornicators and adulterers? How about those who have stood before God and vowed their unending devotion to each other, only to break those vows and divorce?
Charlatans and liars.
SteveDenver
@Bad Ass Biker: I also spent much of my life in religious ranks. It’s surprising how two common issues affect believers becoming non-believers: time and knowledge. The only “cure” is denial.
BigWoody
@mbfmark: Well said!
RELIGION = MYTHOLOGY
Billysees
@Bad Ass Biker:
Interesting comment, but I wouldn’t let the dark side of Christianity to cause you to become a nonbeliever.
Be better and greater than the hard nosed attitudes that discourage you.
GayEGO
And the Presbyterian Church in America is losing because of its atrocity toward Justin. I hope Justin reevaluates his religious beliefs and joins a church that supports him, they are out there.
GayEGO
The Bible was written by people, not God, who knew a lot less about civilization and the world which they used to believe was flat and that a ship would sail off of the edge of the ocean. Religious doctrines should be updatable to keep up with the advancements of civilization as it learns who we are.
erimos1954
Now take the next step and love without “God.” Be, as they say, “good without God.” All the god-talk gets in the way of what truly matters: love, compassion, and acceptance for others.
Stan Schulz
Good Lord, just find another God Damn church! Who the hell wants to go to a church where they’re sending you personal letters?! Every time someone sneezes isn’t breaking news.
Nicola Duncan
Absolute disgrace.
Ralph Vendegna
They ask you to become apart of what ever is going on smile at you and at the same time sticking a knife in your back. Oh please become a member. Why so ya can dig the knife deeper and deeper to the Holy Thou Art and a Gossiper, a Bigot and a Discriminator all in playing You Love God more than anyone else then what ever ya talk about then throw religion in my face. Like Hell, I don’t need it either. So as they say Kiss MY GRITS.
Reginald Augustus Salazar Magpayo
Wow! Bravo for a great response and for sticking it to them!
Mary C Scohera
Definitely better off out of that church
Steve Hanson
Waste of energy
Erik Henderson
I got the same letter from my Baptist church in Fulton indiana. ..right after they banned me and revoked my membership in front of the congregation