“When you’re here and the phone rings, and there’s heavy breathing and two seconds later the doorbell rings and then somebody’s throwing rocks through the windows. All those things combined create fear.”
That’s the unbelievable new reality for Rev. Jackie Carter of First Metropolitan Community Church in Wichita, KS.
When her state’s ban on gay marriage was struck down by a federal judge last month, Jackie began marrying same-sex couples, exercising her unfaltering message of love. Kind of like — oh what’s that guy’s name again — long robe, big beard, light of the lamb. Give us a minute, it’ll come.
But for some in her community, the mere act of officiating a union of same-sex love and commitment is so offensive that the only conceivable response is to lash out with vandalism, harassment and threats of murder. AKA the unChristian thing to do.
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And while broken windows are inexcusable, threats like, “I’m going to chop your head off and put it on a stick and carry it around the town square,” verge on psychopathic.
Still, Rev. Carter strongly believes she is doing the right thing, and isn’t about to let a few village idiots have victory.
The church has ramped up security, and Carter pledges she’s, “not going to change my message of inclusion, I’m not going to change my message of love, and I’m not going to stop marrying people. I’m going to keep it up!”
She adds, “This is ridiculous hatred that has no place in this city or state or this country.”
via KSN
Scribe38
Can someone post a link to give this awesome lady some money to help replace the window?
sfmikeyo
http://mccwichita.com/
Ladbrook
“She adds, ‘This is ridiculous hatred that has no place in this city or state or this country.'”
Very true, and women like her make us realize that one day soon the people threatening to kill her, and the people damaging her church will be remembered in much the same way we now remember those cretins who bombed churches, hosed marchers, and lynched innocent teenagers in the 50s and 60s. The sooner the better.
Mack
Actually whoever wrote this article hit the nail on the head: “village idiots”. Hatred is not a family value, nor is it a “Christian” value.
Leonard Woodrow
Sadly there are still many ignorant, bigoted people in this world, and we can only try to educate and control them.
My congratulations to this courageous and truly Christian woman.
jwtraveler
Someone tell me again about the threat to this country from ISIS, those evil religious fanatics who behead their enemies.
jwtraveler
@Mack: Hatred may not be a Christian value, but a lot of Christians seem to value it.
Harley
@jwtraveler: Christians revel in hatred, rolling around on the floor in it. Thow shalt not kill? Not when Jesus is coming back with an AK-47 strapped over his shoulder. Rome fell when Christianity rose.
sesfm
I’m tired of people heaping praise on pro-gay religious people, but neglecting that they’re still part of an anti-gay religion. Sure, I guess it’s a little bit better that they conveniently ignore the anti-gay (and many other) parts of their wacky religions, but how about you cut out the doublethink and just quit the religion? I find it hard to admire people whose beliefs aren’t logically consistent with one another.