Church and Tears

I know that you're not supposed to talk about religion. But it's been on my heart, so here it goes. I do not mean to offend. I am not judging you. So please don't defriend me, or unsubscribe because my religion and politics do not match with yours. Because, there are some blogs I read that I don't 100% agree with, but I read your blog for the greatness that is uniquely you and the stories you share that I can relate to--despite out differences.

I have always been a church person. When I was little, I would go with friends to any church they would drive me too. And then, when i started driving, I was able to go to church every Sunday, and I love it. I even taught Sunday school for a couple of years in college. I've run the specturn- Catholic, Episcopalian, Baptist, Non-Denominational, Lutheren...

But, I started to get a unhappy with the church. I never was unhappy with God, but his followers made me sad. There is so much judgement and awfullness, self-righteousness and fear. I remember crying in my car after church one night with my then-boyfriend, becuase I did NOT understand how any religion could condemn a person like the Dalai Lama. I mean, really, that dude is HOLY. I am also not a big fan of God being portrayed as mean, vengeful, and relishing in our fear of him. My God is not mean. Or Vengeful. My God is loving, protecting- like a safe harbor. Free from condemnation, whose heart break when mine does, and who laughs when I do goofy things like trip in ice cream at Costco and fall on my butt.

I have always been a liberal person, and no- not because of my parents. I had a hard time reconciling those two parts of me- my faith and my belief in liberal socialness

Anyhow, I did a little google action this past week, looking for a church. And I actually searched for a church that was anti-prop 8. I found a church. And I feel like it is where I was supposed to be the whole time. The mission statemnet for my new church includes things like being "RADICALLY inclusive". I like how that sounds.

Irvine United Congregational Church is radically inclusive, declaring to neighbors and strangers alike, No matter who you are or where you are on life's journey, you are welcome here. We celebrate the Creator's diversity as we worship God and grow in our faith. Guided by God's unconditional love as taught by Jesus Christ, we see ourselves as children of one God, brothers and sisters of all people. As servants of God, we take responsibility to act with compassion, to work for peace and justice, and to share the joy of Christian community.

In fact, here is a picture of my new reverend, working the No on 8 phone banks.

Now that's freaking cool. And his sermons are AMAZING.

In other, related news, my dear friend Olivia sent me this email this morning.

Hello, I thought this would be important to you to sign, if you havn't yet of course: Have you heard that Ken Starr -- and the Prop 8 Legal Defense Fund -- filed legal briefs defending the constitutionality of Prop 8 and attempting to forcibly divorce 18,000 same-sex couples that were married in California last year? The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in this case on March 5, 2009, with a decision expected within the next 90 days. The Courage Campaign has created a video called "Fidelity," with the permission of musician Regina Spektor, that puts a face to those 18,000 couples and all loving, committed couples seeking full equality under the law.
Please watch this heartbreaking video now. If you have the same reaction that I did, you can help spread the word by sharing it with your friends ASAP -- before the Valentine's Day deadline:
http://www.couragecampaign.org/Divorce a href="http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/ic/1a388dshd3hsts/SiFfQwwWBVE">http://www.couragecampaign.org/page/ic/1a388dshd3hsts/SiFfQwwWBVE>
The more people who see this video, the more people will understand the pain caused by Prop 8 and Ken Starr's shameful legal proceeding.
After you watch the video, please join me and over 70,000 people who have signed a letter to the state Supreme Court, asking them to invalidate Prop 8 and reject Starr's case.
Thanks.

I watched the video, and cried like a baby.

"Fidelity": Don't Divorce... from Courage Campaign on Vimeo.