At the Annual Congregational Meeting last Sunday, the Members of MCC Newcastle unanimously adopted our
Bedrock Belief statements. This really is quite an achievement – the pages of Church history are littered with examples of Christians falling out – even killing each other, over what they believe.

Of course, in MCC Newcastle, we encourage each person to work out their own beliefs and many of us will be able to agree with the Bedrock Beliefs statements – and add to
them.

This week in worship, we are reflecting on the Bible.

 At MCC Newcastle, we believe:
The Bible is there to inspire and guide. It is not a rule book and can be read with love, compassion and
questioning.

At different times, the Bible has been used as a weapon of oppression – against women, against Black people, against LBGT folk. We need to reclaim scripture. We need to learn to read it with our minds, our hearts and our spirits. Although some of it might seem irrelevant and outdated now, there are still profound truths about God and God’s relationship with us. It is also where we find out about the life of Jesus in a unique way - we can’t find that information anywhere else. 

As part of marking the International Day Against Homophobia (IDAHO) on Saturday 19th May,  I will be leading a workshop on “What the Bible Really Says” about queer people. This will be after we have gathered at Grey’s Monument and made a big noise against homophobia – with the theme “Equal Before God”.

Much of the homophobia today stems from misinterpretation of the Bible. If we are going to be people of faith who make a difference, we need to be able to show others what the Bible really says about them, and above all, what scripture says about the unconditional love of God.

God bless,

Cecilia
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At the weekend, Cardinal O’Brien, one of the country’s most senior Catholics, made some very outspoken comments about gay marriage. He wishes to retain the definition of marriage as a lifelong commitment solely between a man and a  woman. He quotes the Universal Declaration on Human Rights and implies that widening the definition of marriage to include same sex couples would represent “a grotesque subversion of a universally accepted human right”.

Sadly, the Cardinal fails to consider another basic human right – the right to freely exist and to love. There are five countries in the world where homosexuality is punishable by death and over 70 others, where being lesbian or gay carries a prison sentence. This of course does not include all the countries where violent homophobia and transphobia is encouraged or tolerated by the state.

I have yet to hear of a heterosexual couple who feel that their love and commitment to each other is lessened because others are allowed to celebrate and cherish love too. However, when people are killed, attacked or imprisoned, simply because of how our God created them and for whom they love, then we are all diminished as human beings.

Let us pray this week for freedom to love and to be fully loved, without fear.

 
God bless

Cecilia
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A few days ago we heard of the murder of David Kato, the 'grandfather' of  the LGBT community in Uganda and a beloved and respected campaigner for Human Rights. Much has been written about the toxic environment created in part by fundamentalist religious voices in Uganda (which may or may not have contributed to his murder.) But I would like to reflect a bit on another aspect of Kato's life that doesn't get as much coverage, his faith.

Kato was a member of Integrity Uganda, a Christian organisation which believes in the full inclusion of diversity of gender and sexual orientation within the vision of Jesus of Nazareth. His activism was indeed a work of Christ-like love, fighting for the dignity of the 'least' in some eyes and proclaiming that the vision for humanity is one of deep interconnectedness. When one of us suffers, humanity suffers. When one of us is liberated, humanity becomes that much freer, that much closer to being fully humane, fully compassionate, fully the children of Creation, not destruction.

My heart hurts for friends in Uganda today. I have heard from a couple of them and know they are feeling a deep sense of loss. Newcastle may not be a high risk culture in the same way as Uganda, but as a gay man and person of faith I recognise something of my own journey and need for freedom in the story of David Kato. He is my brother in Christ. Although distant goegraphically,  at some point in our earlier years we were both baptised under the same promise from the Church. We are “ One Body. One Spirit in Christ.” Some of us have never forgotten that promise. David Kato, thank you for reminding me once again that we are not only part of, but integral to the Truth in that promise. May the Christ-light continue to shine through your legacy.

Pressley

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