[Magdalen] After General Synod in Vancouver for ACC lost the marriage amendment vote .

[Rick Mashburn]

Thanks for sharing that, Scott! I was in almost total denial until I was
28. I was depressed and terrified of what "being gay" would mean for me, my
life and career for the next 7 years.

Ironically enough, it was Don't Ask Don't Tell, which went into effect in
1994, that was the key for me. More and more people were coming out, I was
doing more research and the environment in general was really starting to
change. I started coming out in early '95 at age 35 and within 6 months I
was out to everybody - family, friends, work, college & high school
friends, marching in the Pride Parade. One of my friends at the time called
me Turbo! It was a wonderful, magical, grace-filled time in my life!

Hard to believe it's already been 24 years! I hope to get at least 24 more!
(Turning 60 last week has made me somewhat more introspective!)

Peace, Rick

On Sun, Jul 14, 2019, 8:06 PM Scott Knitter <scottknitter at gmail.com> wrote:

> A tangent apropos LGBT: It was encouraging to me today to read about
> presidential candidate Mayor Pete Buttigieg's path to coming out as a gay
> man. After spending a long time fearing the consequences of doing so
> (especially consequences to his career), he came out at age 33. This is the
> same age when I stopped fearing so much (although being in the habit of
> fearing, and repressing, I'm rather messed up in some ways, including being
> very risk-averse) and told loved ones I was gay. There were no negative
> consequences, and for that I am grateful to God and to my parents and
> friends.
>
> On Sun, Jul 14, 2019 at 5:42 PM Roger Stokes via Magdalen <
> magdalen at herberthouse.org> wrote:
>
> > On 14/07/2019 20:34, Clarissa Canning wrote:
> > > i felt very sad yesterday . today I had a MP service to do with my
> little
> > > congregation in Glenboro Mb. Many people in Manitoba are on traditional
> > > side .  I did some Prayers of People written for GS from
> Newfoundlander.
> > > The Gospel was “ Good Samaritan “ .  I felt really called to say
> > something
> > > . During the announcements at the end I shared more about my daughter .
> > > Specifically that she is bi sexual . I told them I loved them too . Was
> > > just moved by the spirit . I  was emotional and could not sing much of
> > the
> > >   of Abide with me”.  I got hugs at end of service and we continued
> about
> > > controversial opinions in the church and I shared of my parents
> > experience
> > > with this and parish we were at a short time.  we talked of
> forgiveness I
> > > order to move on . Wow It felt freeing .
> >
> > Clarissa,
> >
> > I am glad you found it freeing. In the sermon I heard this morning the
> > Vicar preached about different understandings of the word "Samaritan"
> > over the centuries. Here in the UK Samaritans is the name of an
> > organization (founded by a C/E priest) that is there for people in
> > crisis so it has a very positive meaning. He reminded us that in Jesus's
> > time the Samaritans were "the other" - outcasts for Jews. He asked us to
> > think about which groups we regard as "other" and listed LGBT as among
> > the groups that some reject.
> >
> > Roger
> >
> >
>
> --
> Scott R. Knitter
> Edgewater, Chicago, Illinois USA
>