Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) Approves Pro LGBT Statement ~ Vote on Hiring LGBT Clergy Friday!

By Kelli Busey/planetransgender

In a close vote the ELCA Assembly Adopts 'Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust'

The ELCA approved a Statement on human sexuality that is being celebrated Interdenominationally as a leap towards positive inclusion of all people in faith. The statement is intended to guide the Lutheran Church in America. An excerpt from the 34 page statement reads....."this church also will attend to the need for equal protection, equal opportunities and equal responsibilities under the law, and just treatment for those with varied sexual orientation and gender identity."

Source: INFORUM
"Wednesday’s vote sets the stage for a bigger debate Friday, when delegates will discuss a proposal that would allow ELCA congregations to hire people in committed same-sex relationships as clergy."

On the web

Source: Lutherans in favor of LGBT equality gather at ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Minneapolis

Source: Minnesota Independent.comNinety-five Lutherans come out during ELCA vote on gay pastors

Source: U.S. Catholic.org Gays and the ELCA

Dallas Voice : Trans community meets with Bishop Robinson

Ben Briscoe Staff Writer Dallas Voice

"Majority of those who attended ‘Conversations’ prior to Black Tie also participated in protest."

"Depending on whom you talk to, “Transgender Conversations” with openly gay Episcopal Bishop V. Gene Robinson Saturday, Nov. 22 either provided little closure for transgender activists upset with Robinson’s previous statements or it reassured them that he is a strong trans ally."

Read more at the Dallas Voice....

Unitarian Universalist

To locate a Unitarian Universalist Fellowship click the title




The sanctuary of the Denton Texas Unitarian Universalist Fellowship was filled and the voices sad but proud. We sat and listened as person after person recalled the wonderful life experiences that they had with the victims of the shootings at the Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church.
The one sentiment expressed by all was that if the perpetrator had just once came to learn who we are, just once asked with a open mind, he would know he is loved. His hate would melted like ice and love over fill his cup.


Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

Our Principles

Guiding Principles and Sources

We covenant to affirm and promote:


The inherent worth and dignity of every person;

Justice, equity, and compassion in human relations;

Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;

A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;

The right of Conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and society at large;

The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;

and Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.

The living tradition we share and the tapestry of sources upon which we draw for our communal and personal religious life emerges from:


Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life.

Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;

Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;

Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;

Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.

Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.

Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.


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Mission statement of the Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship

We, the members and friends of the Denton Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, join to declare the following purposes:



To affirm the principles and purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association;

To create a loving fellowship, caring for each other across generations and through joys, sorrows, and concerns;

To inspire and nurture personal growth for all ages in their search for meaning and a loving, joyful life;

To be an open community, practicing tolerance and respect for diversity;

To encourage ethical action in both individuals and the Fellowship as a whole, by supporting responsible beliefs and values, and by fostering commitment and courage, in service to our larger communities;

To grow creatively toward greater truth and beauty, while respecting the value of tradition;

To deepen our love of the earth and our understanding of interdependence.

BILLION DOLLAR BABY CRYS FOUL

A open letter to Bishop V. Gene Robinson

Open Letter to The Rt. Rev. V. Gene Robinson
Bishop of New Hampshire
http://www.nhepiscopal.org/bishop/bishop.html

HRC's billion dollar baby has begun to stir.

As I was leaving my LGBT youth group I made a mention of a up coming protest of the HRC Celebration of gold in November 2008 at Dallas Texas to a paid staffer at YouthFirst.
I up to this moment had viewed this paid staff member as a somewhat distant person friendly enough, but in as a non committal offhanded sort of way.
I had attributed this to her being a very busy woman and I had admired her dedication to the LGBT youth.
But this void had made my commitment to continue volunteerism a matter of personal dedication because of a seemingly lack of concern by the leadership of this group. I had up to this point accepted this as my personal sacrifice so that I may satisfy my need to be of good to the community I Love so much.

Her first response before realizing the gravity of the situation was to say " Just make sure you are not wearing your YouthFirst Hat while you are protesting." Becuse I am a writer of the goodness and potentials of our LGBT youth.

I had seen the response by the staff to the youth if they even suggested that they were gender variant. Always concentrated looks of disbelief with grins, followed with a comment like " ya right." This results in the youth looking down in embarrassment and shame. I have come to the point where I openly defend their right to gender expression and am quickly put down and ignored by the staff.

Judith stood suddenly between me and the door and asked, sudden concern clouding her eyes "what protest?" I began to tell Judith about the protests I had participated in since being denied by HRC. Her worry began to deepen as she asked what it was I thought might happen at Dallas in November.

I replied Bishop Robinson was scheduled to accept the ELIZABETH BIRCH EQUALITY AWARD at the dinner. I was asking my faith community to stand up for us and for Bishop Robinson to deny this award on solidarity with transgender people who have been unjustly and unfairly removed from being a part of ENDA in spite of the unanimous outcry of 350 LGBT groups that HRC decided to ignore and caused untold sorrow and pain. We are a community on the verge of self destruction because of HRC.

Judith first response knowing that I wrote for the RMN blog, a Methodist affirming outreach group was to say" Oh but the Methodist church in Dallas gets money from this." THIS response made me physically ill. Judith was attempting to use my faith against me, as a club to beat me down with. I responded" I attend this church as a guest not because it is a recipient for HRC funds, which I was previously unaware of , but because of my experience at the Methodist Conference that summer I had fallen in love with the Methodist faith. I will talk to this church about this I said, but my love for them is about trying to help in their struggle to become free to worship, free to Minister and free to marry as I am in AGAPE MCC."

Judith was now HORRIFIED. I asked her why she had turned so pale she told me "I am on the Black Tie Marketing committee." Oh I said. I am so sorry things have come to this point and told her I was interviewed by The Dallas Voice, a local LGBT paper, and had answered the question of protest at the Dallas black tie. We at that time were committed to finding a way to Educate and form a solid coalition and not wanting to detract or degenerate the Dallas Black Tie. WE LOVE OUR COMMUNITY and only want to do good. So we asked the Black Tie Committe if we could hold a Educational Initiative at this Black Tie but were once again denied.I told Judith that we are not asking Bishop Robinson to refuse this award out of spite, but becuse HRC has forced us into a corner and left us no options.

Now Judith's BILLION DOLLAR BABY was in mortal danger. She was horrified by the pureness of my heart, the intent of my soul, in fact my love for our community and Christ. She was protecting a gold jewel encrusted inanimate object which has no soul, no consciousness, no hopes and dreams. It does not have faith.

To Judith, protecting this baby which HRC has been holding in front of it's Dallas Black Tie to shield it self against dissent, was not unlike a mother who relized her child was now in danger of being pried from her loving hands.

Never once did the matter of my faith in the episcopal church ever become a matter of concern for this HRC fund raiser. Never did my struggle to remain employed EVER become a matter of her concern. Never has the DEATH of Lawrence KING ever become connected with the struggle of the gender variant, or become important to Judith. UNTILL NOW when her BILLION DOLLAR BABY became endangered.

Judith and HRC are worried and horrified not because they care about Christianity. Not because they are worried about Trans peoples faith, health or well being. Not because of any concern for gender expressive children like Lawrence King.

They are Praying to their GOLD GOD. The Billion Dollar BABY. Baby HRC.

I am asking you Bishop Robinson not to attend the 2008 Dallas Black Tie. I am asking you to put into practice the inspiring sermon you gave at All Saints Church that brought me out of the shadows, out of fear into a strength and belief that GOD and CHRIST love me and spoke through you.
You see, I forsake my Episcopalian church which I grew up in for 20 years because of a man, who while representing this church had done me such grievous harm.

Because of your sermon at All Saints opened my heart again, to beleave again.

I am asking you to reject HRC. To be the protector of the Gender diverse yet unborn, alive and dead. HRC has thrown transgender people away. Sacrificed For pieces of gold.

Kelli Anne Busey
Gender Advocate
Believer in Christ the redeemer

Roman Catholic Church facing biggest threat ever and it's not from Transgender people

When a persons sexuality or gender expression is denied by the force of religion or government, the results are horrendous.

By Kelli Busey
May 26, 2008

According to a 2004 study by Bishopaccountablity.org a group concerned with the the Roman Catholic Church in Britain, it is facing its greatest threat since the Reformation, according to research.

Over three decades Mass attendance has slumped by 40 per cent, baptisms by 50 per cent, Catholic marriages by 60 per cent and confirmations by 60 per cent.

In a separate study conducted in 2003 a senior clergyman spoke of how he felt “torn” following the revelation that nearly 150 complaints of abuse about priests and church workers in the Roman Catholic Church in England and Wales were received last year.

The Most Rev Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Birmingham, said the statistics made him feel “very uncomfortable” but at the same time were proof that the church was making progress in the area of child abuse.

“I feel torn because on the one hand I am very uncomfortable when it is clear that there are more people coming forward and saying that priests in the past have behaved very wrongly,” he said.

In the Unites States the clergy sex abuse crisis — some would have us believe — is largely about priests taking advantage of or being seduced by older teenage boys. In other words, it's a gay thing.

That's the view of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights, as articulated by the group's president William A. Donohue.

"Too many sexually active gays have been in the priesthood, and it's about time they were routed out," Donohue told Fox News at the height of the scandal. The clergy sex abuse crisis is "a homosexual scandal, not a pedophilia scandal," he said on NBC's Today Show.

Let's look at what the 2003 John Jay study actually says. From the Executive Summary:

The largest group of alleged victims (50.9%) was between the ages of 11 and 14, 27.3% were 15-17, 16% were 8-10 and nearly 6% were under age 7. Overall, 81% of victims were male and 19% female

While the Catholic Church is preying on innocent, unprotected social segments to defer the public awareness of the sickness that is eating it from the inside YOUR CHILD may be sexually assaulted NOW as you read this in a Catholic sanctuary.

The sin is that the Catholic Church is permitting this and has the audacity to hurl hateful and wrongful allegations towards the GLBT community. You and your loved ones suffer now and in the future when they are unable to reconcile themselves with Christianity.

Anyone who would doubt these claims only need look in their own family or friend to find a witness of these terrible events.

When a persons sexuality or gender expression is denied by the force of religion or government the results are horrendous.

Catholic Church Facing largest threat ever and its not from Lesbian, Gays, Bisexual or Transgender people.