I am so proud to have been along for most of this journey. I joined St. Johns about a month after that little vote, never imagining the impact it would have on my life. I was immediately pressed into service, first by taking Lay Ministry training, then working with Darrell Vines as a co-Chair for WTOS. Bobby McMillian asked me to Chair Church and Society that first year. The next year, I was chairing the Childrens Council. The experience gleaned from the trust my touchstone church taught me how to answer the question Where is the voice of the Church? in times of tragedy, injustice and need. St. Johns United Methodist Church, Lubbock, TX, taught me that I am the voice of the Church, along with all seeking justice and the face of Christ in our moments of need, hurt and joy. From early in my tutelage by such saints as St. Johns has produced, I have been an outspoken advocate for justice. From facing down the bigotry and hate exhibited at Methodist Hospital and the Lubbock Police Department while trying to seek help for a church member dying of AIDS (that day) and facing arrest for doing so, to connecting the LGBT struggle to those faced by other ostracized groups through the work of GCORR and The United Methodist Committee on Disability Ministries and GCSRW, and in a very public way (gc12.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/2012-04-28-Neigbhor-News-Edition-FINAL_MediumRes.pdf), the courage instilled in me by St. John’s struggle has never failed to cause me to speak out when needed. As such, I have served our Church at the District, Conference, Jurisdictional and now, as a Board Member on The General Commission on Religion and Race of The United Methodist Church, never failing to give voice to the poor, the physically, emotionally and intellectually challenged, the LGBT Community, women and children and those affected by racism and other forms of injustice. It is not my voice that echoes where I stand on matters of equity, but rather the voices of each member of St. John’s, past, present and future, that clearly call for loving ALL our neighbors. Thank you St. Johns United Methodist Church, Lubbock, TX for letting me tag along on your courageous journey!
Posted on: Mon, 21 Oct 2013 01:11:47 +0000
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