A seminarian/priest/franciscan/law enforcement chaplain's views on Life, Theology, Ministry and G-d.
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As a Franciscan, Catholic Priest, and Law Enforcement Chaplain, for
me the life of St Francis has been an inspiration in my own life.
But
also has Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Both had removed all possessions (former
by choice, the latter by force) that got in the way of treating people
(all people) as human beings first. The end result is both were
transformed to respect all life - in whatever form.
For
me it has been invaluable as a law enforcement chaplain where the
individuals I serve are of all races, all beliefs (including a majority
being agnostic). I have learned to accept people where they are,
whoever they are, and treat all with dignity and respect.
Henry
Nouwen is one of the spiritual masters I have read, but also there are
some Catholic greats like Fr Richard Rohr, St John XXIII, and St John
Paul II. But recently the Catholic individual who has most influenced
my law enforcement chaplaincy and ministry is St Mother Theresa.
One
of my favorite quotes she shared while serving the poorest of the poor
in Calcutta - "If you judge people, you have no time to love them". I
also consider St Mother Theresa somewhat an unofficial patron saint of
Law Enforcement Chaplains.
Because just as she
described to her Mother Superior when describing why she wanted to leave
the convent - that she had "received a 'call' within a 'call'", so too,
many Law Enforcement Chaplains are Pastors, Priests, Rabbis, and Imams
who serve their own flocks, they too receive a 'call' within a 'call' to
serve Law Enforcement. This means as a Chaplain, they begin to see
their faith not as the "only way”,Matthew Fox describes in the title of
his book "One River, Many Wells". Our column of faith may have brought
us to Law Enforcement Chaplaincy, but it is other's columns of faiths
which we must learn to serve, respecting the individual. For me as a
Christian, and the New Testatment Scripture which is a cornerstone of
our Chaplain Program in our jurisdiction:
"Finally, all of you live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic and love as brothers [and sisters]; be compassionate, and humble" 1 Peter 3:8
My
life has been enriched as a Catholic, a Priest, a Franciscn, a human
being, and especially as a Law Enforcement Chaplain, in understanding of
what it means to love unconditionally.
It has
given new meaning for me in serving others with His only two
Commandments, which are almost universal in all faiths - "Love the Lord
your God with all your heart, and soul, and mind, and body, and love
your neighbor as yourself".
Unconditional love for all persons... that is at the heart ♥️ of our work as human beings and as Chaplains.
Every time we turn on the news, we watch tragedy falling upon families across our cities. Vicitms of Burglary and/or Sexual Assault; Loved ones being murdered leaving surviving family members in shock and terror; families torn apart by Domestic Violence; Victims of Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation; and/or families losing their children, not even out of their adolescence, to suicide.
But even in the midst of tragedy, there is hope. Organizations like the not-for-profit organization "The Legacy House" located in Indianapolis, Indiana, offer free counseling to victims of violent crime from children ages 5 and up to Teens (Adolescents), to young adult, to parents and and grandparents. Trauma from violence can literally paralyze victims and their families. This type of trauma is much different than any other loss of a loved one through say the natural progression of a terminal illness to old age. As such special programs and services are needed to address the very specific needs people have when victims of violent crimes.
Both the Chaplain's Office and Victim Assistance Unit of the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department often refer victims of violent crimes (burglary, sexual assault, suicide, homicide, sexual exploitation, vicitms of human trafficking, etc.) to The Legacy House for short and long term trauma intervention. A victim of trauma caused by violence may have many needs that they are unable to address without help. Legacy House provides that support, and our staff offers a healing presence to help clients move from victim to survivor to thriver.
The Legacy House counseling services are focused on addressing the resulting long-term trauma of violence and include crisis intervention, individual and family counseling, and support groups. The Legacy House also provides victim advocacy services such as courtroom support, assistance with preparing petitions for emergency protective orders and victim compensation applications, shelter and social service referrals, and other support unique to the individual needs of their clients.
If you live in Indianapolis (Marion County), are a victim of a violent crime (burglary, domestic violence, sexual assault, a mother or father trying to deal with the loss of a child by suicide, to a mother or father losing their child by murder), then please contact The Legacy House for free assistance. Sharon (photo above with me), the receptionist and intake specialist, will be more than likely be the person to greet you, welcome you, and help you and help you become registered for assessment so proper programs/services can be identified and started for you, your child, your spouse, your parents or grandparents, on your road to recovery from the shock you or a loved one experienced as a result of a violent crime.
Thank goodness for people like Sharon and the entire staff of The Legacy House for all they do in helping individuals in need, when they are most vulnerable,
...not just survive, but thrive!".
_____________
About Locating Victim Services Near You
To Find an organization which offers Assistance to Vicitms of Violent Crimes in your area, check out these online resource to find assistance where you live:
The National Center's Connect Directory provides a fast and easy way to locate crime victim assistance in a wide variety of jurisdictions throughout the country.
To help victims of crime find needed resources, support services, victim assistance, victim ... children, international terrorism, identity theft, and workplace violence. ... OVC to help support local victim assistance and compensation programs.
Resources on Children Exposed to Violence ... If you or someone you know needs victim assistance, find out how to get help by clicking on one of the links ...
National Criminal Justice Reference ServiceIt also lists national organizations that help victims find information or obtain ... The program provides victims of violent crime with information about ... Help in your area is available from your State/Local Victim Compensation and Assistance ...
Mr. Nimoy... You and Bill Shatner inspired a whole generation who grew up watching you. I was one of that generation - the last of the baby boomers. Star Trek has inspired Civil Rights, Technology Development and Space Exporation... The list goes on... No one television has affected so many, so widely for so long and still affects yet a new generation of "Trekkies" through the acting of Chris Pine, Zachery Quinto, Karl Urban, and the entire new cast of a "new timeline" of Star Trek. The contributions you and your fellow actors by bringing to life Gene Roddenbury's vision of a
better, kinder, and gentler world made a difference when it first Broadcast. After the first year Nichelle Nichols had decided to leave the show until one night at an event she ran into a fan of Star Trek, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., who she told she was quitting to which Dr. King replied "You Can't !... Don't you know what you represent.. The first female, African-American bridge officer ever portrayed on screen. ". Nichelle returned and you and your comrades continued to bring to life Gene's vision. Those of us who grew up with you, no one except our generation, will know the love, the reverence, and the kindred spirit that we all share with your cast. You realized it for the first time a Star Trek convention was held expect 300 to 400. When you went on stage, there were 3000-4000 fans waiting. You knew then this was not just another series. It was an event. It became a cult of "Trekkies".
Those same Trekkies who grew up and created things like the floppy disk drive (like you used on your computer on the Enterprise), the cell phone (which was developed in part from inspiration from your communicators), the PADDs which, more on later versions of Star Trek (like Next Gen and DS-9), that those same data PADDs inspiried what we have today - they called iPads and Tablets; and even what we have today that is in every house, on our walls and tables - the Flat Screen TV. You even brought from an ancient Jewish cabal, the vulcan sign of peace (the famous "v" made with your had by separating your middle and ring finger to form a "v". So much of what
you and the cast brought to life, meant everyting to a generation which grew uip and changed the world through the inspiration of Gene Roddenbury's vision, portratyed like no other actors have like your fellow cast members. You you will truly be missed. Loved and adored by many. But your spirit will always be with us. In our hearts, in our inspriations, in our visions of a better, kinder, gentler world. Even with the horrific tragedies humanity is inflicting on itself (ISIS), you and your cast helped a whole generation and now whole generations, to see beyond the mundane and look beyond to the future, where no one has gone before - where there is no hunger, no want, no need unfilled so that humanity can pursue higher pursuits.
You will always be with us in our hearts and we will never forget you , nor will we let our children, grand-children, and great-grandchildren the incredible cadre of actors who through not just acting, but emboding the characters which Gene Roddenbury envision, brought to life hope for the future. Leonard, may your spirit "Live long and prosper".
by Jeffery Wolfe, Indianapolis, Friday, Feb. 20, 2015 Yesterday, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) Chief Richard Hite held a press conference where he highlighted not only the successes which IMPD had in 2014 resulting in the arrests of some of the worst criminal offenders in Indianapolis, but spent a significant amount of time showing that IMPD is not just concerned about arrests, but those whom they arrest. Expanding on a number of programs designed to support their officers through police shootings, to early on set of stress and in some cases PTSD with its officers and how a number of programs are designed to be there to support our fine men men and women in blue. Chief Hite also had a number of individuals speak at the press conference on a number of programs and initiatives designed to help not only its IMPD Officers, their families and IMPD staff and their families, but also those victims of violent crimes and their families.
Chief Hite also asked paid Staff Chaplain David Coatie at the press conference yesterday at 1pm to say a few words about his Chaplain team and how they try to make a difference not only in the lives of our officers, but also the entire administrative and support staff of IMPD as well as the victims and victims families of violent crimes. Chaplain Coatie's team is composed of an ecumenical cadre of men and women ministers, pastors, priests, and rabbis who volunteer their time and talent to help achieve this important work as volunteer chaplains. But don't let the word "volunteer" fool you. These men and women are anything but ordinary volunteers. All were screened from hundreds of candidates of some of the top ministers, pastors, priests, and rabbis in the City of Indianapolis. But it doesn't stop there. Once Candidates are weeded out based on their resume and their references and finally offered the position of '"volunteer chaplain", their work training just begins. These final candidates go through a rigorous vetting process by a "hiring board" of the Command Staff of IMPD and its this "board" which actually gives the final approval for these final candidates. Then their training begins. IMPD treats these "volunteer chaplains" the same as they do their paid staff. A rigorous training program is a time when these men and women volunteer chaplains go through an intense training program designed by Chaplain Coatie. They are required to join the International Conference of Professional Chaplains (http://icpc4cops.org) and enter their intense training program for credentials as "professional chaplains. But Chaplain Coatie won't take the credit. He adamantly points out that Indianapolis has one of the top chaplain programs in the country for two reasons: 1) the work they do is entirely supported and encouraged by Chief
HIte and his entire Command staff; and, 2) because of the incredible work of Chaplain Coatie's predecessors like Chaplain Philip Bacon, Chaplain Rick Kassel, et.al., who were staff Chaplains for as much as 30 years for IMPD , whom have literally wrote the book on current Law Enforcement Chaplaincy and whose model of IMPD is an example to which many other police departments from around the country look to for making positive changes in their own Chaplain programs. And don't think "volunteer" means these ordained ministers, pastors, priests, and rabbis are "part-time volunteers". Many have put in as much as 180 hours of logged time in just three weeks (that roughly 60 hours per week to do justice to the role they fill as "IMPD Chaplains"). Many are usually supported through their local and/or national churches, Some are supported through their retirement savings. Some are in the unique position where their spouses become the bread winners for their respective homes so that these dedicated men and women of G-d can do the work of an IMPD chaplain. The week, Andrea Morehead on Channel 13 WTHR's Nightbeat highlighted this important and often invisible work of IMPD to its officers, staff, ,their respective families, and the victims of violent crimes and their families. Its been invisible for the most part because these volunteer ordained men and women of G-d are doing the work of an IMPD Chaplain volunteer not for status, nor ego, nor fame, nor even recognition. All of them didn't choose to be volunteers for the IMPD Chaplain program. If you ask each of them, the will tell you that its a "calling" into this specialized and often unnoticed but very important work. The are men and women are dedicated to make a difference in the lives of IMPD officers, staff and victims of violent crimes.
Last night, WTHR's "Nightbeat" highlighted this work they do through through following some of these chaplains as they go through a typical day. Chaplain Coatie would tell you that the training which these ordained ministers pastors, priests and rabbis is tough, but its one of the best training programs in police chaplaincy. Below is video form Channel 13, WTHR's Nightbeat of IMPD's Chaplain program and Staff Chaplain's team and the daily grind of good works these men and women of God accomplish each day. Being an IMPD Chaplain and the work which that it entails would be challenging even if these Chaplains were paid - but they are not - a job that would make most "full-time paid staff Chaplains" running back to church or parish ministry. These volunteers stick it out because 1) it is their calling;and 2) they each have a servant heart whose sole purpose to literally and simply be ministers, pastors, priests and rabbis; and, 3) the entire Chaplaincy Team views the men and women in blue, the support staff for IMPD, and the Victims and their families violent crimes as their own congregation, church, temple and/or parish. Here is "Minister with a Badge", Part I, by Channel 13 WTHR's Nightbeat story Andrea Morehead. for this week. Part II of "Minister with a Badge" will air on Channel 13, WTHR's will show yet another side of this incredible. Check out this incredible story and watch next week for Part II of this story "Minister with a Badge" on Channel 13 WTHR's "Nightbeat" by Andrea Morehead.
*photos and video courtesy of WTHR Channel 13. All Rights are reserved to WTHR Channel 13. (c) 2015, WTHR Channel 13._______________________
Rev Bro Jeffery Wolfe, OSFC is currently a "Chaplain Candidate" with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department (IMPD) and is currently going through the vetting process which takes two (2) to five (5) weeks to complete for qualified individuals applying to be part of IMPD's Volunteer Chaplain Program. Bro Jeff is currently in self-study training for Law Enforcement Chaplaincy and recently became a Board-Certifed Disaster Response Chaplain with the United States Emergency Services Chaplain Corps. (http://www.fb.com/usescc), a national Chaplain Response team avaiable for deployment after a natural, man-made or technical disaster. Bro Jeff is also in the process of applying to the International Conference of Police Chaplains (http://www.icpc4cops.org) as a Liaison member and beginning their Credentialing Program to become a Certified Chaplain.
In addition, Rev. Brother Jeff Wolfe, OFSC is of St John XXIII Catholic Church in Indianapolis, IN. It was founded April 4, 2011 in Indianapolis on the East-side in Irvington. Bro Jeff serves Indianapolis by offering a Progressive, Vatican II Independent Catholic parish which offers communion, hospital visitation, shut-in visitation, prayer groups, RCIA, weddings and funerals, and other traditional liturgies associated with Catholicism. You can reach Bro Jeff through the website for St John XXIII Catholic Church - UACC or through Skype (user ID: rev_jwolfe). Follow Bro Jeff on Twitter @RevJeffWolfe.
Rev. Brother Jeffery Wolfe, OSFC is the Executive Director and a member of the Board of Directors for The Kristen Center, a faith-based not-for-profit community based organization dedicated to providing programs and services to those with HIV and those who care for them. Currently The Kristen Center offers targeted, customized HIV Support Groups for: Newly Diagnosed; Long Term Survivors; Family & Caregivers of those with HIV; and, Women with HIV. HIV Prevention programs are an essential core element of the services offered by The Kristen Center. You can learn more about The Kristen Center by going to http://www.thekristencenter.com/ or by checking out its Facebook Page at http://www.fb.com/TheKristenCenter or visit their Twitter page at http://www.twitter.com/kristencenter.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Just today I was going through my Facebook News Feed on my iPhone and ran across some posting about a teen coming out to his parents. It started me thinking of the organization "Forty to None", a not for profit focused on helping LGBT teens who have been either kicked out by their parents when they told them they were gay or left on their own because of the verbal abuse once the family found out that one of their family members is gay and they thought it was unacceptable.
There are over 500,000 LGBTI teens who are homeless because they told their family were gay. What a sad world in which we live where we have to hide the parts of ourselves (sometimes which is maybe we are gay). Being gay is NOT a sin. It never has been. I could go on about this topic alone, but Mr. Matthew Vines, a sophomore undergraduate at Harvard does a very good job explaining why being gay is NOT a sin in his new book, "God and the Gay Christian". Matthew says:
Matthew Vines is an advocate for the acceptance of lesbian, gay,
bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people within Christian communities and
in society at large. He lives in Wichita, Kansas. Matthew attended
Harvard University from 2008 to 2010. He then took a leave of absence in
order to research the Bible and homosexuality and work toward LGBT
inclusion in the church.
In March 2012, Matthew delivered a speech at a church in his hometown
about the Bible and homosexuality, calling for acceptance of gay
Christians and their marriage relationships. Since then, the video of
the speech has been seen more than 500,000 times on YouTube, and it was featured in The New York Times and The Christian Post.
It is always good thing to be yourself, and if you are in a family environment which would embrace your coming out, that is wonderful and you are VERY fortunate; however, to all those LGBT teen who have not yet come out - I thought a word of advice and caution might be helpful
Ideally coming out should be no big deal and ideally we always pray we have patents whom live us unconditionally. I did not come out to my dad until I was in college. My mother has already pass102 But the reality is that this is not the case for every family whom have LGBT teens whom have yet to come out.
According to http://fortytonone.org, 500,000 LGBT teens are kicked out of their home by their parents because they came out to them and/or shared their HIV status with their family, or both.
So how to know if you are able to come out or not at home, here are some things to consider:
1). Wy are you coming out? Is it for you to be proud of whom you are ? Is it because you want to push a LGBT agenda at home ? Is it because your friends who are LGBT came out with no repercussions?
2). What do you think your parents think about LGBT? Does their faith day that it's wrong (even though you know it is not)?
3). Have you consideredtoday where you would go? Where you would live? How you would support yourself? It is easy to believe "but they're my parents... They won't kick me out! Really? Ask one of the 500,000 teens who thought the same thing and now are homeless.
Here is a simple guideline that may help you gauge whether or not your family will receive you coming out in a supportive manner or not:
A). Have your parents asked you questions out friends who may or may not be gay. THIS IS NOT a foolproof guideline, but if your parents, on their own, been asking questions about LGBT persons, then chances are if they are asking questions on the topic, then they may be ready to hear from you coming out. This is NOT a guarantee!!! But it will give an indication if they are thinking about LGBT persons.
B). If they are talking about LGBT persons on their own, aren't being derogatory, but genuinely curious. Then chances are they will receive your answer to their question with either supportive or positive responses.
C). Test your coming out with your siblings. Unless they are extremely religious , they will be supportive and might be willing to stand with you if you decide to come out to your family.
D). If you are worried your family will not receive your coming out well, contact http://fortytonone.org or a sympathetic clergy to find out if there are any locations in your ares a for homeless youth. DON'T SKIP THIS STEP. If coming out goes sideways,you will be emotional and you need to know without a doubt where you can go to have a place to stay and or receive help and support which can facilitate a processes to work with you and your parents work toward reconciliation .
I know this seems like a lot, and can be a bit daughnting, but remember, 500,000 teens thought they would be OK to come out to their parents and family, and they weren't.
I can also guarantee each of them would say that kid they had taken the suggestions above and prepared for the worst.. My guess would be they would say it would have been better to do a little planning incase it went sideways, they would have s plan on what to do, rather than just blurting out a dinner one night, "Oh, by the way mom and dad? I'm gay.
As parents, even if they are supportive, will have blood rush from their head for fear you would get HIV/AIDS.
At this point, tell them HIV is no longer a terminal illness, and using proper protection, it becomes very hard to be infected (nothing is ever 100% effective - even HIV Prevention measure. For more information about HIV Prevention, go to the Indiana HIV Prevention Community Planning Group.
To learn more about LGBT Homeless Youth and what you can do to help, visit http://www.fortytonone.org or if you live in Indianapolis, contact The Kristen Center at 317-520-3036 or visit their website at http://www.thekristencenter.com, their FB page at http://www.fb.com/thekristencenter, or their twitter account at http://www.twitter.com/kristencenter.
Are you Catholic? Have you become lapsed in your faith because of "policies" with which you don't agree? Have you been excommunicated or disenfranchised by your Catholic church? Are you not allowed to take communion because your marriage is a mixed faith? We welcome all to Christ's table to receive the Holy Eucharist.
What if I told you that there were more Catholic churches other than Roman? What if there are Catholic churches which embrace Vatican II and use the 2nd edition Missal as promulgated by Blessed Pope Paul VI and revised and promulgated by St Pope John Paul II?
What if there were a Catholic church which did not believe in artificial barriers like sexual orientation, gender identity, mixed faith marriages to separate people from the Sacraments, or embraced all who feel the call to priesthood whether married, straight, gay, or a woman? Are you a same-sex couple and looking for a Catholic church home which welcomes you and your partner? Are you a same-sex couple looking for a Catholic wedding?
St John XXIII Catholic Church is an independent Catholic parish, a parish under the jurisdiction of the United American Catholic Church (see http://www.uacatholicchurch.org) and is right here in Indianapolis. How you ask? Remember there are more Catholic Churches other than Roman. And are we really Catholic? Absolutely. The litmus test for any church claiming to be Catholic is to have Apostolic Succession and a Valid Eucharist. Our jurisdiction, the United American Catholic Church has eleven lines of Apostolic Succession and all our clergy offer a valid Eucharist. Deacons offer pre-consecrated hosts for Communion.
If any of these things seem to apply to you? If you still want to practice your faith without any
manmade artificial barriers to the Sacraments. If you embraced Vatican II as it was originally intended, then why not consider coming to St John XXIII Catholic Church and find out just what we are all about?
Right now we are looking for a space in which to celebrate holy communion (sometimes incorrectly referred as a "Deacon's Mass"). We will be announcing soon regular Sunday services.
In the meantime, if you want to learn more about St John XXIII Catholic Church, the history of Independent Catholicism in the US and its relation to the "Old Catholic Church" traditions, then visit our FAQ page on our parish website at http://www.stjohnxxiiicatholicchurch.org/who-we-are-2/church-faq/
[first posted under "My Notes" on Facebook for profile "brojefferywolfe" on May 30, 2011]
It has been a while since I have posted an article. But with bans on Same-Sex marriages being thrown out as unconstitutional in states all across the country (Indiana being the latest that legalizes Same-Sex Marriage - pending release of a Stay Order), I thought it appropriate to revisit a note I received from a good friend of mine in high school with whom I graduatated.
Here was her note to me and my response (both currently posted on my Profile Page on Facebook (brojefferywolfe)
Recently I received a
question from a friend that had noticed my posts on Facebook and
deduced that I was gay. The question was essentially "How can a gay man
be a priest?".
This person asked a very valid question
of me that required me to carefully think through answering the
question with dignity and respect. I share this person's question with
you here along with my response. It is a question that often comes up
whenever the topic of "gay" and "christian" meet. I do not intend to
know all the ways to answer this question. I can only say that my
response came from years of myself wrestling with the same question.
If you have read my blog up to this point, then you already know this
is not a new question, even for me:
Question:
Jeff,
I
ask this w/ utmost respect for you and without malice.........I
consider us friends.....But doesn't it say in the Bible that
homosexuality is an Abomination and detestable sin?
In First Corinthians 6:9 it states it is "unrighteous and will not
inherit God's Kingdom. Now I am not a real religious
person, grew up Southern Baptist....and don't pretend to know the
Bible from cover to cover and would not know enough about it to argue
w/ anyone... I just don't understand how an openly gay person can
become a priest in the church. Can you please explain that to
me. As I said I do not mean any harm in this
email...I just have a heavy burden on my heart about this and just
want some clarification. [Anonymous to protect
privacy]
Response: That
is a great question. For centuries individuals have wrestled with
this question. If you look at the story of Sodom and Gomorrah, what was
the sin? Today's preacher's would have you believe it is
homosexuality. However, if you read the text carefully, one discovers
that the sin of Sodom and Gomorrah was not homosexuality, but
in-hospitality [and forced sex - i.e. male rape]...
Much can also be said if you look at the Bible from a Sociological
point of view (purely academic). Much of the old world in Christ's time
and even up through the middle ages was primarily a patriarchal
society. Man was dominate and women submissive. However, I doubt today
that many of you would agree today that women are subservient to men.
As a society we have grown up, so to speak. Christ
himself never spoke about homosexuality directly. In fact, there are
two simple rules I try to follow every day. The first is the Golden
Rule: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you". The second
is the Great Commandment: "Love your neighbor as
yourself" [see Luke 10:27]. If God does not make mistakes, and
everything that God creates is sacred, then I am not a mistake and I
am sacred. It has once been said "God don't make no junk". As a
follower of Christ it is not for me to judge whose lifestyle is more
holy - Straight or Gay. My responsibility as a follower of Christ is
to follow the Golden Rule and the Great
Commandment. Judgment is reserved for God - my
responsibility is to treat all with dignity and
respect [ironically, I had written thislong before Pope Francis was elected and shared a similar statement on a long plane ride back to theVatican after one of his trips - good for Pope Francis]. I know this may not provide an appropriate
response to the question for some, but if we truly are followers of
Christ, it makes no difference whether a person is gay or straight. It
only matters if they love God with all their heart, soul, mind and
body.
Often Christ uses the lowly and seemingly
unjust to be a beacon and light to the world. Christ teaches that
those who are rejected by society often become the great defenders of
the faith. Mary Magdalene has often been described
as a prostitute and whore. Yet, it was not Peter or Paul, nor James
nor John who announced to the other disciples that Christ had Risen.
It was Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joseph and a third Mary. [Mary Magdalene was therefore the first evangelist.]
When the Pharisees first brought Mary Magdalene to Christ, they asked
Christ what should be done with her because according to the Jewish
Law, since she slept with a man who was not her husband, she should be
stoned to death. They asked Christ what he says about this situation.
Christ paused, and then wisely said, "Let he who is without sin cast
the first stone" (John 8:7).
[A
tactic which Jesus used frequently when asked questions - he would ask a
question back, usually to the Pharisees as it was usually they who were
asking Jesus questions to try and trip him up.]You see,
just because a person is straight, it does not mean they are more holy
or without sin. In fact, let me ask with whom would God be more
pleased? A straight man who sleeps with many women who are not his
wife, but goes to confession every Sunday? Or a gay man who is celibate
or in a monogamous relationship and dedicates his life to serving
others as Christ served others? Who does God see as more Christ like?
You see, it is easy to create "second class" citizens, because it makes
those of us who are not in the "second class" by society's standards
"better". But you and I both know the dangers of creating a class of
people that are considered lower or beneath others. Hitler did that and
look at the holocaust that followed.
I applaud my friend for asking the question. It is not an easy
question ask nor is it an easy question to answer. In fact, I today,
still wrestle with the same question - but I have faith that there are
no coincidences in life and that I'm here to serve a
purpose. If you haven't read my blog on my calling (http://followingmycalling.blogspot.com/),
take a moment and read it in total [starting from the earliest entry
which is at the bottom - the default setting on Blogger]. Then you will maybe see how God can call a
gay man to be a priest. Keep wrestling with these
questions. Usually I find that in the quiet of the night, God will
speak to me and give me peace about these questions. "Why do you look
at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice thetlog
that is in your own eye?" (see Matt 7:3).
Sometimes
all we can do is pray. Keep wrestling with God and these questions.
Don't just accept what a church or preacher teaches. Dig into Scripture
and learn for yourself.
May God bring you Peace in your search..
Peace, bro jeff
I
applaud my friend for having the courage to ask this question.
Sometimes we want simple answers to simple questions. However, my
experience has been, and my faith has taught me, and my journey has led
me to believe, that there are no simple answers and there are certainly
no simple questions. I find that if I start worrying about others and
the validity of their faith, I usually am not spending enough time
exploring my own faith. Keep asking questions
and keep looking for answers. I leave you all with verse from the Bible
(Matt 7:7) and some comparative readings from different versions of
the Bible, but verse itself is my prayer for each us...
It seemed appropriate to revisit this question and my meager attempt at a response. I say this because a few years back a freshman undergraduate at Harvard University took two years off from school after completing his freshman year to research the very same topic.He too had heard fellow students state that the Bible says homosexuality is a sin. So the young man decided to do something about this. He would research the topic himself in the Hebrew and Christian Scriputres. After almost two years of research, Matthew Vines held a lecture in his hometown of Witchita, Kansas at a church and gave a lecture. The lecture was titled "The Gay Debate: The Bible and Homosexuality". It was about a one hour lecture in length. The material cxam from his almost two years of exegetical work on this topic diving into the heart of every verse from the Hebrew Bible and the Christian Bibile which referenced homosexuality. Matthew had a friend video his lecture so that he could post it on YouTube.com. After the lecture, he posted the recording on YouTube.
The response to his video lecture on YouTube was phenomenal. It went viral almost immediately. Today it has been viewed by close to 750,000 internet users. From this response on YouTube, Matthew felt called to continue this work but wanted to make it more widely available and at the same help educate others so they can help train and educate their churches. Gathering a core group of friends, acquantances and leaders in contemporary Christian theology and pastors, he founded a Not for Profit organization called "The Reformation Project". The mission of the Reformation Project in an nutshell is to eradicate homophobia from Christian (Protestant and Catholic) churches. Quite a daunting task by any standard.
From his exegetical work to develop the lecture, to forming and founding the Not for Profit, Matthew felt this information should be written so that could read about his research rather than watching the lecture on Youube (especially reaching those either did not have a computer or were not computer savvy. So with the help of his core group of friends and acquaintances, Matthew wrote a book based on his lecture and expounded upon the topic of his one hour lecture.
He also had the idea that if he could train people from across the country on his research, they could then in turn train their local churches on the topic, allowing the message Matthew brought in his lecture to more people than he could do on his own. In early 2013, The Reformation Project NFP solicted funds so that he could train 50 individuals (ideally one from every state in the US). He wanted to be able to cover all expenses for the trainees (hotel, airfare, meals, etc.). The Reformation Project successfully raised almost double the funds they calculcated they would need to do just that. Then came sending out an annoucnement for applications to be submitted. He literally was buried in applications (almost 10 times more than the 50 spos he would have for his inaugural training. This year the training will be held near Washington D.C. The next training is scheduled for this November (6th - 8th). The Reformation Project has also posted future training sessions for 2015 (one in March in Kansas City and another in June in Atlanta, Ga). This is how much people want to attend. Matthew I am sure is literally overwhelmed at the requests for more training.
With his first book now published, it is called "God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Marriage". Matthew's book was just published on April 22, 2014 and released on May 2, 2014. It is already a #1 Best Seller in Amazon's "Gender and Sexualtiy in Religious Studies". He is already been receiving requests for guest appearances and speaking engagements across the country. You can find out about upcoming Conferences and Speaking Engagements at http://reformationproject.org.
Years ago I was a Youth Pastor serving at Lawrence United Methodist Church in Indianapolis, Indiana (1986-87) and then at Custer Road United Methodist Church in Plano, Texas .At the time I served at Custer Road UMC (1987-88), it was one of the fastest growing United Methodist Churches in the country. During this time I had the privilege of meeting in person Dr. Tony Campolo, PhD. , a Sociologist and Progressive Evangelical who has the unique ability of using his Sociological training as a "lens" through which he can view and read the Bible. By doing this, Tony Campolo has been able to bring to light topics and insights in the Bible which had yet been discovered. A brilliant Sociologist and extremely successful Christian youth leader and speaker, I have an affinity for Dr. Campolo since I too am a Sociologist (with my undergraduate degree from Indiana University in Sociology with a minor in Medical Sociology).
Dr. Campolo says of Matthew's book:
Dr. Tony Campolo, Ph.D.
"For anyone who wants to know why some Evangelicals find that the Bible
does not condemn same-gender marriage, Matthew Vines’ book answers the
question. Christians who oppose gay marriage should consider what he has
to say."
Dr Tony Campolo, Ph.D.
Dr. Campolo is an Alumnus and Professor Emeritus of Sociology at Eastern Univeristy in St. David's, Pennsylvania.
Matthew's book is insightful, bringing a breath of fresh air on the topic of gender and the Christian Bible. Growing up in the United Methodist Church, I had a youth leader to whom I looked up and admired. Her name was Rev. Maggie McNaught. During a discussion one night after Sunday night youth group meeting, the topic of Gay Christians came up. One thing that has always stuck with me which Maggie said to me that night when I ask her about being a Christian and being Gay - she said, "Jeff, God don't make no junk". That message has stuck with me all these years and I use it even today.
I was in high school back in the late 70's when she shared that phrase with me. If you were to "google" that phrase today, it could could be attributed to many sources. But for me, at the time, it didn't matter if Maggie came up with the phrase on her own, or if she borrowed it from one of a dozen sources, the message was clear to me - if God doesn't make junk, and God made me, and I am gay, then I am not junk. And if I am gay and a Christian and I am not junk, then God created me to be exactly, no more and no less, the person I am today. God loves me just as I am because he created me to be just as I am. A topic which goes right along with gender and the Bible is the misconception that being Gay is a choice. It is not. It is no more a choice for me than being straight is for my parents. It is just who they are. But, I digress.
Matthew's book brings that little phrase "God don't make no junk" to the millenial generation with a fresh and firey approach, tackling some of the most quoted "homosexual condemning" verses in the Bible. And it could not come at a better time.
According to Forty to None, a Not for Profit working with homeless youth, states that there are over 500,000 homeless youth each year. Up to 40% of those 500,000 homeless youth are LGBT. These LGBT youth are kicked out of their homes by their parents because they either "came out" to their parents and/or told their parents they were "HIV+", or the leave voluntarily because the emotional abuse is too much to bare being told that being gay is a sin, day after day. Today many have turned HIV into a moral issue (i.e. if you have HIV, you must be an immoral person doing immoral things). This is nothing more than Bible thumping church propaganda. HIV is nothing more than a disease. We must treat those who have HIV the same as we treat those with cancer.
Jesus never once said it was wrong for two people of the same-sex to fall in love, get married and have family. Matthew hopes that through his book, his organization "The Reformation Project" and the millenial generation and younger, will help eradicate homophobia from Christians (Protestants and Catholics) one day.
To my friend and the many, many Christians who also have been taught that homosexuality is a sin, I hope that through watching Matthew's video, reading about and even getting involved in The Reformation Project and finally reading Matthew's book, "God and the Gay Christian: A Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Marriage" that my friend and many like her will begin to open their hearts and realize that Jesus was all about relationships. He didn't found a religion. He taught us how to live and love life and how to treat and love the people with whom we interact and with whom we come in contact . There are no commandments from Jesus against homosexuality.
So what do we need to do in order to get to heaven. Isn't that what being a Christian is all about? Finding
Jesus explaining how
to get to heaven
our path to heaven and Jesus teach us to be kind and loving along the way. When Jesus was asked, "Good Teacher. What must I do to get to heaven? Jesus replied with two simple acts. Really the only commandments in all the New Testament which Jesus insisted upon. He told the man who asked the question:
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and soul, and mind, and body (The Great Commandment) and to "Love our Neighbor as ourselves" (The Golden Rule).
Luke 10:27
Jesus said there are only two things are required for one to get to heaven: Follow the Great Commandment and the Golden Rule (Luke 10:27). That is at the heart of the message of Jesus. Be aware of everyone around you - rich, poor, black, white, straight, gay - and build relationships with these people you meet as you walk through life. Be good to those relationships (even same-sex relationships) and you will find your way to heaven.
So to my high school classmate with whom I graduated high school and to the thousands of other who have been taught incorrectly that being Gay is a sin, please keep an open mind. Take time (with your mind open) to watch Matthew's video. Visit The Reformation Project website. Get Matthew's book and read it. When it comes down to it, regardless of our sex (gender), we are just people trying to find our way thorugh life and learn along the way what life it about. So, to answer the questions, "Can a gay man (or woman, gay or straight, married or celiebate) be a Priest?" Both Matthew and I would say "YES" (emphatically)
_________________________________
Bro Jeffery Wolfe,OSFC/n, is the Executive Director and a member of the
Board of Directors for The
Kristen Center, a faith-based not-for-profit community based
organization
dedicated to providing programs and services to those with HIV and those
who
care for them. Currently The Kristen Center offers targeted, customized
HIV
Support Groups for: Newly Diagnosed; Long Term Survivors; Family &
Caregivers of those with HIV; and, Women with HIV. HIV Prevention
programs are an essential core element of the services offered by The
Kristen Center. You can
learn more about The Kristen Center by going to http://www.thekristencenter.com/ or by checking out its Facebook Page
at http://www.fb.com/TheKristenCenter or visit their Twitter page at
http://www.twitter.com/kristencenter.
In addition, Bro Jeffery Wolfe,OSFC/n is the Director and Administrator of St John xxiii Pastoral & Outreach Center - UACC in Indianapolis, IN. It was founded
April 4, 2011 in Indianapolis on the East-side in Irvington. Bro Jeff attends
seminary as a third year student at Holy Spirit
enrolled in the Master of Divinity Program. As the Director of the St. John
xxiii Pastoral & Outreach Center - UACC in Indianapolis, Bro Jeff serves
Indianapolis by offering a Progressive, Vatican II Independent Catholic parish which
offers communion, hospital visitation, shut-in visitation, prayer groups, RCIA,
weddings and funerals, and other traditional liturgies associated with
Catholicism. St John XXIII Pastoral & Outreach Center - UACC is a parish under the jurisdiction of the United American Catholic Church.
St. John xxiii Parish denies NO ONE for ANY reason from receiving the Holy
Eucharist. ALL are welcome at our Mass regardless of status (divorced, single,
married, gay, straight, bi-sexual, trans-gendered). As a UACC parish, we
believe as Pope John XXIII did that Christ died for all, FOR ALL.
Each year, between 500,000 and 1.6 million youth in the U.S. are homeless or runaways [1].
The statistics for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender homeless
youth are even more shocking, as this group represents 20-40% of all homeless
young people [2]. Considering that lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender youth represent an estimated 3-5% of the total youth
population, these numbers are disproportionately high. And while even a
single homeless youth on the streets is one too many, the disparity of
gay and transgender youth that are homeless is unfathomable.
- See more at: http://fortytonone.org/get-informed/learn-about-the-issue/overview/#sthash.oItgAo4A.dpuf
Each
year, between 500,000 and 1.6 million youth in the U.S. are homeless or
runaways - See more at:
http://fortytonone.org/get-informed/learn-about-the-issue/overview/#sthash.lqhCIyMr.dpuf
