I'm proud of us at Holy T. Yesterday Kimberly hosted a discussion about homosexuality in the church over coffee and cakes at the rectory. I was in two minds whether to go, but in the end I did and I was glad.
Yes, everyone there (except the rector) was of my generation and older, yes there was a wide range of viewpoints, but most of us put our cards on the table and the discussion was both frank and honest. And most of all, we listened to each other. As people's stories came out, it became obvious that here was a group of people whose lives had been touched by the issues of welcoming openly gay clergy (particularly bishops) and blessing same-sex unions in the church, but were reaching out for reconciliation and doing so with both compassion and dignity.
Gosh, I wish the whole Anglican Communion was like us!
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2 comments:
so glad to read your blog - you had been very much in my mind, hoping that the meeting would be beneficial. Do you feel that any views were changed or just a general feeling of greater understanding of why other people hold different points of view?
I'm not sure if views were changed - although at least one person admitted to having changed their view over the last few years as a result of thinking about it deeply. I think it helped both sides understand where the other was coming from and gave everyone food for thought.
I know that holding a passionate view as I do can lead you to dismiss someone as thoughtless if they hold the opposite. Listening to people giving their thoughtful views rather than being faced by blind prejudice is helpful to both sides and all in between.
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