Why We Talk About LGBTQIA So Much
I appreciated Jimmie Hawkins preaching Sunday and reminding us that here in Austin we have some serious work to do on racial reconciliation. It struck me that he, an African-American minister, was making it clear to us, a largely white congregation, that the racism we may be tempted to think is in our past is not so...even in Austin.

It made me reflect on my own presence in the pulpit. Ever since finding out last summer that a couple folks felt I mentioned LGBTQIA too much in sermons, I have been asking myself if I should go silent for awhile about it all.

Here are my reasons for coming to the conclusion that I not only must continue but that I'm probably not doing enough.

First, I do not want to engage in self harm by hiding who I am. I spent 32 years with no one knowing but me that I was gay. That has been enough catering to others at my own expense. I would never ask that of any of you. I cannot model otherwise.

Second, I present cisgender which means that I present fairly straight. This means that the only way someone LGBTQIA knows I'm not only a safe place but that I get from a personal standpoint what they are going through is if I identify as such. The healing people experience by seeing a minister identify publicly as gay is undeniable.

Third, it isn't true that we are beyond this in 2019 or in Austin, Texas. Austin reported more hate crimes than any other Texas city last year. Roughly a quarter of these were related to sexual orientation.


You, my beloved Faith Presbyterian Church, are a unique Presbyterian Church. Only one other church in all of Mission Presbytery has a pastor that identifies as LGBTQI. It is not only unique. This is a gift to me and to you. It is an opportunity to bear witness to the truth that God calls us all and that the church can correct its terrible mistakes of the past. I can't speak from the African-American experience as Jimmie can. I can't speak from the perspective of a female pastor like my friends Katrina and Ilene can. I can offer this experience and I'm happy to make myself vulnerable to do so as part of this calling.

This is why I'm offering conversation about this topic at Theology on Live Oak beginning tonight at 6 p.m. It is of course the most optional of things. It is for those who identify as LGBTQI and for those who support us. It is even a time for skeptics to have the courage to ask questions of those who live this every day. We have to speak even across criticism and that is my deepest longing... that we will talk with each other and break the silence.

What about race? What about gender? What about immigrants? What about...? Yes, all this we must delve into. Let's figure out how best to have these conversations too. I welcome your insights.

Blessings,

Kyle
Presentation on Capital Campaign Potential by Don Smith March 31
Mark your calendars for Sunday March 31 as Don Smith presents his findings on the potential for us to do a capital campaign to address our ongoing needs as a church.
Theology on Live Oak Resumes March 19
We will resume Theology on Live Oak at Opal Divine's across Live Oak from the church at 6 p.m. March 19 and continue through Lent. The topic requested will be Matthew Vine's God and the Gay Christians and other resources that illuminate the much referenced biblical passages that portend to make homosexuality and LGBTQIA identities a sin.

With what has happened in the United Methodist Church, many have raised questions we believed were settled. With thousands of transgender military personnel losing their jobs, we have a renewed need to become strong advocates and allies.