Comments on: Rev. Alden Johnson: “A Grandfather Speaks”

By: david condron

david condron — Mon, 14 Mar 2016 01:23:00 +0000

Hello Reverend Johnson,
I was guided in confirmation by you when you ministered at Haddam Neck Covenant Church in 1970. You were perceptive, patient and kind. I was an excitable and sensitive fellow, and though I was not fully aware at that time, I was having inklings that I was gay.
Now years later, my Mom, Jane, continues to be an active member of HNCC. She continues to live in the house I grew up in; a house within a short walk of church. Over the last 12 years (having moved to NYC) I’ve visited every 6-8 weeks and I join Mom at HNCC services. I have always only felt love, respect and acceptance from church members in this congregation and consider a number to be my friends.
Since college I’ve been an out gay man. I’ve come late to investigating where ECC stands on LGBT parishioners and clergy. I am deeply disturbed by the stance ECC has taken to actively exclude LGBT people. Though not a member, I’ve been a part of this church family since I was 4yo (and I’m now 59).
I question what to do about my dismay. Perhaps stop attending. I have talked to the last two minusters one-on-one. I am reminded that all my life I’ve known that for me, and others like me, the personal is the political. My years of civil rights, gay rights and HIV/AIDS activism kicks up; however, I also know this isn’t the place. These are kind and loving people and many, if not most, of these people would be dismayed by this stance by the church.
Yet the disservice I do to myself and others by attending in silent collusion rankles. But for now this is what I do.
I continue to be baffled by the citing of random scripture that casts gays as automatically sin-filled due to our sexuality. Accordingly scripture can be used to condone wife-beating: one odd example of a number where literal interpretation of scripture is just plain wrong.
Alden (weird to call you by your first name because I knew you as a teen-ager. Ha!), I appreciate your reflections on your own grasp of this situation. I am unsure of my own follow-through. I will pray with the knowingness that God loves me.
I wm grateful for your spiritual guidance,
Dave Condron
P.S. the chuch’s confirmation gift was a Bible. Your personal gift to me was the book JONATHAN LIVINGSTON SEAGULL!!! I thanked you then and now. You saw me.

By: Joanne Berry Gailius

Joanne Berry Gailius — Wed, 09 Mar 2016 16:12:00 +0000

I very much appreciate your words of compassion. My personal challenge is how can I continue to support and attend a Covenant Church that is homophobic? When our lesbian friends come to visit, they aren’t truly welcomed with us on Sunday…..how do we respond? It’s living within that discomfort, knowing deeply in my heart that Jesus would open his arms and hold them, us, all in a big warm, welcoming, inclusive hug.

By: Karl Hallsten

Karl Hallsten — Sun, 28 Jul 2013 08:36:00 +0000

Thanks Aldie for sharing your poignant story—Our paths were parallel for a while at NPC and North Park Seminary. One of my sons is gay and in a long term–8 year relationship–marriage is not a possiblity here in Arizona. Because of the teaching of the church–he was a graduate of Minnehaha Academy—coming out was a long slow process–Though I recognized the signs of his sexual identity when he was in high school we never had the conversation until years later when he was just into this present partnership–and I asked.
I don’t think the church is all to blame but it must share some for supporting the dishonesty and distance in the relationship. I had long accepted homosexuality both in and out of the church–I found my first support and discussion in the United Church of Christ–which by the way pioneered openly gay clergy in 1972–It was also (its predecessor the first mainline denomination to ordain blacks, and women.
I am active in PFLAG.
In regards the Bible–You have to do major damage to the Biblical Record to deny the long term homosexual relationship between Jonathan and David recorded in I and II Samual. He wrote a Psalm and made all of Isreal sing the praises that Jonathans love for David was greater than that of any wormen. David had multiple wives and relationships–the only one he is chastised for was the relationship with Bathsheba and that because he took Uriahs property–adultery.—
While perhaps not quite as clear–Ruth and Naomi’s story likewise raises strong indications of a life long committed relationship– Ruth’s plea and pledge–and in the end–“And the women called him, “Naomi’s child.”

Good to hear your story and God richly bless you and your family.

I rember my unter disappointment when I read about the Covenant, very hastily drawing a deep line in the sand. Great to hear that some are trying to build a bridge over—The Covenant has so much to offer.

By: Peter hawkinson

Peter hawkinson — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 21:46:00 +0000

In reply to Keith Robinson.

Hi Keith, I have such good memories of our time together in school! Glad to see you are doing well up there in Minnesota. Actually, my read of Covenant History is that the Church was always making room for a statement like Alden’s, while at the same time engaging in ongoing discernment together. This is why our Churches were filled with people who read scripture together and disagreed on the basis of scripture on many issues deemed “non-essential”…from the sexuality paper, “the Covenant has always had a strong commitment both to careful bible study and to honest, respectful conversation among people who hold a diversity of views…” I think this historic stance, brave and laudable, was found in the concept of resolutions, which are “non-binding” discernments of the Church at any given time. As the paper says, it is intended for “Teaching and conversation.” Where I think we lost our strength to do this was when this particular paper was also deemed a “foundation for current policy and practice.” I appreciate your response, strong but respectful, and as one who feels differently, with a congregation split about 50/50, as we read scripture, I just long for fruitful discussion which brings understanding. i want us to be a Church where those who feel differently (even on the basis of scripture) about this sexuality issue are still covenanted together by the love of Jesus, still meet at the communion table, still do ministry together. We have no official congregational stance, except that we are covenant together by new Life in Christ. Just some of my rambling thoughts on what it means to be a Covenant Church.

By: Keith Robinson

Keith Robinson — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:20:00 +0000

2007 report from the Board of ministry to the annual meeting on sexuality- an excerpt:
In 1996 a resolution on human sexuality was adopted by the Covenant Annual Meeting. The core declaration of the resolution stated: God created people male and female, and provided for the marriage relationship in which two may become one. A publicly declared, legally binding marriage between one woman and one man is the one appropriate place for sexual intercourse. Heterosexual marriage, faithfulness within marriage, abstinence outside of marriage—these constitute the Christian standard. When we fall short, we are invited to repent, receive the forgiveness of God, and amend our lives.

The observation here is that those who don’t see it this way are outside of the core beliefs of the Covenant.

By: Keith Robinson

Keith Robinson — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 15:14:00 +0000

I echo the words written above: “Because I’m a Covenant pastor, some will wonder how I can assume this open, affirming stance on LGBT issues.” Number me among those who wonder.
It is fascinating to discover where we are now that we are “enlightened.” The founders of the Covenant asked the question “where is it written.” in reference to scripture, not “where is it written” in reference to a medical journal, newspaper or blog.

By: Lynda McGraw

Lynda McGraw — Sun, 28 Oct 2012 02:24:00 +0000

Alden,
Thank you for writing and being open .. to the amazing notion that GOD is love. He commands us to show his love….. not parcel it out as we see fit. Yes, you were a postive and loving light in the oh so dark time of Mark’s death. It was a blessed memorial service in the sanctuary. It was an honor to Mark’s life and an honor to God’s love. Even after 16 years I find comfort in the fact that we all said good bye to Mark in God’s house confirming that he was loved by us and God. It is wonderful to hear of your grandaughters and the acceptance of their entire family. I do pray that the world and our Covenant denonmination can move towards the love that Jesus calls us to live.

By: Claire Nelson

Claire Nelson — Sat, 27 Oct 2012 07:15:00 +0000

thanks for your encouraging words!

By: Camilla Clare

Camilla Clare — Thu, 11 Oct 2012 16:04:00 +0000

What a wonderful article. It breaks my heart that the wonderful churches that we grew up in are so slow to embrace the LGBT community. From earliest childhood we were told that God is Love, and to love our neighbors as ourselves. How can we not welcome and love our LGBT family and friends?

By: Allan Waite

Allan Waite — Sun, 07 Oct 2012 08:07:00 +0000

Thank you, Rev. Johnson for your courage in saying what so many of us feel and know to be true. I have been at odds with the official stance on this issue, and I fear that secular America is now leading the way on issues of justice and tolerance. A sad state of affairs when the Christian church becomes known for myopia of the heart. Churches led the charge to end institutionalized slavery in this country, as well as the Civil Rights movement in the 50s and 60s. Where is our relevance if we are not at the fore? Thank you again. Love wins.