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Theology at the edge

I've always enjoyed theological research, and the cut and thrust of theological debate and discussion since I became a Christian at sixteen years of age in 1979.  I am a committed Christian; I am also a lesbian in a deeply committed and very happy partnership.  Over the years I have seen the church as a loving, welcoming institution, and as a place of abuse and exclusion.  Because my love is directed toward women rather than men, I have been put out of two churches, received an attempted exorcism at one and banned from another Christian fellowship.  I initially trained in the 1980’s as a Christian minister alongside two fellow Christians from the same denomination, and while they went directly from college into ministry I was requested to complete a further year at another college while receiving psychological counselling, “. . . in order to become straight.”  Perhaps unsurprisingly, the church and I for several years went our separate ways. 

It was the discovery of the fully inclusive Metropolitan Community Church that finally brought me back into church fellowship and consequently many happy years of discipleship and growth.  I was able to return to ministry and to serious theological study, encouraged by perhaps the most remarkable, compassionate and loving spiritual leader I have ever been pastored by, the Rev Elder Jean Anne White, through whom Metropolitan Community Church was established in the UK.  She sadly died in November 2010 but her legacy of encouragement and empowering gay men and lesbians who are Christians continues.

As I continue in my studies and research, the number of inclusive churches in Europe is growing, but it is a long, slow journey.  Societal attitude in general has pendulum-swung from a majority of anti-gay sentiment to a majority of positive and accepting attitude, but continuing hate crimes against non-heterosexuals confirm there is still much to do in terms of education and understanding.  Theologically, we continue to debate homosexuality and related issues in the church, sometimes positively, sometimes negatively, but such discussions are rarely dull, and I trust my contribution here may add to such debates, bringing a new approach for consideration.  At the end of the day, the question for each of us as Christians must be, have I loved and served Jesus Christ as well as I could?  It was Christ who told us to love God fully with heart, mind, soul and strength, and to love our neighbour as ourselves, explaining that this summed up all aspects of Scripture.  He seemed clear that the practice of this included everyone, and gave no implication that ‘neighbour’ excluded anyone.  The fulfilment of this command, I believe, sits at the heart of any argument that encompasses inclusion as a tenet of Christian fellowship, and so to practice exclusion must surely raise a serious question regarding how we are fulfilling Christ’s command. 

Just to add a little academic blurb for your interest: I undertook my BTh at what was London Bible College (1983-1986), now known as the London School of Divinity.  I later went on to take my MA at Heythrop College London (2008-2010) and from 2011 to 2016 I worked on and completed my doctoral work at King's College, London.  

So . . . Welcome to my site, whoever you are, wherever you are on your journey with God, however you self-identify, and whatever your sexual orientation may be.  I hope you enjoy your time here, and should you wish to contact me, please email:  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or find me on Face Book.

 

May the peace and grace of God hold you.

Elaine