[Applause] I imagine if Jesus were alive today he
I imagine if Jesus were alive today he
I imagine if Jesus were alive today he would ride in the Pride Parade on a
would ride in the Pride Parade on a
would ride in the Pride Parade on a donkey Palm Sunday style as I wave my
donkey Palm Sunday style as I wave my
donkey Palm Sunday style as I wave my rainbow flag like a palm branch Jesus
rainbow flag like a palm branch Jesus
rainbow flag like a palm branch Jesus would take my hand and walk with me
would take my hand and walk with me
would take my hand and walk with me I imagine if Jesus were alive today he
I imagine if Jesus were alive today he
I imagine if Jesus were alive today he would be very confused with us he would
would be very confused with us he would
would be very confused with us he would question the reason behind the ongoing
question the reason behind the ongoing
question the reason behind the ongoing wars and why the fight for equality has
wars and why the fight for equality has
wars and why the fight for equality has not been won yet he would be angry and
not been won yet he would be angry and
not been won yet he would be angry and sad because equality and freedom are two
sad because equality and freedom are two
sad because equality and freedom are two of Jesus’s most important teachings I
of Jesus’s most important teachings I
of Jesus’s most important teachings I imagine if Jesus were alive today he
imagine if Jesus were alive today he
imagine if Jesus were alive today he would be proud of the churches who have
would be proud of the churches who have
would be proud of the churches who have welcomed and accepted LGBTQ folk he
welcomed and accepted LGBTQ folk he
welcomed and accepted LGBTQ folk he would smile from ear to ear when I tell
would smile from ear to ear when I tell
would smile from ear to ear when I tell him that I’m going to be a minister one
him that I’m going to be a minister one
him that I’m going to be a minister one day there’s so many things that I would
day there’s so many things that I would
day there’s so many things that I would love to tell Jesus but I’m going to tell
love to tell Jesus but I’m going to tell
love to tell Jesus but I’m going to tell you instead queer religious to words
you instead queer religious to words
you instead queer religious to words that describe me I am proud of these
that describe me I am proud of these
that describe me I am proud of these words but I’m not proud of these the
words but I’m not proud of these the
words but I’m not proud of these the assumptions that come with these words I
assumptions that come with these words I
assumptions that come with these words I do not look like a stereotypical
do not look like a stereotypical
do not look like a stereotypical minister I do not look like a
minister I do not look like a
minister I do not look like a stereotypical lesbian I believe that
stereotypical lesbian I believe that
stereotypical lesbian I believe that some of these assumptions stem from the
some of these assumptions stem from the
some of these assumptions stem from the so called ability of being able to
so called ability of being able to
so called ability of being able to determine someone’s sexuality the gaiter
determine someone’s sexuality the gaiter
determine someone’s sexuality the gaiter I would explain to Jesus that part of
I would explain to Jesus that part of
I would explain to Jesus that part of the gator is seeing someone who doesn’t
the gator is seeing someone who doesn’t
the gator is seeing someone who doesn’t fit traditional gender norms and
fit traditional gender norms and
fit traditional gender norms and assuming their gender and sexuality
assuming their gender and sexuality
assuming their gender and sexuality based on their personal style it’s
based on their personal style it’s
based on their personal style it’s important to remember that the Gator is
important to remember that the Gator is
important to remember that the Gator is used by everyone and that the way you
used by everyone and that the way you
used by everyone and that the way you choose to express yourself does not
choose to express yourself does not
choose to express yourself does not determine your sexuality we all express
determine your sexuality we all express
determine your sexuality we all express ourselves in different ways whether it
ourselves in different ways whether it
ourselves in different ways whether it be through the clothes you wear
be through the clothes you wear
be through the clothes you wear the way you choose to style your hair or
the way you choose to style your hair or
the way you choose to style your hair or the choice of having body art by using
the choice of having body art by using
the choice of having body art by using the Gator and labeling people we
the Gator and labeling people we
the Gator and labeling people we solidify the stereotype that the way you
solidify the stereotype that the way you
solidify the stereotype that the way you choose the way you dress and choose to
choose the way you dress and choose to
choose the way you dress and choose to express yourself determines your
express yourself determines your
express yourself determines your sexuality take me for instance I may not
sexuality take me for instance I may not
sexuality take me for instance I may not look like a stereotypical lesbian but
look like a stereotypical lesbian but
look like a stereotypical lesbian but what does a stereotypical lesbian even
what does a stereotypical lesbian even
what does a stereotypical lesbian even look like these old stereotypes continue
look like these old stereotypes continue
look like these old stereotypes continue to exist today and so I’ll be honest
to exist today and so I’ll be honest
to exist today and so I’ll be honest with you I do fit a few of the
with you I do fit a few of the
with you I do fit a few of the stereotypes stereotypes that would set
stereotypes stereotypes that would set
stereotypes stereotypes that would set off people’s Gator but there’s one
off people’s Gator but there’s one
off people’s Gator but there’s one stereotype in particular that I do not
stereotype in particular that I do not
stereotype in particular that I do not fit in with I freaking love Jesus as
fit in with I freaking love Jesus as
fit in with I freaking love Jesus as many as 31.5 percent of the world’s
many as 31.5 percent of the world’s
many as 31.5 percent of the world’s population are Christian approximately
population are Christian approximately
population are Christian approximately 10% of the world’s population are queer
10% of the world’s population are queer
10% of the world’s population are queer or trans while I’m not that
or trans while I’m not that
or trans while I’m not that mathematically inclined I know enough
mathematically inclined I know enough
mathematically inclined I know enough about statistics and probability to make
about statistics and probability to make
about statistics and probability to make the assumption that within that 30 1.5
the assumption that within that 30 1.5
the assumption that within that 30 1.5 percent of Christians that a percentage
percent of Christians that a percentage
percent of Christians that a percentage of them likely identify within the LGBTQ
of them likely identify within the LGBTQ
of them likely identify within the LGBTQ community it’s also fair to say that
community it’s also fair to say that
community it’s also fair to say that there is likely a percentage of Muslims
there is likely a percentage of Muslims
there is likely a percentage of Muslims Jews Hindus and other religions that
Jews Hindus and other religions that
Jews Hindus and other religions that also identify within the LGBTQ community
also identify within the LGBTQ community
also identify within the LGBTQ community I am part of both the Christian and the
I am part of both the Christian and the
I am part of both the Christian and the queer community but coming to terms with
queer community but coming to terms with
queer community but coming to terms with that was conflicting I was left
that was conflicting I was left
that was conflicting I was left wondering how I was going to schedule
wondering how I was going to schedule
wondering how I was going to schedule what days I would embrace my sexuality
what days I would embrace my sexuality
what days I would embrace my sexuality and what days I would embrace Jesus I
realized how exhausting this was the
realized how exhausting this was the first Sunday that I took my partner to
first Sunday that I took my partner to
first Sunday that I took my partner to church with me when the service was over
church with me when the service was over
church with me when the service was over we went out to my car I looked at Danny
we went out to my car I looked at Danny
we went out to my car I looked at Danny and just relaxed
and just relaxed
and just relaxed by embracing my religion and sexuality
by embracing my religion and sexuality
by embracing my religion and sexuality it felt like the weight of the world had
it felt like the weight of the world had
it felt like the weight of the world had been lifted off my shoulders if we could
been lifted off my shoulders if we could
been lifted off my shoulders if we could get through that first Sunday then we
get through that first Sunday then we
get through that first Sunday then we could get through the mall Jesus
could get through the mall Jesus
could get through the mall Jesus believed us all to be equal and I
believed us all to be equal and I
believed us all to be equal and I realized this when I came out and he did
realized this when I came out and he did
realized this when I came out and he did not turn away from me so in order to
not turn away from me so in order to
not turn away from me so in order to resolve this internal conflict I learned
resolve this internal conflict I learned
resolve this internal conflict I learned to do three things number one I learned
to do three things number one I learned
to do three things number one I learned to look at context to understand what
to look at context to understand what
to look at context to understand what was happening at the time of an event
was happening at the time of an event
was happening at the time of an event context is key to understanding and
context is key to understanding and
context is key to understanding and interpreting the Bible because the way
interpreting the Bible because the way
interpreting the Bible because the way the Bible is interpreted today is very
the Bible is interpreted today is very
the Bible is interpreted today is very different than how it was interpreted
different than how it was interpreted
different than how it was interpreted back in biblical times looking at
back in biblical times looking at
back in biblical times looking at context means understanding the word
context means understanding the word
context means understanding the word homosexuality was only added to the
homosexuality was only added to the
homosexuality was only added to the Bible in 1946 so this idea of
Bible in 1946 so this idea of
Bible in 1946 so this idea of homosexuality in the Bible has only been
homosexuality in the Bible has only been
homosexuality in the Bible has only been added in your grandparents lifetime
added in your grandparents lifetime
added in your grandparents lifetime number two I learned to figure out what
number two I learned to figure out what
number two I learned to figure out what I believe I believe that Jesus was the
I believe I believe that Jesus was the
I believe I believe that Jesus was the Messiah I also believe that Jesus was a
Messiah I also believe that Jesus was a
Messiah I also believe that Jesus was a radical nonviolent revolutionary who
radical nonviolent revolutionary who
radical nonviolent revolutionary who hung around with lepers hookers and
hung around with lepers hookers and
hung around with lepers hookers and crooks he did not speak English nor was
crooks he did not speak English nor was
crooks he did not speak English nor was he white he was anti wealth
he white he was anti wealth
he white he was anti wealth anti-death-penalty
anti-death-penalty
anti-death-penalty but he was never anti LGBTQ Jesus was a
but he was never anti LGBTQ Jesus was a
but he was never anti LGBTQ Jesus was a long haired brown skinned homeless
long haired brown skinned homeless
long haired brown skinned homeless community organizing anti slut-shaming
community organizing anti slut-shaming
community organizing anti slut-shaming Middle Eastern Jew and he loves me
Middle Eastern Jew and he loves me
Middle Eastern Jew and he loves me number three I learned to make my
number three I learned to make my
number three I learned to make my beliefs work for me part of accepting
beliefs work for me part of accepting
beliefs work for me part of accepting who I am as a religious queer and all of
who I am as a religious queer and all of
who I am as a religious queer and all of the other parts that make up my identity
the other parts that make up my identity
the other parts that make up my identity meant molding my beliefs and my faith
meant molding my beliefs and my faith
meant molding my beliefs and my faith around me and my life it means walking
around me and my life it means walking
around me and my life it means walking into church every Sunday
into church every Sunday
into church every Sunday hand-in-hand with my partner
hand-in-hand with my partner
hand-in-hand with my partner and being proud of it now learning to do
and being proud of it now learning to do
and being proud of it now learning to do these three things wasn’t easy through
these three things wasn’t easy through
these three things wasn’t easy through looking at context figuring out what I
looking at context figuring out what I
looking at context figuring out what I believe and making my beliefs work for
believe and making my beliefs work for
believe and making my beliefs work for me I realized that nothing will hold me
me I realized that nothing will hold me
me I realized that nothing will hold me back from embracing my true identity
back from embracing my true identity
back from embracing my true identity even though it means reevaluating
even though it means reevaluating
even though it means reevaluating everything that I have been taught about
everything that I have been taught about
everything that I have been taught about the Bible and Jesus I’ve come to realize
the Bible and Jesus I’ve come to realize
the Bible and Jesus I’ve come to realize that not everyone will accept me as a
that not everyone will accept me as a
that not everyone will accept me as a queer minister and some days even I
queer minister and some days even I
queer minister and some days even I don’t accept it myself
don’t accept it myself
don’t accept it myself but by asking awkward questions about my
but by asking awkward questions about my
but by asking awkward questions about my religion and sexuality I am one step
religion and sexuality I am one step
religion and sexuality I am one step closer to embracing my true identity see
closer to embracing my true identity see
closer to embracing my true identity see I always knew that I wanted to be a
I always knew that I wanted to be a
I always knew that I wanted to be a minister and I always knew that I was
minister and I always knew that I was
minister and I always knew that I was queer but trying to fit those two things
queer but trying to fit those two things
queer but trying to fit those two things together was difficult
together was difficult
together was difficult traditionally ministers have been
traditionally ministers have been
traditionally ministers have been straight folk consequently I had very
straight folk consequently I had very
straight folk consequently I had very little exposure to queer or trans
little exposure to queer or trans
little exposure to queer or trans ministers and in order to navigate this
ministers and in order to navigate this
ministers and in order to navigate this awkward path and these awkward questions
awkward path and these awkward questions
awkward path and these awkward questions I needed a role model but there wasn’t
I needed a role model but there wasn’t
I needed a role model but there wasn’t any around only when I began traveling
any around only when I began traveling
any around only when I began traveling did I find these role models I traveled
did I find these role models I traveled
did I find these role models I traveled all the way from British Columbia to
all the way from British Columbia to
all the way from British Columbia to Newfoundland with 14 other individuals
Newfoundland with 14 other individuals
Newfoundland with 14 other individuals from the United Church of Canada we
from the United Church of Canada we
from the United Church of Canada we traveled to Newfoundland for a national
traveled to Newfoundland for a national
traveled to Newfoundland for a national meeting that occurs every three years in
meeting that occurs every three years in
meeting that occurs every three years in every province that we went to I began
every province that we went to I began
every province that we went to I began to realize something there’s actually an
to realize something there’s actually an
to realize something there’s actually an abundance of career ministers people
abundance of career ministers people
abundance of career ministers people that I aspire to be like these
that I aspire to be like these
that I aspire to be like these individuals became my role models they
individuals became my role models they
individuals became my role models they showed me that I could embrace Jesus
showed me that I could embrace Jesus
showed me that I could embrace Jesus embrace my sexuality and thrive
embrace my sexuality and thrive
embrace my sexuality and thrive now that didn’t come without me
now that didn’t come without me
now that didn’t come without me questioning everything I questioned if I
questioning everything I questioned if I
questioning everything I questioned if I really wanted to be a minister I
really wanted to be a minister I
really wanted to be a minister I questioned by the Holy Spirit wanted me
questioned by the Holy Spirit wanted me
questioned by the Holy Spirit wanted me of all people
of all people
of all people and I questioned
and I questioned
and I questioned what would happen if I failed I’ve come
what would happen if I failed I’ve come
what would happen if I failed I’ve come to realize that I love Who I am
to realize that I love Who I am
to realize that I love Who I am and I already love how I’m going to
and I already love how I’m going to
and I already love how I’m going to become and as long as Jesus continues to
become and as long as Jesus continues to
become and as long as Jesus continues to walk with me and as long as I continue
walk with me and as long as I continue
walk with me and as long as I continue to ask those awkward questions then I
to ask those awkward questions then I
to ask those awkward questions then I have all I need in life so I’m going to
have all I need in life so I’m going to
have all I need in life so I’m going to leave you with one final thought
leave you with one final thought
leave you with one final thought always remember that Jesus had two dads
always remember that Jesus had two dads
always remember that Jesus had two dads and turned out perfectly fine
”
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