Breaking Silence: Can You Tell Your Church You're Gay?
Written by Administrator
Tuesday, 05 November 2002
Too many members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) community have either left churches or remain in churches while being silent about a part of their identity. Arguments from the Bible, tradition, and religious authorities are often used against homosexuality. The Indianapolis chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) helps break the silence in churches about sexual orientation and gender identity through this Spirit and Place Festival event, "Can You Tell Your Church You're Gay?" featuring the viewpoints of GLBT affirming congregations.
Rev. Rachel Matheny, Associate Pastor of Broadway United Methodist Church, facilitated a panel discussion with four community religious leaders: Rabbi Arnold Bienstock from Congregation Shaarey Tefilla, Nancy Ferriani from Trinity Episcopal Church, Rick Miller from Lawrence United Methodist Church, and T. Wyatt Watkins from Cumberland First Baptist Church.
The panel approaches this topic from different vantage points. Rabbi Bienstock is from a new conservative synagogue, and his approach is to deal with GLBT issues individually and pastorally. Unlike the Reform Judaism movement, where homosexuality is no longer an issue, the conservative movement is in a middle ground with reverence for tradition and a look to the modern world.
T. Wyatt Watkins' Baptist congregation has faced the issue of welcoming homosexuals head-on. At one point, half of the congregation left his church. Now Watkins feels his congregation is the "best place in the world." A prominent member of the church has had a commitment ceremony, and Watkins feels that only positive things come from welcoming covenantal relationships in a church.
Panel:
Rachel Matheny, Moderator Associate Pastor of Broadway United Methodist Church
Rabbi Arnold Bienstock Congregation Shaarey Tefilla
Nancy Ferriani Trinity Episcopal Church
Rick Miller Lawrence United Methodist Church
T. Wyatt Watkins Cumberland Baptist Church
Event Sponsor:
PFLAG, Indianapolis Chapter Phone: 317-545-7034 E-mail:
Too many members of the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered (GLBT) community have either left churches or remain in churches while being silent about a part of their identity. Arguments from the Bible, tradition, and religious authorities are often used against homosexuality. The Indianapolis chapter of PFLAG (Parents, Family, and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) helps break the silence in churches about sexual orientation and gender identity through this Spirit and Place Festival event, "Can You Tell Your Church You're Gay?" featuring the viewpoints of GLBT affirming congregations. 
