Is there any hope for Thanksgiving? Maybe.

originally published on RMNBlog

Fair warning… the last time I shared my thoughts on Thanksgiving eve I was criticized for not sticking to the script of the Pilgrims and Indians having a dinner party and everything ending happily ever after. So, if you want to only focus on that narrative, you should probably stop reading and just click here.
The problem with the myth of Thanksgiving is that it forms us as people who whitewash the story we came from, and thus, who we are today and the decisions we make tomorrow. I’m not suggesting that because our country was founded on the blood of native people we should wallow in guilt, but I do believe we can do better than repeating a lie. It is even worse when we insert God into the redacted narrative, giving thanks for that first Thanksgiving and painting a picture of those innocent Christian travelers spreading the Gospel of love and full inclusion by their sharing a meal with the those nice Indians.

I don’t say all of this to be politically correct. The entire notion of being p.c. is based on the flawed idea that our political selves are somehow separate from who we are. As the story goes, our lives are split into political, spiritual, social, and other selves. Therefore, what we say in one realm doesn’t really have much say over who we really are. That story, like Thanksgiving, is also not true. When I was a little kid and my grandfather said the “n word", it was explained to me that he grew up in a different time when people talked different. Or, more recently, when a former coworker frequently made generalizations about people walking across our church’s property based on the color of their skin, it was explained to me that he was just concerned about safety. And when the myth of Thanksgiving is retold to my 3 year old son at his school and he comes home with paper feathers on his head and doing an Indian war chant by moving his hand to and from his mouth, it is explained to me that they’re just children.

It isn’t about being politically correct. It is about truth telling. Because telling the truth about where we’ve been shapes who we are today and the decisions we make tomorrow. Last month my alma mater, The University of Florida, was weighed down in a scandal that some dismissed as politically-correct-over-sensitivity. A fraternity threw a “rappers and rock stars” party in which the participants painted their faces black and dressed in baggy clothes. Pictures were posted. People were outraged. On the surface, defenders argued, black-face is ok because they were just joking and it’s on tv, so people who are upset just need to get over it. It was only after a community forum and presentations from different professors on the history of black-face did more understand the hurt that can be inflicted when we ignore the origins of a practice. Black-face is politically, spiritually, and socially incorrect wrong because it has been used historically to politically, spiritually, and socially dehumanize.

There are examples of lies painted all around us—false stories that are put in front of us in hopes of brainwashing us to not see certain parts of the true world around us. Like a ritzy resort in a third-world country, usually these stories have poverty hiding just on the other side of the wall. This time of year especially, stores do all they can to offer the lowest prices and at the same time, hide the poverty that is inflicted to achieve those low, low prices. That is why some Wal-Mart employees have said they are planning to strike on Black Friday. They are tired of hiding behind the resort wall… they want us to see them. Where I’m from in the Southeast, a grocery giant Publix is known for its heartwarming Thanksgiving commercials that are like a tapestry that tells the Norman Rockwell-esque story of the perfect Thanksgiving. They, like other grocery stores, do everything they can in hopes you won’t think about were your food came from—to pay no attention to the exploited farmworkers behind the curtain. (The Coalition of Immokalee Workers is working to change this practice. See their video: "A Tale of Two Thanksgivings" and sign their petition.)

As hard as you try…

You can’t separate practices from their shameful history.

You can’t separate political correctness from what is just plain correct.

You can’t separate the food you buy from the hands that picked it.

And you can’t separate the harm done in the past from a day of thanks today.

You can’t separate these things because what we say and what we do need to match. It’s kind of like a church that has a slogan of openness, but yet in practice, still holds on to its closed hearts, minds, and doors. And when you are part of a denomination, like The United Methodist Church, whose true story is one of discrimination and harm toward women, people of color, and LGBTQ persons, it’s not enough to sugarcoat the past and say everything is ok because you have some Black female clergy and gay people coming to church. When you do that, you continue as a willing participant in the harmful practices of the past—sort of like if you were to paint your face to make fun of another race or pass down the myth of Thanksgiving. We fool ourselves to think that if we just ignore the narrative, the harm and hurt will just go away, when in reality, it lingers and festers and causes us to repeat history.

So where does that leave us on this Thanksgiving? Ironically, I think we get a hint in our Eucharist liturgy titled “The Great Thanksgiving”. It is the practice much like Thanksgiving. We are called to remember that first meal where all were invited to share—even Judas. (Some of us eat together with people we don’t very much care for.) We are called to give thanks, because it is right to give our thanks and praise. But unlike the Thanksgiving myth, Holy Communion’s story tells us who we really are—that God formed us in God’s image and breathed into us the breath of life.  It also tells a story, but instead of distorting our past, it tells us who we really are. It doesn’t say everything is ok because of
Jesus, but it painstakingly tells the truth about how we turned away from God’s love, how ours is a story of oppressing and thus being oppressed, and how we are in need of forgiveness of others and of God. It tells the true story about the fullness of who we have been, who we are, and who we are becoming. It tells a true story about the fullness of Jesus Christ—who has died, is risen, and will come again. And it is a meal that believes that by eating and drinking these symbols of God breaking and pouring God’s self out for us, we are joined with God in breaking and pouring ourselves out for others.

And yeah, we don’t live out this Eucharistic meal when we leave the table like we should… our tables aren’t truly open to all when we are trained in the art of historical fabrication. But, I believe it is easier to redeem practices when at least the story you start with is true and good. It’s much more difficult to redeem a holiday like Thanksgiving when we can’t even be honest about its history. I believe the place to start is truth telling. Only then will we stop ignoring the narrative and instead, work to transform it into something life (and thanks) giving.

Bishop Coyner, Please Don't Speak for Martin Luther King Jr.

Background

United Methodists in the Western Jurisdiction adopted a “Statementof Gospel Obedience” that says the denomination is in error in its stance that the practice of homosexuality “is incompatible with Christian teaching.” The jurisdiction’s statement also urged United Methodists to operate as if that stance “does not exist, creating a church where all people are truly welcome.”

Bishop Coyner's Statement

Today, Indiana Area Bishop Coyner published his criticisms of the Western Jurisdiction in his e-pistle.

Among other objectionable points in Bishop Coyner's statement was the unbelievable belief that the Western Jurisdiction's call for Gospel Obedience (in direct opposition to the UMC's current stance) is a “very poor substitute for the honorable practice of civil disobedience as expressed clearly by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.”

My Response

Bishop Coyner, in all due respect to your episcopal office, but are we speaking about the same MLK Jr. who argues that civil disobedience is justified not only to deal with an unjust law, but that "everyone has a moral responsibility to disobey unjust laws."

When you said poor substitute, are you sure you didn't really mean to say faithful practice? 

When you read MLK's "Letter From a Birmingham Jail", where do you identify in the story? There are basically two options... 

• The preacher in jail because he was calling for people of faith and moral conviction to Biblical obedience to love one another.

 - or -

• The White, moderate clergymen (one of which was a Methodist Bishop) who were asking MLK Jr. to stop rocking the boat.

Bishop Coyner, since you brought up Rev. MLK Jr. in your e-pistle, and basically spoke for him, where do you fall in this story?

Bishop, I've read Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. 

I've been formed by the words of Martin Luther King Jr. 

Martin Luther King, Jr. is a hero of mine.

Bishop, please don't speak for Martin Luther King Jr.

Sincerely,

Rev. Andy Oliver

PS. Here are a group of youth from AlumRock UMC that seem to get MLK Jr's writing. You can sign their online petition to The Council of Bishops in support of Bishop Talbert's message, which, as they point out, is a faithful practice of MLK Jr's call to civil disobedience.

LGBTQ and Christian: Churches Really Embodying Radical Hospitality

For those who missed the news, I moved to Chicago to take a job in communications and technology with Reconciling Ministries Network, a non-profit mobilizing United Methodists to create full inclusion of all God’s children regardless of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

Many of you have asked what I do. Basically I get to walk with people in their full range of emotions, helping them to tell their story of what it means to be a Christ follower who happens to also be LGBTQ or an ally. I get to celebrate with churches and communities that have made courageous statements of inclusion and cry with those individuals and groups who are being oppressed by other churches and society. I love my job.

One of the best parts of my jobs is telling the story of new churches or communities who have affirmed their commitment to full inclusion by becoming a Reconciling Community. I share the stories I helped tell this week to show that they are all coming from different places... both blue and red states. For some it was an easy vote, for others it was years of hard conversations. Reading these statements makes me think that there isn't a United Methodist congregation in Florida or elsewhere that couldn't make a similar statement. (Florida only has 3 Reconciling Congregations.) If you are in a church that isn't even willing to have the Reconciling conversation, you can always join RMN as a Sunday School or committee and by doing so, lead your church in what it really means to embody radical hospitality.

More regular articles to follow... I still don't have any furniture.

I challenge you to read these statements of welcome and inclusion below and tell me why your church shouldn't join the Reconciling Movement:

Rayne Memorial United Methodist Church (New Orleans, Louisiana)

For Rev. Carol Winn Crawford and her church, the process of becoming a Reconciling Congregation was a natural culmination. “After years of practicing radical hospitality without regard to gender identity or sexual orientation, a growing sensitivity to the plight of persons who have been scorned and isolated by the faith community, an ever-increasing love for LGBT individuals, couples, and families who are a precious part of our community, and the desire to make our solidarity with them public” becoming Reconciling was the next step. While their vote was unanimous, not everyone in the congregation is on board yet, but together they are committed to a ministry of patience, kindness, and understanding.

We are a community of faith and love representing, celebrating, and embracing all God’s children as persons of sacred worth, regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, national origin, culture, tradition, sexual orientation, gender identity, personal and family history, or station in life. In the full expression of the radically transforming and all-inclusive love of God as revealed through Jesus Christ, all are welcome!

Social Concerns Committee of Nashville United Methodist Church (Nashville, Indiana)

Many find themselves in a church that is not ready to become a Reconciling Congregation. That was the case at NUMC, so Gloria Berryman and a committee in her church have taken leadership, writing their own statement and facilitating inclusivity seminars and movie nights.

We are called to share God’s love as we minister with and to all persons in the community and beyond. Our welcome knows no boundaries of age, race, ethnicity, culture, gender identity, sexual orientation, economic condition, or physical or mental ability. We seek to bridge the division in the church on this matter by fostering opportunities for dialogue through education, ministry, advocacy, and witness.

Penns Park United Methodist Church (Penns Park, Pennsylvania)

In 2004, when PPUMC found themselves in need of a fresh vision after 200 years of ministry, they decided to be intentional about becoming an open and affirming church. As for many churches, that journey has not been an easy one—Rev. Ginny Mills and her congregation have been the target of many of the same acts of discrimination and vitriol that many LGBT person face every day. After some very difficult years, the church has begun to grow again. Worshippers are an equal split of LGBT and allies, and they are very present outside the walls of the church, making their presence known in the local pride parade.

We are welcoming and affirming, believing all people are precious children of God, regardless of color, sexual orientation, or status. We are building an active ministry that extends beyond the walls of the church building. We are an old church moving in a new direction that shows God's love, care, and concern for the surrounding community. Though our congregation was established in 1805, we are not bound by stiff traditions; rather, we constantly seek new ways to apply the unchanging Gospel to a rapidly changing world.

Beverley Hills United Methodist Church (Alexandria, Virginia)

Rev. Sara Manner and Lay Leader Karen Beasley are proud to announce their joining with other churches across the country to “live out the teachings of Jesus Christ, who welcomed all people to his love, care, and grace.” On July 1^st they voted to become a Reconciling Congregation!

We welcome all people. By this we mean that people of any race, ethnicity, national origin, age, religious background, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, physical or mental ability, economic status, or educational background are welcome. We affirm that all people are created in the image of God and all are worthy of God's love and grace. We fully include all people in the life and ministry of Beverley Hills Church. We recognize that there are differences among us, but believe we can love each other and work together even though we may not think alike. To all who have known the pain of exclusion or discrimination in the church or in society we proclaim this statement of welcome. We invite all people to join us in our faith journey toward greater love, understanding and mutual respect as we seek to follow in the way of Jesus Christ.

First United Methodist Church (Watsonville, California)

160 years after her birth, FUMC of Watsonville voted as a church to be recognized as a Reconciling Congregation. Rev. Robin Mathews-Johnson shared their welcome statement which was based on a statement written by Capitol Hill UMC:

We are called to the ministry of reconciliation. We embrace as a gift the diversity of our neighborhood and the world. We celebrate our human family’s diversity of sexual orientation, gender identity, race, ethnicity, age, faith history, economic status, marital status, physical and mental ability, and education. We affirm that all people are created in the image of God and as beloved children of God, all are worthy of God’s love and grace. We welcome the full inclusion of all people in the life and ministries as we journey toward reconciliation through Christ. We recognize that there are differences among us, but believe that we can love alike even though we may not think alike. We proclaim this statement of welcome to all who have known the pain of exclusion or discrimination in the church and society. We invite all people to join us in our faith journey toward greater love, understanding, and mutual respect.

Broadway United Methodist Church (Indianapolis, Indiana)

Many inclusive churches wonder why it is important to join an organization and become a Reconciling Congregation. After witnessing continued discrimination against the LGBT community, BUMC voted to become one after 20 years of discussion. “We have come to realize that our voice against these injustices must be heard across the country,” said Board Chair Marc McAleavey. In addition to their statement of welcome, the church marches in the Pride Parade and hosts different LGBT arts and support groups.

We believe that the Spirit of God is alive in all people. We welcome persons of all age race, ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. We seek to acknowledge and honor this Spirit in all people by having conversations and listening for opportunities to connect and invest in the passions, interests, and gifts they have to share with the world.

Dunean United Methodist Church (Greenville, South Carolina)

When DUMC was continually experiencing difficulties with visitors who said they struggled with the church’s inclusive spirit (over one-third of the congregation identifies as LGBT), the congregation decided to adopt a new mission statement and become a Reconciling Congregation. “We wanted the community to know that we are inclusive, loving and accepting of all persons,” said Rev. Andria Cantrell, “so that visitors will know immediately who we are as a church.”

We are called by God to embrace all people, regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, family or socioeconomic status, physical or mental ability, or faith history. All persons are of sacred worth and dignity. Together, we are guided by our Lord's grace to worship, study, pray, and fellowship in servant ministry to the world by the power of God's Holy Spirit.

The Western Jurisdiction of the United Methodist Church

The WJ Conference adopted a resolution in 2008 and just recently affirmed their identity as a Reconciling Jurisdiction as an act of biblical obedience. Here is an excerpt from the resolution:

We stand with our LGBT brothers and sisters, both lay and clergy, who have been shunned by the UMC in polity and in deed. We stand with our leaders who must hide an essential part of who they are in order to serve the church. We stand with hope, not for the future, but for our ministry in this time, in our places where people long to be welcomed and included in our communities of faith, long to be recognized in their relationships, and long to be a part of the church at large. We name and claim our ministries as welcoming and reconciling throughout the jurisdiction. We open our doors to all persons regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, we open our hearts to those who have been shunned, we open our minds to radical obedience to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, even when at odds with The Book of Discipline, in order to further the work of God's justice and the creation of the beloved community. As a Welcoming and Reconciling Jurisdiction we will take steps of inclusion in the sacred trust of marriage, ordination, and leadership roles for all. Knowing that we are not all alike, but that we do intend to love alike, we recognize that this statement is made of courage, not agreement; this statement is made on faith, not law; and this action is taken to further the witness of The UMC, not to disregard its importance.

9/11: My Story Eleven Years Later (by: 9/11 Survivor Artie Van Why)

On this day of remembrance, I am honored to welcome back a friend, Artie Van Why, who witnessed 9/11 from his office across the street from the World Trade Center. Artie began writing about his experience on 9/11 and the weeks that followed, and authored an amazing book That Day in September. Today he reflects back on that day, he remembers the day Bin Laden was killed, and dwells in the grief he still feels. You can also read Artie's last article on this site about why he is leaving the United Methodist Church. 

I’ve been watching an HBO series called “The Newsroom”; a show centered on a fictional cable network and its flagship news show.  Each episode’s fictitious storylines revolve around a factual, significant news story of a specific day in the past few years.

On a recent episode, entitled “5/1”, the show’s continuous plotlines revolved around the major news story of May 1, 2011; the death of Osama bin Laden.

From the prospective of just a TV-viewer, it was riveting to watch what it must have been like in newsrooms across the country that day as the story we had all been waiting for had finally become a reality. But as someone who had witnessed, and survived, the 9/11 attack in New York City, it was difficult to watch.

The night bin Laden’s death was announced I was alone in my apartment in Lancaster, PA; far from the city that had been my home for 26 years. I can still remember feeling so isolated in the moments that followed the President’s address confirming bin Laden’s death. Watching the aerial shots on TV of people in New York gathering at Ground Zero made me long to be there with them. I had mourned with my fellow New Yorkers in the weeks and months following 9/11; experiencing a sense of connection unlike ever before. I imagined that the people of the city assembling where the twin towers had once stood were sensing a connection once again; hopefully of solace perhaps and a semblance of comfort.

I had nowhere to go in this city of Lancaster that was now my new home. People wouldn’t be gathering anywhere. And if I were to leave my apartment and walk the streets I would pass very few people; Lancaster not being an active city at night. And the people I would walk by would have no idea of just how significant this night was for me; as a 9/11 survivor. And though I had family and friends I could have phoned, I didn’t because I was unable to put together words that could remotely describe the emptiness of not knowing what I should be feeling.

But now it was 2012 and as I watched “The Newsroom” episode my thoughts quickly went from the night of 5/1/2011 to the morning of 9/11/2001. The images, memories, helplessness, pain and sorrow of that day when everything changed are always with me. Most of the time they are just in the recesses of my thoughts; no longer inhibiting me from my daily routines. Yet there is always an underlying anticipation that all those things can rush to the forefront of my thoughts as I relive that day. Sometimes they are triggered by something specific; other times by nothing at all. This time it was a television show.

And it’s not just the images I recall. It is also the emotions still so closely associated with those images; the terror and fear; the feeling of utter helplessness; the anguish; the sorrow.

I became aware that I was biting down on my knuckle while watching the TV; hoping that would prevent the tears falling down my face breaking into outright sobs. My partner was sitting in another chair, watching with me. If he was aware of what was going on with me he didn’t say anything. That’s not to fault him. He has held me many other times as I’ve cried over 9/11. But I’ve become all too aware of the awkwardness of others when I begin to talk of 9/11. I can sense a person’s unease of not knowing what to say or how to respond. Most people, I’ve found, are uncomfortable with someone else’s expressed grief. I understand that. So at times I’m more concerned about others’ than I am about myself. I say nothing.

Every 9/11 survivor I’ve communicated with shares the fact that there are people who think we should be “over it” by now; unable to understand why we haven’t “moved on.” I think I can say on behalf of many survivors that we will never be “over” it.  The memories of 9/11 are with us daily; some days just unobtrusively in the background, some days occupying every conscious thought.

And even though it has been eleven years now, as each anniversary approaches I am acutely aware of it. I feel on edge, easily irritated by the smallest insignificant things. The memories seem fresher; as if 9/11 had happened only yesterday. I cry more than usual. As if the anniversary of a family member’s death was near, the grief over the lost lives of people I didn’t even know is no less.

I have made progress in this mourning process. I may not have “moved on” but I am moving forward. I’ve only recently allowed myself to reenter living my life; accepting happiness when it comes my way. I’ve learned how to once again laugh. I’m able to feel hopeful about my life.

But I will never forget that day in September, back in 2001. And I will do what small part I can in assuring the generations to come will learn to always remember.

Reflection video recorded a year ago.

Labor Day, with Tomatoes and Justice For All

The following is an article I wrote for the United Methodist Church General Board of Church & Society...

GBCS is committed to building an economy that values work and honors the dignity of all workers. Across the connection United Methodists are engaged in transformational ministries to support the unemployed and to stand with workers struggling for justice. In this series of blog posts we will highlight a few of these stories and provide opportunities for you to be a part of this movement. To share your story or for more information on how you can get involved contact Rev. Israel Alvaran (ialvaran@UMC-GBCS.org) or John Hill (jhill@UMC-GBCS.org).

---

God of shop and marketplace, of farm and studio, Of factory and shipping lane, of school and busy home: Bless the produce of our hands. Redeem our work for Kingdom-use. By Your grace, our efforts stand, all offered up to You. There in Eden, You proclaimed that we should work the earth – Stewards over all we named, delighting in their worth. Through our fall we brought decay, lost access to Jehovah’s rest. Through the cross, we rest in faith and all our labor’s blessed. In Your image we are made: Creative like You are, Forming goods for use and trade just like You formed the stars. Send us out in power and skill to worship through each task assigned. By Your Spirit we fulfill the holy, grand design.
Bobby Giles (76.76.78.76 meter)

On this Labor Day, I celebrate a woman who 40 years ago walked away from her job. June Kistler Adams was my grandmother. She made the 30-minute commute from Palatka, Florida to Green Cove Springs with a fellow teacher who happened to be a woman of color. The principal made it clear she could either lose her riding companion or lose her job. “Mommom” told me this story the year before she died, saying “I looked that jerk in the eye and told him where he could stick that job.”

Pullman strikers outside Arcade Building in Pullman, Chicago. The Illinois National Guard can be seen guarding the building during the Pullman Railroad Strike in 1894. Source: Abraham Lincoln Historical Digitization Project

I’m guessing most articles about Labor Day don’t start out with someone walking out on their job, but actually, that is how the first Labor Day came to be. It goes back to the Pullman Strike of 1894, a nationwide conflict between labor unions and the railroad, involving 250,000 workers in half the country over wages, treatment, and housing conditions. When those who benefitted from the railroad were affected, 12,000 US Marshalls and troops broke up the strike, killing 13 and wounding 57. Six days later, Labor Day became a federal holiday. Most people spending today at a picnic don’t realize that their day off was created because the bloodshed of exploited workers fighting for their rights.

Where I live, the struggle isn’t over railroad worker conditions… it’s more of a food fight—tomatoes to be specific. Most of the nation’s tomatoes are picked by immigrant farmworkers being exploited in fields a few hours from me in a small town near Naples, Florida named Immokalee. One of their largest local purchasers is headquartered where I live in Lakeland, Florida: Publix Supermarkets.

For generations, farmworkers have been deprived a fair wage. Retail food giants like Publix have high-volume purchasing power to demand tomatoes at a cheaper cost from suppliers. This downward pressure on the cost hurts the farmworker at the bottom the most. Accordingly, tens of thousands of farmworkers and their families have been made poor so that supermarkets and their beneficiaries can profit.

Despite Publix’s reputation of good work in the community, they refuse to join the Fair Food Program, a path that would give a penny more per pound to farmworkers. This is a touchy subject within The Florida Conference of the United Methodist Church, as executives, employees and farmworkers are members of our churches. Publix people give millions of dollars to our churches, camps, and colleges. A few clergy have firmly placed themselves on the side of the corporation, but most clergy, including Bishop Whitaker, have come down on the side of justice for the farmworkers, calling on Publix to sign on to the agreement.

Farmworkers experience horror on a day-to-day basis. There have been nine cases of slavery in Florida’s agricultural fields since 1997. Recent federal convictions include tomato pickers locked in the back of a cargo truck every night for months; another farmworker was literally chained to a post. The U.S. State Department gave the CIW an award for its work in uncovering and aiding the prosecution of these slavery cases.

Major corporations like Burger King, Taco Bell, KFC, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods have signed on to the Fair Food Program and use their purchasing power to ensure fair pay and safe conditions for farmworkers. But sadly, Publix constantly claims to the media and on its website it is “more than willing to pay the penny more per pound” to increase tomato pickers’ pay but “we will not pay the employees of other companies directly for their labor.” Publix has chosen the path of public relations falsehoods and corporate greed for their shareholders over doing the right thing.

New York Supreme Court Justice Laura Safer Espinoza leads the Fair Food Standards Council, the body monitoring retailers’ penny-per-pound payments. She challenges Publix stating, "No corporate buyer pays a farmworker directly in the Fair Food Program. They pay a premium that gets passed down the supply chain to the workers, who are paid by the growers who employ them. In other words, buyers like McDonald’s are doing exactly what Publix says it’s willing to do—they are putting the Fair Food Premium in the price they pay for Florida tomatoes. The fact of the matter is Publix is not willing to voluntarily pay that penny as other corporate buyers have.”

So as a people called to do justice, what are we to do? Here is what I am doing and I invite you to join me:

• Engage Publix and other companies practicing injustice in conversations via letters, blogging, social media, and action in their stores and in your community.
• Visit http://www.ciw-online.org or better yet, tour Immokalee in person, or another immigrant farmworker community.
• Research news media coverage on the issue and submit your own letter to the editor in your local paper.
• Bring a group to a Publix produce department and hold a prayer meeting around the tomatoes.
• Most importantly, make relationships with immigrants by going to community meetings, actions, invite them to lunch, listening to their stories, and sharing your own.

On this Labor Day, let’s take the challenge to speak truth to power for the sake of exploited farmworkers. George Jenkins founded Publix on the principle "Don't let making a profit stand in the way of doing the right thing." Might this day of rest help us remember to do the right thing and call on corporations around us to do the same. And as you are getting ready to eat at your cook-out today, be sure to remember whose sweat watered the tomato on that Labor Day burger. Chances are it came from exploited farmworkers in Immokalee, Florida.

Today I March

Today I join my LGBTQ friends, my friends of color, women, the poor, the undocumented, the marginalized, and the forgotten as we march together on the RNC. I do so demanding justice. I do so remembering a march on Washington DC organized by one of the greatest civil rights organizers in American history, fellow angelic troublemaker, Bayard Rustin; a man of color forgotten by history because of his sexuality. I march remembering the words of Martin Luther King Jr spoken on this very date, two score and nine years ago.

Often we only hear the soundbite of the end of MLK's speech, but read now the barely mentioned beginning that speaks as true today as it ever did 49 years ago:

...In a sense we've come to our nation's capital to cash a check. When the architects of our republic wrote the magnificent words of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, they were signing a promissory note to which every American was to fall heir. This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the "unalienable Rights" of "Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." It is obvious today that America has defaulted on this promissory note, insofar as her citizens of color are concerned. Instead of honoring this sacred obligation, America has given the Negro people a bad check, a check which has come back marked "insufficient funds." 

But we refuse to believe that the bank of justice is bankrupt. We refuse to believe that there are insufficient funds in the great vaults of opportunity of this nation. And so, we've come to cash this check, a check that will give us upon demand the riches of freedom and the security of justice. We have also come to this hallowed spot to remind America of the fierce urgency of Now. This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism. Now is the time to make real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to rise from the dark and desolate valley of segregation to the sunlit path of racial justice. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God's children. 

It would be fatal for the nation to overlook the urgency of the moment. This sweltering summer of the Negro's legitimate discontent will not pass until there is an invigorating autumn of freedom and equality. Nineteen sixty-three is not an end, but a beginning. And those who hope that the Negro needed to blow off steam and will now be content will have a rude awakening if the nation returns to business as usual. And there will be neither rest nor tranquility in America until the Negro is granted his citizenship rights. The whirlwinds of revolt will continue to shake the foundations of our nation until the bright day of justice emerges.

May it be so. Amen.

Protest, Bad Theology, and Petra... My Day at the RNC

Apparently there is a "Great Awakening" coming to America, and the RNC Faith and Freedom Coalition held a rally to inform God of this revival today. The rhetoric was very pro-Jesus and anti-Obama, but Romney was hardly even mentioned. Prayers were abundant that reeked of bad theology directed at a God made in the image of Ronald Reagan, that believes fetuses have full rights (unless they come out gay or become an immigrant), loves American exceptionalism, and hates gay marriage. Speakers featured Newt Gingrich, Phyllis Schlafly, Mike Huckabee and Texas U.S. Senate GOP nominee Ted Cruz. Here were some of the highlights...



The Protest
Seven were escorted out during a protest as Wisconsin Governor Rick Scott took the stage. A large sheet reading "Scott has a Koch Problem" was unfurled. They were greeted with chants of "USA, USA" and only given trespassing warnings. You can watch the police action at the one minute mark:



Heckuva Job, Cruz
Thanking God for Hurricane Isaac literally in the same moment that New Orleans declared a State of Emergency... yeah, that happened. In Texas GOP senate nominee Ted Cruz's defense, he was thanking God for sending a storm that kept Vice President Joe Biden from speaking in Tampa today. I'm sure the people in New Orleans will understand his humor 7 years almost to the day after the GOP forgot about them following Katrina.
  

Christian Zionist Prayer
You will notice the prominent place of Israel's flag stage left. All I could think about during this prayer was the suffering of the Palestinians. Here is the prayer... It is a great example of theological malpractice. I am posting the video just so you can believe these words were actually said in the name of Jesus.

"Our God and our Father, you are not the God of defeat. You are the God of victory and destiny. And you planted your foot, on this earth, on a piece of real estate, and you declared it to be Israel; yours and your people. And we as your spiritual descendants of Abraham, we lift up the physical descendants of Abraham and their nation. They're not occupying a piece of land; they own it, because you gave it to them. We pray supernatural protection from ALL of their enemies this day. May their enemies be scattered once again as they have so many times. And we pray that our nation stand with this nation during this critical period, fully aware that you will continue to bless he who stands with Israel. And so with one heart, this place, this day, we cry out for the peace of Jerusalem. In Jesus name, Amen.

 



"Rock Legend" John Schlitt from Petra
I'll leave you with this! And yes, he was actually introduced as a "rock legend" and we got to hear him sing. Here is the video and also a bonus video where he explains that Christianity is essential to the existence of this nation AND that if our christian nation didn't exist, how would the rest of the world know what following Christ looked like. You can't make this stuff up.

#LGBTQequalityfail: An Open Letter to Mayor Gow Fields

The 4-3 vote denying healthcare benefits to same-sex couples by the Lakeland City Commission was a victory for the LGBTQ community. Yeah, you read that right. That wasn’t a typo. The vote actually will do more good in the long run for equality than had it passed. Why? Because now we have a reason to fight. This vote gave a face to discrimination, and that face looks like Edie Yates, Phillip Walker, Howard Wiggs and Mayor Gow Fields. Over the next week I will be writing a series of letters to the City Commissioners. If you care about equality, I encourage you to join me.

Mayor Gow Fields, Lakeland, Florida

Dear Mayor Gow Fields:

I am saddened by your vote against equality for LGBTQ city employees. To be clear, it isn’t really your vote that I take issue, but the reasons you gave for your vote—reasons that I feel fall short of what I look for in an elected official.

I commend you and the Commission on your civility and demonstrating, in your words, “how to disagree without being disagreeable”. If any of my words come across as disagreeable, please know that is not my intention, but in the words of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Letter From a Birmingham Jail, “We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.” In MLK's case, many White moderate clergy were painting his actions as disagreeable, but time has shown us who was on the right side of history. I hope that I write in that same tradition of justice demanding.

I have put your argument from the City Commission meeting in italics, with my thoughts interspersed:

In the strongest possible terms, I absolutely disagree that [not providing same-sex partner health benefits for city employees] is discriminatory. We didn’t create the laws of marriage in this country; they existed well before any of us were born… …We didn’t carve out same-sex couples from this benefit. They existed before we got here. So to suggest that we are being discriminatory is just not accurate.

Let’s talk about the laws of marriage that existed before you were born. You were born in 1963—two years before it would be legal for you, as a man of color, to marry a White woman. By your own logic, if we only consider the laws of marriage before your birth in 1963, we would not offer benefits to interracial partners. After all, it wouldn’t be discriminatory because we didn’t carve them out of the benefit, and these laws of marriage existed before you were born.

Continuing with your argument:

I could go into my personal beliefs on this issue. God loves and accepts every last one of us. But he calls us to behave a certain way. To follow the directives in the law that he has given us. And he gives us the power to choose whether we do or we don’t. And everyone in here will have to answer for that. We will each have to give our own account.

Here are the words of a Virginia Judge in the 1940s in his upholding of the state’s ban on interracial marriage: "Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix."

He too used God to support his convictions for inequality. No disrespect meant, but it was bad theology then and your using God is bad theology today. As an elected official, it is not your role to interpret Scripture in order to set policy and law. That is a theocracy. It is your role in some cases to look out for the rights of the minority in spite of the attempts of an oppressive majority to deny equality. The 14th Amendment of our Constitution means something to me. It is the amendment that created our present day society that allowed me to vote for you, a person of color, to be my mayor. That "equal protection under the law” part extends further than just the color of a person’s skin. So many government officials before you have used their distorted interpretation of Scripture to support unequal protection under the law. It saddens me that you chose to do the same.  

Continuing with your argument:

…I have spent a lot of time listening to both sides of the issue, but I haven’t listened to people who claim this is a homophobic issue. I have coached gays and lesbians… …I have employed gays and lesbians. So when someone says that I am homophobic, they haven’t walked a mile in my moccasins.

Mayor Fields, I can’t call you homophobic… I don’t really know you. However, someone knowing, coaching or employing a person who identifies as LGBTQ is not the standard to determine if someone isn’t homophobic. I think we both know many coaches, employers and even friends, who interact with people of color, who we know to be racist. Myself, being a person of privilege (White, middle class, educated, straight, clergy, male…) I constantly have to avoid getting defensive and need to check myself, being aware of how I unintentionally participate in cultural and institutional systems of racism. As a straight, high ranking government official, I call on you to do the same—be slow to dismiss others when they call you out on your privilege and be aware of how there are systems alive and strong in Lakeland that create inequality for LGBTQ persons that you might unintentionally participate in.

When you finished your argument with “they haven’t walked a mile in my moccasins,” the woman standing behind me, who identifies as a lesbian, said, “Nor have you in mine.” That is an ironic phrase for you to end with. Its origins are a Native American proverb used by a people oppressed by a government that denied them of their rights and equal protection under the law, simply because of who they were born to be. In all due respect, Mayor, you are not the oppressed in this proverb. You are the person of privilege and power denying equal protection under the law.

Sincerely,

Rev. Andy Oliver

Walk a Mile in My Shoes

Joe South, 1970

If I could be you, if you could be me for just one hour

If we could find a way to get inside each other's mind,

If you could see you through my eyes instead of your ego

I believe you'd be surprised to see that you've been blind,

Walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes

Hey, before you abuse, criticize and accuse

Walk a mile in my shoes

Now your whole world you see around you is just a reflection

And the law of common says you're gonna reap just what you sow

So unless you've lived a life of total perfection

You'd better be careful of every stone that you should throw

[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/j/joe_south/walk_a_mile_in_my_shoes.html ]

And yet we spend the day throwin' stones at one another

'Cause I don't think or wear my hair the same way you do,

Well, I may be common people but I'm your brother

And when you strike out you're tryin' to hurt me it's hurtin' you

Lord, have mercy

Walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes

Babe, before you abuse, criticize and accuse

Walk a mile in my shoes

And there are people on reservations and out in the ghettos

And brother, there, but for the grace of God, go you and I,

And if I only had wings of a little angel, well

Don't you know, I'd fly to the top of a mountain and then I'd cry

Walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes

Babe, before you abuse, criticize and accuse

Better walk a mile in my shoes

Try before what you're doing

Walk a mile in my shoes, walk a mile in my shoes

Oh, before you abuse, criticize and accuse

Walk a mile in my shoes...