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eNewsletter 21 March 02 |
Chi Rho Connection *************************
"Among the varieties of American innocence that were lost on September 11, perhaps the most intriguing was the mass discovery of what it feels like to be hated. 'How can they hate us,' people asked, 'just because we're Americans, when they don't even know us?' Well, I thought, welcome to my world. People hate homosexuals all the time, across great distances, from places where they feel threatened by us even though most of us would never contemplate living there." Contents:
1. Kevin Stone Fries Published -------------------------------------------------- Welcome once again to the Chi Rho Connection, the electronic newsletter of Chi Rho Press. Thank you for passing this Chi Rho Connection on to others. To join our list, send an e-mail message to
ChiRhoPress-subscribe@yahoo.com. Direct all other e-mail to Adam@ChiRhoPress.com. See the end of this eNewsletter for a complete list of e-mail addresses at ChiRhoPress.com. -------------------------------------------------- 1.
Kevin Stone Fries Published -------------------------------------------------- 2. More Changes to our Web Page -------------------------------------------------- 3. Featured Book: The Bible and Homosexuality -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------
We are glad you are partners in ministry with us here at Chi Rho Press. We are eager for your comments, your suggestions, your assistance with selling our books, and your own purchases! And of course, we covet your prayers for this ministry. Grace and peace, Adam DeBaugh, Director
--------------------------- If you've received our Chi Rho Connection as a result of the good offices of someone passing it along to you (which we certainly encourage) and would like to receive it directly from us, please follow the directions at the end of our Connection to subscribe. Copyright 2002, Chi Rho Press, Inc. ****************************************** SUBSCRIBE: ChiRhoPress-subscribe@yahoogroups.com R. Adam DeBaugh, Director, Adam@ChiRhoPress.com. Visit the Chi Rho Press Website http://www.ChiRhoPress.com
Vol. III, No. 6
21 March 02
Michael Schwartz, The Gay & Lesbian Review, January-February issue.
2. More Changes to our Web Page
3. Featured Book: The Bible and Homosexuality
4. Press Poll: Personal PCs
5. Presbyterian Witch Hunts
6. Adam's Last Word
Please visit our Web site at http://www.chirhopress.com to see our entire lines of books, handouts, tchochkas, and stained glass.
Lodestar's first issue, which came out on the first day of Spring, March 20, 2002, has as its "featured writer" Felice Picano, well known gay novelist. The first two articles in this issue are an essay by Felice Picano and an excerpt from Picano's Diaries, collected, edited, and commented upon by Kevin Stone Fries.
Please check out Lodestar Quarterly and read Felice and Kevin's excellent work. We encourage you to subscribe to Lodestar, which is free, and support this excellent new queer literary journal.
Congratulations to our own Kevin Fries!
Please come visit and let us know what you think! Let us know of any links that don't work or changes you would like to suggest as well.
Would you like to write a review of a Chi Rho Press publication? Just submit your review to Adam@ChiRhoPress.com and we will consider posting it on the Web page!
And while you are visiting www.ChiRhoPress.com please buy a book!
Our featured book for March takes us back to the basics. For too many lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people of faith, the Bible has been used as a club to batter and beat them down.
Only six lonely little verses that have been used against LGBT people. Despite the paucity of unequivocal condemnation in the Hebrew and Christian Testaments, religious folk use those six verses to justify a world of hurt for LGBT people, their families, and supporters. These 'clobber passages' are over-used and abused!
So for much of the LGBT community, 'going back to the basics' of their oppression is going back to the Bible. The Rev. Michael England has written what we think is the best primer on 'The Bible and Homosexuality.' We areproud to have published this slim, but important volume, which has been our best seller for 10 years. In 1998 wepublished the fifth edition of Michael's important work.
This is the best book that explores the Bible passages that have traditionally been used to condemn LGBT people.
Sections include Inspiration; Critical Interpretation (Textual Criticism, Historical Criticism, Source Criticism,and Form Criticism); the Passages Believed to Relate toHomosexuality (Deuteronomy 23:17-18, Genesis 19:4-11,Leviticus 18:23 and 20:13-14, I Corinthians 6:9, I Timothy 1:10, and Romans 1:26-27); the "Contra Naturam" (against nature) argument; Heterosexual Marriage as "the Only Biblical Model;" Adultery and Fornication; and a Bibliography.
"The Bible and Homosexuality" is 72 pages, perfect bound, with a striking cover photograph of the Washington National Cathedral by renowned DC photographer Colin Winterbottom.
Every thinking Christian and all people who wish to engage other Christians in reasoned debate should have this volume on their shelves.
'The Bible and Homosexuality' may be ordered on-line from our web page. Please click here to read more about the book and place an order.
We are considering creating and selling e-books and would like to hear from as many of you as possible. We want to know about your use of Personal DigitalAssistants (PDAs), or handheld personal computers, Palm Pilots, or pocket PCs. Please take a moment toanswer the following questions. Just copy and pastethem into a new e-mail with your responses and send them to Poll@ChiRhoPress.com. Thank you!
1. Do you now own a PDA, also sometimes called a Pocket PC, such as a Palm Pilot, Sony CLIE, or Compaq iPAQ?
2. There are two main types of PDAs, those that use the Palm operating system and those that use Microsoft's Pocket PC operating system. Which operating system does your PDA use?
3. Do you buy books to read on your PDA?
4. If you don't own a PDA now, do you plan to purchase one in the near future?
5. Would you welcome e-books as part of the Chi Rho Press inventory?
6. Which books currently in our inventory should also be e-books?
7. Would you buy e-books from Chi Rho Press?
Now, an individual has filed suit against the pastors of a prominent More Light Church, Mount Auburn Presbyterian Church in Cincinnati, OH for allegedly defying the constitution of the PC (USA).
The Rev. Harold G. Porter is Mount Auburn's pastor emeritus and the Rev. Stephen Van Kuiken has been Mount Auburn's pastor for two-and-a-half years. They have been charged with "willful and deliberate" violations of theirordination vows, including ordination and installing "unrepentant" gay deacons and elders and performing same sex union ceremonies.
Paul R. Jensen, a Reston, VA resident who is a member of St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church in Newport Beach, CA filed the charges. Last year, Jensen filed charges against an openly gay minister in the Presbytery of Baltimore. Mount Auburn's session (or governing body) has said the church will ordain and marry gays and lesbians in open defiance of the denomination's Book of Order.
Mount Auburn's session passed resolutions in February saying the session cannot comply with G-0106.b (which says that gay and lesbian candidates for church office must be sexually chaste, as is also required of unmarriedheterosexuals) because it is "not Christ-like, not Scriptural, not Reformed, and not Presbyterian." The session also vowed that Mount Auburn "has ordained andwill continue to ordain" self-acknowledged gays and lesbians and will "promote their participation in all aspects of church life."
Mount Auburn also affirms its intention to conduct Christian services of marriage for both heterosexual and homosexual couples, in violation of Section W-4.9001 of the Book of Order, which defines marriage as "between a man and a woman."
Jensen argues that the resolutions of the session are "unequivocal and straightforward renunciations of our church polity" and that the church should be divided, dismissed, or dissolved. "Theirs is a church in schism," Jensen claims.
Clearly this is an action that is going to continue, not only in the Presbyterian Church (USA) but in other denominations who are struggling with welcoming and affirming congregations who embrace LGBT people despite official denominational rules.
Now more than ever, Presbyterians need the book 'Called OUT: The Voices and Gifts of LGBT Presbyterians.' 'Called OUT!' was compiled by the Rev. Jane Adams Spahr, Kathryn Poethig, Selisse Berry, and Melinda McLain. In it 39 LGBT Presbyterians tell their stories about their lives in, and out of the Presbyterian Church. People from both the old northern and southern churches, and the reunited Presbyterian Church (USA), from all over the United States, tell their stories here with candor, wit, and faith. An important book for all who either are Lesbian or Gay or would seek to understand Gay people of faith, regardless of their religion. Now in its second printing, 'Called OUT!' is an incredibly valuable book.
'Called OUT!' is available from Chi Rho Press for $17.95 each, six or more copies for $15.25 each. Please click here to read more about the book and place an order.
In the United States we are treated to the unhappy reality that homophobia breeds its own kind of violence. Gay bashings continue throughout our land. Gay and lesbian people are raped, beaten, and murdered, not to mention deprived of jobs, homes, family, and safety.
The places where we might be expected to look for peace and safety, our churches, are no longer safe. We are treated to the disgusting spectacle of a Presbyterian lawyer bringing charges against two pastors for opening their ministry to LGBT people (see article 5 in this issue). And this lawyer isn't even a member of the accused pastors' church or Presbytery. Haven't Christians anything better to do than to attack each other?
And what have the Reverends Porter and Van Kuiken done that is all so horrible? They have enabled ministry for LGBT people in their church and they have proclaimed the blessings of God and the gathered community of faith onloving, committed gay relationships. Pretty serious stuff!
Yes, no doubt they are in violation of the denomination's official policies. But the Presbyterian Church and in fact the entire Reformed movement, places great emphasis on individual conscience. The resolution of Mt. Auburnchurch's session, declaring the anti-gay, homophobic denominational laws to be "not Reformed, and not Presbyterian" is right to the point.
What is most dismaying to me is that anyone would be so churlish, mean-spirited, and vile as to waste his time and money bringing such lawsuits in any church's judicial body. And yet, I shouldn't be surprised. For some reason, out and proud GLBT people are able to inspire amazing depths of hatred and bigotry, especially in the churches.
Now More Than Ever, I believe it is important to us to equip ourselves with good resources to combat homophobia and hatred in the church. We certainly recommend 'Called OUT' to our Presbyterian sisters and brothers. This is a book not only for Presbyterians, of course, but for all people who love God and seek to do God's will of justice and peace. Read this book and hear the authentic voice of Presbyterian Christianity.
Now More Than Ever, we also recommend an excellent book by Presbyterian layperson, the eloquent and brilliant Chris Glaser. 'Come Home!' is one of Chris' best books and we are proud to have published it.
Now More Than Ever, people need to read 'The Bible and Homosexuality,' by the Rev. Michael E. England and 'Steps to Recovery from Bible Abuse' by Dr. Rembert Truluck, two more must-have books for any believer's library.
Now More Than Ever, 'Positively Gay,' edited by Dr. Betty Berzon, provides helpful articles about many aspects of gay life.
And Now More Than Ever, we round out our sextet of recommended books with 'The Road to Emmaus,' a book of daily devotions written by and for the LGBT community. All six of these books are available on our Web site, of course.
Make an Easter-tide gift to your church or seminary library or local library. Buy books!
Only the truth can combat hatred and evil. Help make the truth of God's all-inclusive love available to as many people as possible.
Thanks for being a part of this ministry and thanks for your support!
If you have questions, please write to Question@ChiRhoPress.com.
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For all other correspondence, please write Adam@ChiRhoPress.com.
Our snail mail address is:
Chi Rho Press, Inc.
P.O. Box 7864
Gaithersburg, MD 20898
Our telephone and fax number is 301/926-1208.
Customers outside the U.S. and especially our Canadian friends can order using credit cards on our Web page or through our Canadian distributor, MAP Enterprises, Mary Ann Pearson, at her new Web page, http://www.christiangays.com.
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Kevin Stone Fries, Editor/Office Manager, Kevin@ChiRhoPress.com