DETROIT –
Two ten minute, thought-provoking DVD videos, "Embracing Inclusion in Communities of Faith" and "Come As You Are," premiered in Detroit last week, co-sponsored by the Arcus Foundation and the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion.
Gathered on Veteran's Day evening for the "spiritual showing forth" were about 150 Michigan Roundtable members, affiliated clergy, LGBT community, and the Sing Out Loud Chorus.
Appropriate setting for the premiere was the sanctuary of historic Woodward Avenue Presbyterian Church, a Romanesque Revival landmark structure built in 1884, now home of the Ecumenical Theological Seminary, the event host.
"The Arcus Foundation is honored to provide the Michigan Roundtable a funding grant for this important outreach venture," said Jonny Jenkins, Arcus coordinator, who welcomed attendees.
"While each of you here tonight – many of whom I know personally – is committed to respect, understanding, and support of Michigan's LGBT community, too many other so-called religious organizations are openly, covertly, or carelessly intolerant, or hostile to us. This DVD two-part presentation is an important visual 'missionary' for change."
Tom Costello, Michigan Roundtable spokesperson, humorously describing himself as, "the proverbial Recovering Catholic," stressed that "'Embracing Inclusion' is timely, urgently needed when gay teenage suicides and bullying are daily media topics for growing alarm, serious action, resolute activism."
DVD Part l – "Embracing Inclusion in Communities of Faith," focuses on discussion of homosexuality as so-called choice, male-on-male in the Bible: as "abomination," or textual misinterpretation; how churches alienate LGBT persons or church members, failing to minister to them with love, compassion, authentic Christian calling.
Participants are Torah scholar Rabbi Joseph Klein, Temple Emanuel, Oak Park; Rev. Matthew Bode, gay leader, Spirit of Hope, Detroit; Rev. Henrietta Smith-Andrews, United Church of Christ pastor, retired, and The Rev. Dr. Susan McGarry, St. Aidan's Episcopal Church, Ann Arbor.
DVD Part ll – "Come As You Are," highlights the experiences of parents of LGBT children and a Black teenager who attempted suicide, but found self-acceptance with guidance from a church minister who reached out to him intelligently and supportively. "My sexuality today is a private matter," he said during a Q&A session after the screening.
Two parents, Tom and Linda Karle Nelson, both with gay children by separate marriages, met at a P-FLAG Detroit meeting, subsequently married, and are now active in P-FLAG in a small Upper-Michigan town.
"It was one shocker of a wake up call for me when my 25-year-old son tried suicide," said Tom, now 81. "I had no inkling he was gay. He was desperate, so sure that because of my narrow, bigoted doctrinal beliefs I would reject him. Fortunately – and by God's grace – he survived.
"It was not too late for my full acceptance of him as he is. Bright, talented, gay! My life has changed. Friends in faith, we've got to get the message out."
The Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion was founded in 1941. It is "a not-for-profit human relations Detroit-based organization working to overcome discrimination and racism by crossing religious, ethnic and cultural boundaries." It began working on behalf of LGBT human rights two years ago.
"The video is a powerful, thought-provoking tool for change," said Rev. Deb Dysert, associate pastor MCC-Detroit. "The Michigan Roundtable is committed to implementing strategies to provide the DVD to churches in need of inclusivity awareness, instruction and implementation strategies. Without such outreach planning, it just might be another old, sorry instance of preaching to the choir. One hopes not. Too much is at stake for our LGBT youth of today."
