When did I become one of the most radical people in the room?

[hermionesviolin]

A room of GLBTA United Methodists.

And not even like how I would come back to Norwood from Smith (where I felt wicked conservative) and feel wicked radical 'cause I was, for example, an ally to the polyamorous community.

I was not a fan of this morning's worship (though I did like the sermon better than last night's), and the workshop I went to was mostly useless, but Intersections Plenary? Which I thought was supposed to be about Race and Religion. Was I guess White Privilege 101. Complete with bonus ableismn. (Doing the Walk/Circle of Privilege and repeatedly saying "take a step" WHEN ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS IS IN A WHEELCHAIR. That is exponentially worse than last night's sermon-giver talking about "lame excuses" and then later quoting Scriptrue which uses "lame" in the "physically-impaired" sense -- which reminded me that I still owe comment replies to this entry.)

I told Ari last night: "Convo has been, worth coming to, despite its not being awesome. There's been stuff that's made me feel energized to (continue to) work to make the church the welcoming and inclusive place it is called to be (often in reaction to stuff not being awesome, rather than being inspired by positive stuff, but it's better than just being depressed and demoralized by the not-awesome), and there have been moments when I have totally loved Marla."

Comments

[immortalavalamp.livejournal.com]

Doing the Walk/Circle of Privilege and repeatedly saying "take a step" WHEN ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS IS IN A WHEELCHAIR

Oh. My. God.

radical

[onwingsofeagles.livejournal.com]

Well, your brother thinks you're radical. But at gay camp I would expect you to be on the conservative side. Oy.
Ditto to the comment about the wheelchair. Hello? More willing to cut slack for using the term "lame."
Glad you're being motivated to work for inclusion rather than crawling under the bed.
Who's Marla?

[wisdomeagle]

Doing the Walk/Circle of Privilege and repeatedly saying "take a step" WHEN ONE OF THE PARTICIPANTS IS IN A WHEELCHAIR.

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.

[sweet-adelheid.livejournal.com]

Where is the line between over-angsting and tieing ourselves in knots, and being considerate and inclusive? At some point we have to become mute or else accept that there is a balance but not an ideal.

(I find it incredibly hard when phrases like "for our children and grandchildren" are used. It reminds me yet again that I'm unlikely to have either. But -- where is the line?)

For a number of the years that I was on Commission for Mission, the director of Uniting Care was permanently in a wheelchair. We did a lot to adapt our meetings, but not standing to say the Grace became a point of major contention. Many felt that by not standing (those of us who could stand) we were dishonouring the moment. We never really resolved it, because Elizabeth (the director) moved on to work for Anglicare rather than for us.

And so I guess my reaction is less OMG than others, and maybe that makes me a bad person. Maybe it makes this one of those times when I'm more conservative than you, Elizabeth, and we know how rare that is!

I'm glad Convo has been worth it for you.

[marginaliana]

Hmm, I think this is one of those cases where my immediate reaction is to push back against what you're saying, and then I find myself pushing back against my instinct to push back, and then I get all muddled. Which I know I've mentioned to you before.

One of the things I like most about you is that I always feel I can be honest with you about contentious things like this. I never feel like my opinion is off-limits.

[chrispardus.livejournal.com]

In retrospect, my reply to this "And not even like how I would come back to Norwood from Smith (where I felt wicked conservative) and feel wicked radical..." is...


WELCOME TO MY WORLD! :D