We’ve provided a brief report below, which we hope will inspire you to listen to the full recording…
Kate and Steve provided a fascinating insight into their lives and the role that faith has played. Steve talked about growing up with parents who instilled in him a strong sense of his own validity, such that he was able to question concepts around his identity, love and faith, and absolutely trust in his experience. For example, he came to a clear understanding that love is not a finite commodity and that loving one person does not mean that one can’t also love another person. He has always felt at home in nature and his faith is very much based on Pagan traditions and land-based spirituality.
Kate talked about how, when she was growing up and first came out as queer, friends starting pushing her towards the church. However, this was very conflicted for her as the church community was unaccepting of her queerness. By exploring different churches she was able to find a community that welcomed her and she is now a licensed minister in the Metropolitan Community Churches (MCC). The MCC community has an extremely diverse community based on “outsiderness”, and it centres on and celebrates queer life and queer theology. She also reflected on her neurodivergence which, although diagnosed as an adult, has helped her make sense of her experiences growing up.
Both speakers talked about faith traditions and how scriptures have always been read and interpreted in the context of the prevailing culture and society, yet it is also possible to reinterpret them with other belief systems in mind. For example, homosexual relations in ancient history have in more recent history been erased by certain dominant parts of our society, so the more recent translations of the Bible have been read with that understanding. Yet, if read without this preconception, Kate explained that there are numerous examples of queerness in the Bible, for example the love between David and Jonathan, and the relationship between Ruth and Naomi. Likewise, Pagan stories, as well as stories from Greek, Norse and Roman mythologies, can be reframed so we see gods who are fluid in both gender and sexual identity. In this way, people from all backgrounds can look for where they see themselves in the scriptures, rather than seeing “otherness”.
Similarly, theologists at MCC are developing theories of polyamory, by letting go of the received wisdom around monogamy, which can be viewed in one sense as disingenuous in that it limits love to romantic love, as if we don’t have close friends or people that we love in different ways.
There were several questions from both the in-person and online audiences, including a question around advice for LGBTQ+ people who don’t have faith/religion but perhaps feel that something is missing in their lives. How might those people go about exploring faith and what might click for them? Both Steve and Kate encouraged reading or listening or watching any material that you are drawn to, and seeing what resonates. They suggested that if something doesn’t feel right you’ll know, and if it does feel right for you at this time then explore it more.
If this brief summary has intrigued you, you can access a recording of the discussions here.
If you have any thoughts, comments or suggestions, please do get in touch with us by commenting below or via email to [email protected] or [email protected].