Gay Christian Network: Part 1
Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of chatting with Justin Lee, Executive Director of the Gay Christian Network. I was totally unaware that GCN existed, let alone who they were or what they did. I’m so glad I had a chance to get to know him.
Part 1 of our interview will clue you in on who Justin is and what GCN does. Justin also answered readers’ questions, which I’ll post in Part 2 tomorrow. Enjoy!
Talking about gay Christians usually raises some emotions especially for the conservative, traditional church. What are the commonalities between you and the conservative church?
I love the conservative church! People make a lot of assumptions when you think of gay christians. One of the biggest assumption is that all gay Christians are theologically liberal. Some are, others aren’t. I often say that I have way more in common with my straight, conservative Christian friends in the church than I do with my gay friends who don’t have a belief or relationship with Jesus.
I’m comfortable in the conservative church. I grew up Southern Baptist and held all the Southern Baptist opinions and perspectives, and for the most part I still do. My heart is with the conservative church. When I was growing up, I was a Southern Baptist kid who carried a Bible in my backpack. In fact, one of the kids at school nicknamed me “God boy.” I would evangelize to the point of annoyance.
I held all the beliefs that the Southern Baptist church held on homosexuality. I believed it was a sin and that it was a matter of choice. I would tell people that the liberal media had normalized homosexuality to the point that it was causing sexual confusion, and that the church should take a loving but firm stance against it. I professed this so much that I was often accused of being homophobic.
Growing up, I considered myself straight, and I even dated girls. From the time I became sexually aware, I had noticed guys. These feelings scared me, and I prayed that I wouldn’t feel this way anymore. In fact, there was a time when I cried myself to sleep every night. At 18, it occurred to me that I might be gay, which was something I had never even considered before. Being gay was for other people. I thought I was a Christian, so I couldn’t be gay. I tried some ex-gay organizations, and none of them worked. Through that, I lost faith in those organizations, but I never lost my faith in Christ.
What is the Gay Christian Network?
GCN is an online community of over 15,000 LGBT and straight Christians, and a lot of parents who are looking to support a gay child. We offer support through our online community, podcasts, a documentary we were part of called, “Through my eyes,” church resources, and our annual conference.
Why did you feel the need to start GCN?
In my college years, I started writing online about my experiences. I started hearing from everybody: people who were experiencing the same thoughts and feelings that I was. Eventually my online journal became a website, and later I added a message board because I couldn’t handle all the email I was getting. That was the start of what eventually became GCN.
Check back tomorrow when Justin answers your questions.
I think it's great you're addressing this topic. Thanks, Nicole… I think it's important to remember, too, that it's not just a topic. It's people. Looking forward to Justin's answers tomorrow.
Oh, and you just lost your bet with your husband. :)
I think it a good ideal at this time but personaly would like to see the day that we can all go to anychurch we like no matter what the name on the sighn is. not too long ago I did a interview with my friend Andrew Marin & what fasinated him the most about me wasn't the fact I am intersexed it was that I was at a christion music festivil lisoning to semenars on how to reach the GBLT commuinty, I have tryed every religeon & denomination out there & I seem to be drawn to the more conservitve churches. yes I have been kicked out of 50 churchs & willing left six, but only about 20 of those where conservitive churchs, I have also been kicked out of a ucc/mcc church. so no matter the difficultys, the conflict, & the hurassment I have endured thats what I keep plugging away in. although I admit it has takin a toll on my faith, it very shaky & i still struggle with God can really love me, but the draw out ways the hurt, doubts & fears. if this is a alternitve to haveing to settle for librel belefs I just personaly can swollow or being beaten up in a consertive strait church I would go in a second. at least till we can all join hands & sing we are the world :)
Finally, I hear from someone I can identify more closely too! I haven't been kicked out of anywhere (yet)? I am grateful that Father has led me to a church whose leadership (the Pastor anyway) welcome us with open arms. I know that individuals have approached him & asked why he was letting gay couples attend. We left a Conservative in teaching Gay church to attend a “Straight” church partly for different role models for our children ages 4 & 7. There are many couples living together (not married) but this church is much larger so not noticeable to our girls. Okay, I'm rambling. I was encouraged to read your response. Thank you!
I think you commented just so I would lose ;)
So sorry to hear that you've had such a difficult time, PD.
So glad that you've found a place that you love.
Looking forward to part 2 tomorrow!
It'll be up soon!
This question assumes heterosexual privilege as it centers “straight Christians” as normal and normative. Do you ask for feedback on your blog about “what are your thoughts about straight Christians and organizations like Focus on the Family?”
The question is phrased in a way which others gay people, setting them outside of (and needing special demarcation) from regular (read: straight) Christians. Though, I suppose I could take that as a compliment since Jesus was known to be found on the margins.
To answer your question about my blog, yes I do. Read back a few months… you'll get a taste of what I think of FOF and folks like Mark Driscoll… it's not very favorable. So yes, I do ask for feedback on those organizations which opens me up a lot of criticism considering that I disagree with them, am willing to admit it, and have a mostly conservative readership which has disagreed with me very loudly each time I have posted such things. And I will continue to write those sorts of posts.
Nicole – can you post the links to your posts here? thanks :)
None of them are about this issue but question those organizations none the less. The Driscoll post is about stay at home dads… he also did a sermon from the same series about homosexuality. I almost posted a clip as part of this conversation but decided against it. I didn't want the conversation to go there. I'd rather give Justin the opportunity to speak and express his point of view without it being a debate. I'll save Driscoll for another day. Here's that link. http://www.nicolewick.com/2010/04/thoughts-on-p...
The FOF posts were specific to the super bowl ad. I've mentioned many times before that I believe that they have focused themselves around christian political ideology and I disagree with many of those beliefs. I have also said in other places (Twitter, FB, etc. how I feel about things like their Manhattan Project which, among other things, re-asserts their “defense of marriage” rhetoric. Here are those links:
http://www.nicolewick.com/2010/01/focus/
http://www.nicolewick.com/2010/01/in-response-f...