Forced back

[jay]

I just talked to K, the rector of our parish... because of "lifestyle issues", specifically, I will not be allowed to be a vestry candidate, or a candidate for anything else that represents the parish. If I insist on running for any office, he will remove my eligibility by writing a disciplinary letter to the diocese, thus making me a member-not-in-good-standing. Poly-sensitivity outweighs any gain that the organization might get from my talents and skills. K justified having existing gay vestry members, but not poly, as, "people are of several minds on homosexuality within the church, but everyone agrees that monogamy is the biblical standard."

If I don't force the issue, I will continue to be allowed to participate as a member... allowed communion, but essentially nothing further. patgreene has asked me to not force their hand, if only to not make things harder on her and the kids. So I will probably retreat back to my corner...

Comments

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

We have not yet decided what to do with the money. I simply asked him not to have a big public showdown with the rector over this -- which is what fighting this would entail. If the rector declares us to be a members not in good standing (and it would be me as well as Brian, since I have stated my support for him), that also would probably draw the vestry in as well, and I just don't want to do that right at this time. Which may be cowardly of me, but I can see no good and quite a bit of pain resulting from it. I don't think these are people who at this point can deal with polyamory as an issue.

Oddly enough, had this happened last year, things might have turned out much differently. Recently, though, the parish has had at least one officer resign, and parishioners leave, over the Gene Robinson ordination. They might have let things slide another year, but right now they are faced with people decrying them for their moral laxness as regards sexual mores.

A lot of how we proceed will depend upon how they deal with us in person at church.

[brian1789.livejournal.com]

Would "big public showdown" also encompass a letter of appeal written to the bishop? Or just making a fuss locally or at the annual meeting next Friday?