Their own receive them not
Book Review by:
Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell, retired United Methodist Minister
Horace L. Griffin has written a powerful and illumnating book that addresses the reality of African American Lesbians & Gays in Black Churches with the above title (Pilgrim Press, 2006). It is a book that I reccomend shou be read and re-read by all who value the magnificent prophetic history of the Black Church. The book is a reminder that sadly, a Church that emerged from the history of slavery and racial segregation, the Black Church has revealed that despite this history, when its comes to the reality and rights of Black Gay persons in church and society, it can become a carbon copy of the white church that once supported slavery and segregation.
My experience as an ally/advocate of Gay rights is that we in much less severe ways than that of our African American sisters and brothers who are Lesbians and Gay men, are "not received" by much of the Black Church.
Dr. Sylvia Rhue, Director of Religious Affairs and Constituency Development of the National Black Justice Coalition has asked that I write these words for the Religious Newsletter.
In my 51 years of ministry that have been shaped by my participation in the Martin Luther King - led Civil Rights Movement, in city after city I have been a member of Ministerial Alliances, Black Caucuses and other groups that unashamedly address the continuing struggle for Black justice. We have talked about the negative re-segregation of public schools, gentrification, police brutality, the economic and healthcare disparities between black and white communities, the miserable failure of government at all levels in response to Hurricane Katrina Katrina, the racist, sexist and de-humanizing comments of
Don Imus, etc., etc. But, only when Gay rights and same gender Civil Unions and Marriages become the topic of conversation bles are opened and verses are read that some interpret as being condemnatory of same gender love, commitment and sexual activity!
Why does conversation about Gay persons and Gay rights evoke such passion, defensivseness and biblical literalism that is not in evidence when we address some of the issues I mention above? Some thoughts.
1. While our enslaved foreparents were not biblical literalists because they experienced the Bible being "used" to enforce slavery and segregation, some of us have found it convenient to use Bible passages to critique and condemn same gender love. In The Slave Narratives one slave is quoted as saying this about the Bible and the slave masters: "They used the Bible like a stick against us". The words and music of the Spirituals that emerged from the plight of enslavement, focused on a Bible that was about liberation, not oppression, the love and acceptance of Jesus, not the hate and non-acceptance of those who attempted to control and later crucified Jesus. Today, many anti-Gay leaders in the Black Church (and other Churches) seem not to comprehend or care, that when it comes to Gay folks, they can imitate white racist folk, in quoting Scripture to condemn them. It is said, that "Imitation is the finest form of flattery". It is beyond my comprehending capacity to understand why and how some Black preachers and Laity have no qualms about imitating the words, interpretations and actions of white racism when it comes to their homophobic heterosexism!
2. It is sometimes said that when a person becomes emotional, irrational, illogical and defensive in their protests about persons or groups of persons; "They protest too much!". This is a way of saying that those who seem to go beyond the best that is within them as they "talk about folk", there is more to their story than they dare admit! God's gifts of sexuality and sexual activity are gifts that are beautiful, yet complex. During his presidential campaign, years ago, former president Jimmy Carter created a stir when in an interview when asked about sex, he admitted his own struggles when he read the Biblical passage that said, "If a man looks at a woman in lust, then it as though he as acted on his lust". (A paraphrase). President Carter suggested that despite these words of Scripture, his eyes as they saw attractiveness in a woman, conveyed to his emotions a positive emotional and physical response.
I contend that just as some persons, white and non-white had/have difficulty with black-on-white affection that results in kissing and others forms of intimacy, some persons black and non-black had/have difficulty with same gender affection that results in kissing and other forms of intimacy. The Church has taught us that to be emotionally and sexually aroused is to come close to the edge of the not-good. Even in the marriage relationship! (It is still difficult for many of us to acknowledge that our parents "did it",to produce us). Same gender intimacy, just thinking about, provokes many persons to revert to the earlier ideas promulgated by the Church about sex,that demeaned and demonized it. I suggest that some who are negatively strident in their opposition to Gay persons and Gay rights, are expressing more about their own, unarticulated views about God's gift of sex as they engage in "Gay bashing", than they would admit.
3. "I love the sinner, but hate the sin". How many times have I heard a colleague say this to indicate that despite attitudes about love between same gender persons, he/she still holds on to the love ethic of Jesus. Whenever I hear these words, I wonder how many times in my 73 years of living have I heard a white person say or imply; "I love black people, but I hate their unwillingness to 'stay in their place'. Some of my best friends are black, but when they begin to 'act black' and not act like me, I must condemn them." I will never forget the words of the black Preacher who said; "If the KKK marched against same sex marriage, I would march with them." Most of us appropriately condemn
Black-on-Black crime. When will Black persons of faith, from the pulpit to the pew acknowledge that there is a Black-on-Black crime we have not yet adequately addressed? It is the crime of not affirmng and accepting African American Lesbians & Gays, openly, in the Black Church.Horace Griffin was "right on" when he wrote, their own receive them not. I am a witness to the fact that as a Black Ally/Advocate of Lesbians and Gays in the Black Church and beyond, although I would never claim anything like the ostracism Black Lesbians and Gays receive, in too many Black settings, my advocacy has been greeted with disbelief, disagreement and sometimes doubts about my commitment to the Black Agenda.
Martin Luther King, Jr. once said; "Segregation is dead; it is just a question of how long and expensive some folk want to make its funeral". Anti-Gay bias and bigotry are dead. I am saddened that some of my Black colleagues in the church and in society are prolonging the funeral. They have not taken the to think about what it means for Black folk to align themselves with white folk in an attempt to deprive Gay folk of their humanity and their rights. Many of these white anti-Gay folk once used Scripture to suppress Black folk in the same ways they are now seeking to thwart Gay rights. The more things change, the more they remain the same.
But, thank God for the words and music of my ancestors. Many a day I remember how they used to sing and say; "You can talk about me just as much as you please. But, I can talk about you when I get on my knees." May we as Black Gay and straight people, despite our differences, despite the many ways we hurt each other, hold each other up in prayer. "God is good all the time. All the time, God is good". I am a witness!
Gilbert H. Caldwell
Asbury Park, New Jersey
