KEEPING THE FAITH
In our corner of the world often referred to as the Bible Belt, two things that haven’t always gone hand in hand are organized religion and gay rights. Divisive religious battles continue to wage, such as the recent secession of seven Episcopal churches in Virginia (who disagree with The Church’s stance on homosexuality). In the meantime, there are encouraging grassroots efforts in churches across Kentucky to promote acceptance and inclusiveness for LGBT people. This edition of Inspirit will focus on three Louisville places of worship that are breaking down walls, opening new doors, and helping us keep the faith.
Central Presbyterian Church
"Central Presbyterian is about God’s wildly inclusive love. It is not about excluding anyone. We have an open door policy – everyone is welcome, and we welcome organizations that have the same kind of open door policy" says J. Daniel Herring, an elder at the church. The church provides rehearsal space for VOICES of Kentuckiana and Pandora Productions and meeting space for other groups.
Central Presbyterian is one of Kentucky’s only official congregations for More Light, an organization that works toward inclusiveness for LGBT people of faith in the life and ministry of the Presbyterian Church. Central Presbyterian recently hosted a More Light convention and featured guest preacher Erin Swenson.
Herring says, "One of the most moving sermons I heard from a guest in the pulpit was by Erin Swenson, who used to be a man. For a while she had to give up being in the ministry (while she went through the sex change process). She knew she was always loved by God but it was other people that weren’t accepting of her. How wonderful it is now that the Presbyterians have More Light congregations, and she is able to do what she is called to do."
Herring says the unique thing about Central Presbyterian is the combination of inclusiveness and acceptance with ritual and tradition. In a typical Sunday service, congregants will recite inclusive language and also sing familiar hymns and prayers.
Thomas Jefferson Unitarian Universalist Church
The TJUU church on Brownsboro Road is an official "Welcoming Congregation" of the Unitarian Universalist Church, which means the congregation promotes understanding and acceptance of people of different sexual orientations. "We’re not just going to hang up a little rainbow sign and say’s its OK to come by," says Amy Lewis, the church’s director of youth religious education. "We actually go out and say - Hey we’re here and you are welcome to come in. We will welcome and accept you and make you a part of our community."
Lewis says, "We don’t tolerate intolerance, we’re a very open and accepting loving community, and if someone is not, then this is just not the place for them." The First Unitarian Church on 4th St., one of the oldest churches in the region, is Louisville’s home for Interweave, a group that provides LGBT members in the UU church with support, socializing and ways to share life issues.
In early February, the TJUU church will be joining with the Louisville Repertory Company on a first-of-its-kind partnership and a very special project – a theatrical production of The Laramie Project, the story of the murder of gay Wyoming college student Matthew Shepard. Amy Lewis will direct.
Lewis says, "Hopefully The Laramie Project will start a dialogue about hate crimes in Kentucky. Violence and words and actions are perpetrated against gays and lesbians every day. This play brings attention to that. It happened in Laramie, it could happen here. We want to make sure things like this don’t happen in our community."
The Temple
In the mid-90’s, Scott Nussbaum purchased a family membership at The Temple (now on Brownsboro Road). What was unusual at the time was that the rest of his family consisted of only his partner Allen Matlin. Nussbaum says The Temple was always very accepting and forward-thinking from the time the couple joined.
In May of 2000, just one month after the Union of American Hebrew Congregations approved same-sex marriages for the Reform movement, Nussbaum and Matlin were the first gay couple in Louisville married in a traditional Jewish ceremony. A lavish wedding celebration for more than 200 people followed.
Nussbaum says, "Our rabbi told us it’s in the Bible, they have to accept us. How can they exclude us because of our sexual preference? We got married in the eyes of God. We have a Ketubah (the official Jewish marriage contract); the same thing a heterosexual couple has in our religion. We are married under the laws of Judaism. That’s much more than a commitment ceremony."
Nussbaum never envisioned himself as a trailblazer, and was somewhat hesitant when Matlin started planning such a spectacle of a wedding in the first place. Now, looking back, he says he’d do it all again in a heartbeat. He recalls a moment from the reception that he will never forget. "There were two guys that had been together much longer than us - one was a school teacher, the other a principal. They never would even hold hands in public or anything. I watched them dance together at our wedding!"
By Chip Alfred