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"Be on your guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be brave. Be strong. Be loving in everything you do." - I Corinthians 16:13-14 |
When was the last time you gave your hard-earned money to support a conference for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender people, with "skill-enhancing workshops led by nationally renowned activists and community-building activities with like-minded progressives," and such luminaries as:
Female-To-Male Transgendered Activist and Shaman, pagan priest, intersex transgender activist, parent, astrologer, musician, homesteader, and the author of Hermaphrodeities: The Transgender Spirituality Workbook. He is the founder and leader of the Pagan Kingdom of Asphodel, and the Asphodel Pagan Choir. He has been a neo-pagan since the age of 14, when he was converted by a "fam-trad" teen on a date. Since then, he's been through half a dozen traditions, including Gardnerian, Dianic, and granola paganism, Umbanda, Heithnir, and the Peasant Tradition. 
Priestess & Witch, author of 101 Reasons To Be Proud You're Pagan, whose "magical practice is inspired by feminism and a concern for the health of our planet, and is informed by Celtic, Hindu and Tibetan practices, the sacred art of tantra, and the magic of enchantment."Well... if you contribute to the Episcopal Diocese of Michigan, you just did.
On May 22nd at Eastern Michigan University in Ypsilanti, Together in Faith, sponsored in part by the Michigan chapter of Episcopal GLBT "outreach" group Oasis, will bring together Wiccans, shamans, Muslims, pagans, Hindus, and one Episcopal... something or other... to talk about such topics as Sex & Spells: Gender and Political Activism in the Witchen Community, where "We will sit in circle for focused discussion about gender, power, and the many ways that people change culture. We will address our values and the ethics of spellwork, after which we will plan, create and empower our own collaborative spell for change in harmony with our values and in accordance with our wills."
So good to know that affirmation and inclusiveness are alive and well in Ypsilanti.
Oh, and paganism too.
If you're in eastern Michigan next weekend, let us suggest a healthier alternative.
Posted by Greg Griffith at May 14, 2004 11:37 PM (GMT -6:00)I would think it more likely that the funds came from independent sources within the diocese than through official church budgetary channels. Either way, it's appalling.
Posted by: Jill Woodliff at May 15, 2004 09:09 AMI spoke on the phone at length with a prominent cleric from the diocese. He said the organization indeed gets some of its funds from the diocese.
Posted by: Greg at May 15, 2004 10:03 AMIt certainly seems to be strongly supported
http://www.standrewsaa.org/outreach/oasis.htm
Posted by: spinster at May 15, 2004 06:41 PMIn the 1960s the Episcopal Church was jokingly referred to as "the Republican Party at prayer!" What happened in the '70s? Was this a leveraged, hostile takeover, or did we just cave in to the times? During the "Decade of Evangelism" (in the 1990s), the Episcopal Church actually LOST 10% of its members. If this were the corporate world, the brass would be on the street selling pencils. Instead, they are sitting pretty, relishing the rewards of the hostile takeover, depleting what little remains of the Church's prestige and funds.
Jesus wept.
Actually, most of the pagans I know live in Ypsilanti. :)
If you doubt that this is strongly supported by the diocese, check out the biography on the website of workshop leader Jim Toy.
I have more on Mr. Toy at Eclectic Amateur.
peace,
Zach
Posted by: Zach Frey at May 16, 2004 12:28 AMJoseph, back in the '60s, evangelicals were Democrats and northern WASP liberals were in the Republican party; you don't get more WASPy than Episcopalians. Since then, liberal WASPs have migrated to the Democratic camp when they aren't grumbly RINOs.
Posted by: Mark Byron at May 16, 2004 05:38 AMThank you for your diligence, Greg. It has been three days since this story broke. I continue to await a statement of dissociation from the bishop in whose diocese the event is taking place. The silence is staggering, but perhaps one is forthcoming.
Posted by: Jill Woodliff at May 18, 2004 10:12 AMJill,
Don't hold your breath.
Posted by: Greg at May 18, 2004 10:27 AM