A mother speaks about the cost of
"O"
[3-10-01]
When people oppose Amendment O, a major reason
seems to be their recognition of the human cost of such exclusion.
Elder Millie Sieber of Cleveland, Tennessee, represented that cost
clearly in the discussion in East Tennessee Presbytery. We are
honored to share it here.
Mr. Moderator, Fellow Presbyters, I am Millie Sieber,
elder Northside Church, Cleveland, TN. I am a proud mother of a gay son
and a grieving member of the Presbyterian Church (USA). I speak in
opposition to Amendment O.
Not many of you know our Bob. You won't see him in
church unless he goes to sing with his chorus, or to attend memorial
services for family or friends. Oh, he grew up in the church, but....
Bob was a tow-headed, blue-eyed boy of eight when he
asked me, "Why do I have to be so different?" All through high
school and into college, he tried to be heterosexual, but it didn't
work.
He is a gay man,
a terrific brother,
an appreciative son,
a loving uncle.
Because of him, the world is a better place.
But he does not seek out the Church -- why would he?!
The way we live,
the way we talk -- or keep silent (And that is my sin!),
and the amendments we pass
say to him and to millions like him, in effect,
"You are not our kind."
"Your sins are worse than ours."
"You are not wanted here."
Brothers and sisters, we did not learn this from Jesus Christ! He sought
out those who were cast out of "respectable society,"
"Follow me...."
"I'm coming to your house to eat today."
"Stretch out your hand."
"God is like a father who RUNS to welcome a lost
son and restore him to the family, and God is like the father who
reassures the self-righteous son that he too belongs to the
family."
Brothers and sisters, these are OUR sons and daughters, our brothers and
sisters! They have 2 parents, 4 grandparents, brothers and sisters,
cousins, uncles, aunts, and friends. By God's mercy, some of them have
not yet given up on the church, and they still worship with us, sing in
the choir, teach Sunday School, and share God's love with us and with
the world. It HURTS them -- and us -- when a part of the church tries to
limit God's grace!
To be faithful, our ministry can have no other bounds than the love and
grace of Jesus Christ!
[Here I was stopped by the two-minute time limit.]
