Facing the Threat of Persecution with Faith
By Deborah Fisch
“Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love… . There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.”
— I John 4:7,8,18
Photo: Rich Regen.
I was asked to share my experiences of the witness for equal rights of marriage that occurred at the 2005 Friends General Conference Gathering and the events that led up to it. I held the request for many weeks aware of it rising up in me from time to time, but no matter how many times I sat down at my computer I couldn’t find adequate words to share in a way that that you all might experience some of that blessedness. As the deadline for submission drew closer I found myself saying to a F/friend, “This is so complicated I don’t even know how to start writing about it!” He responded by encouraging me to begin right at that point and to “Speak the Truth of it.” And so that is how I am starting. Who would have thought that a law meant to bind and take away rights of a specific group of citizens would be an opportunity for God’s love to not only be planted, but blossom in the hearts of so many.
I guess it shouldn’t be surprising that the first motion was Love. In fact, in my experience Love was the prevailing motion that carried us from beginning to end.
It is hard to explain how good it felt when the Conference coordinator, general secretary, presiding clerk, Gathering clerks, and FGC staff were so quick to understand that the passing of the Virginia law was going to be a huge obstacle for the folks in the Friends for Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual, Transgender and Queer Concerns (FLGBTQC). As far as I know there was never any consideration given to simply moving forward with plans and ignoring the needs of the FLGBTQC community. Early in consideration of how to move forward with the 2005 Gathering it was clear that FGC needed and wanted to bring the FLGBTQC community into the discernment process. I felt so blessed to be working for FGC as I sat in on the meeting for worship with attention to business of FLGBTQC at the 2004 Gathering. I listened to the general secretary explain the concerns to that community, outline discussions that had already taken place, and ask them to help FGC discern whether or not they would still be able to move forward with the plans to hold the 2005 Gathering in Blacksburg, VA. To be held in such loving care was not taken lightly by the FLGBTQC community. Love was indeed the first motion. Perhaps because love is so seldom the first motion directed toward folks in the LGBTQ community (as evidenced by the VA law and similar laws passed in other states since that time), this seemed like an even more extraordinary gift.
As I remember it, Friends moved into worship together and from that divine Silence raised up their fears for families and loved ones, tenderly holding each other in the reality of those fears. And then as the Silence continued to deepen Friends began asking what God would require of them at this time. The sense of the group was that FGC should go forward with plans to hold the Gathering at Blacksburg and that the FLGBTQC community needed to find some way to be a visible presence at that Gathering. Friends tenderly recognized that this might not be a calling for all Friends in the community, that for some the dangers might seem too much to risk at this time. Friends with children and couples where one had a chronic illness seemed particularly at risk. These Friends were lovingly held and the community looked for ways to either help way open for them to attend or support them in their decision to stay home. The clerks of the 2005 Gathering volunteered to make more inquiries within the Blacksburg area, especially with the area hospital and the university provost. Members of the FLGBTQC community volunteered to be in touch with gay groups on campus and in the wider Blacksburg area.
Friends began asking what a faithful presence might look like. It was decided that the group would do further discernment at the 2005 FLGBTQC Midwinter Gathering. The 2004 Gathering had been a both a tender and powerful week for LGBTQ Friends. Friends felt well-held by the FGC staff and Central Committee leaders.
The general secretary and the 2005 Gathering clerks attended the FLGBTQC Midwinter as spiritual support to the community as they continued to discern how to best let their Light shine at the coming summer Gathering. It became clear that the community was being called to be present as a community of faith, and once that was articulated it seemed important to use the opportunity to share both with the FGC Gathering community and the wider Blacksburg community what they know experientially of God’s love and their love for each other. The group decided against any kind of rally or protest against the Virginia law. Instead they planned a witness of worship and testimony in support of the right to marry. As in any good Quaker community a committee was appointed to take up the work of planning the event.
FGC continued to be supportive, making sure the public was aware of the organization’s own concerns around bringing the Gathering to Virginia when such law was on the books. Through press releases and dialogue with local representatives FGC publicized their own position as well as the public witness that was being planned for Gathering week. The planning committee continued to work through the spring and right up to the time of the witness finding Friends willing to testify publicly about their own relationships and marriages, to explain why the right to marry and the privileges that go with marriage should be a choice open to all people and to share that we as Friends know by experience that God already blesses gay unions and that it is important for the government and society to acknowledge those unions too.
 Photo: Rich Regen. |
It was an amazing few hours. Forecasted rain that seemed to be imminent held off, instead giving the event sunny skies. As I was walking to join the witness I noticed a long line of people moving down the. My heart about burst with joy when I saw that it was the high school and young adult F/friends streaming hand in hand into the witness. When I later learned the high schoolers had moved their field trip so they could participate I was inspired by their understanding of the need to be willing to sacrifice for a just cause. The presence of Love could be seen in the smiles and tears as the crowd listened to speakers, sang together, and worshipped together. Like many present, I was amazed at the courage of the woman from Blacksburg who spoke from the Silence about how she had happened upon the witness and how important it was for her. Her faithful testimony was surely courageous. Certainly it is true that Love casts out fear! Bruce Birchard summed up his experience by saying, “I was so deeply moved by [FLGBTQC’s] consideration of this matter and the clarity they felt to go to Virginia and witness, confident that the entire FGC community would support them. It was one of the really deep, Spirit-centered experiences of my tenure as FGC general secretary.”
The FLGBTQC community continues to learn. Virginia is not alone in the passing of this kind of law. The LGBTQ people are not the only people facing hatred and discrimination. We are living in hard times and they may get harder, but we are so, so blessed to have been brought together into this beloved community! None of us has to do this work alone. We have been working hard and we will continue to work hard to learn to love each other with the unconditional love of Christ. We still have much to learn, but we will continue to learn as we walk the walk.
What is the ministry that the FLGBTQC community is being called to now? What is the ministry that Friends are being called to in these days and in these times? Can we turn from our outrage and hurt (though we have plenty of reasons to be outraged and hurt about the passing of these kinds of laws) and instead intentionally choose Love? Can we as Friends give each other enough support so that we can let the power of the Light and Love we know through God and with each other shine so brightly that fear and hate are overcome? If we continue to be faithful there is reason to hope. With Divine assistance we will find the love we will need.
Concerns of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Friends
- Different ‘Yes,’ Special ‘No’ by by Joshua Mendel
- Facing the Threat of Persecution with Faith by Deborah Fisch
- Honoring Journeys, Honoring Gender by Kody Hersh
- On Being Talked About — Mostly ‘They,’ Sometimes ‘Our,’ Rarely ‘We’ by Beckey Phipps
