Langley and his GLBT parishioners believe that the most important thing for any person of faith is to have strength in one's own convictions, regardless of whatever opposition one might face.
"Jesus consistently in every passage after the Resurrection, said you must live your life fearlessly," he said. "People have to figure out for themselves, in their own hearts, how they can live in this institution."
One question that arises, when talking about GLBT people struggling to retain their faith within an institution that refuses to accept them for who they are, is: why continue to fight?
The answer to that question is many layered, and like Langley's approach to faith itself, never black and white. Bert Ouellette, an adjunct professor of psychology at Emmanuel College, explained the situation succinctly. "There's no turning back, no going back in the closet," he said. "But I didn't want to give up my traditions to go to a new church."
Ouellette is a member of Dignity Boston, a chapter of a nationwide independent movement of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender Catholics, their families and friends. Dignity was founded in 1986 when the Catholic Church, on orders from the Vatican, evicted GLBT Catholics from meeting and worshipping on church property. Essentially, Ouellette explained, the Vatican was drawing a line in the sand, saying, "'if you don't agree with the Church's teachings, then you can't meet on our property.'"
Ouellette explained that Catholicism is deeply entrenched in tradition and, on the surface, being a gay Catholic is essentially an anathema. At Dignity, however, they believe that this widely held belief is very much dependent on the individual that interprets the Bible. Their interpretation, and thus the manner in which they worship and practice their faith, is that God loves everyone equally.
"We don't believe that if you fall in love with a person of the same sex that you are evil or afflicted," Ouellette said. Dignity, according to Ouellette, is not merely a community of Catholics, but a community of people. Dignity serves as both a safe place for GLBT people to come together and worship, but also a place for people to come together as friends. Ouellette pointed out that they even have a Jewish member, a young man who joins them for the active social hour after their service.
"People come and say, 'oh this is so beautiful, it's a fantastic community," he said. Ouellette recalled a marriage ceremony between two male members, at which their mothers gave them away to each other. "It was so touching," he remembered. "And you just realize, what is so sinful here?" Ouellette is saddened by the Catholic Church's continued rejection of their GLBT members. He pointed out the inequity of the rule that forbids priests from blessing gay and lesbian people. "These priests are allowed to say Mass for people in prison, for rapists and murderers," he said. "But they cannot say Mass for devoted gay, lesbian or trans people."
However, it is just that inequity that inspires many of the people in Boston working to provide ministries for GLBT worshippers. Another grassroots organization in Boston working to provide opportunities for GLBT people to worship in peace and acceptance is Cambridge Welcoming Ministries, which holds its worship services at the United Methodist Church in Davis Square in Cambridge. CWM identifies as a "community of faith that seeks to embody a progressive theology of radical openness with those most marginalized in church and society." They celebrate this openness, in faith and in their personal lives, above all.
"There is this perception [in the church] that either you're honest about your sexuality and get kicked out, or you keep quiet and "hide," that there are only those two choices," said Marla Marcum, the co-layleader at CWM. "That isn't true. There are ways to keep your integrity and navigate the system"
Marcum said that CWM seeks to provide a place for anyone who feels subjugated or rejected by their faith to come and worship in a place where they will feel wholly welcome. To that end, they conduct all of their services with a focus on gender-free language. They usually do not refer to God as gendered; when they do, they make an effort to include "a little bit of everything." Marcum said that this policy has had an incredible spiritual and social impact on members of their ministry, CWM also often replaces the word "Lord" with the word "Love" when it fits into a song or prayer. It is this focus on love, above all, that makes their ministry such a special place for the GLBT people who worship with them.
Rev.
Nizzi Santos Digan recently took over as an interim pastor at CWM. She said that there is something about the language, music and community that she finds incredibly liberating.
"After a worship service I feel so alive," she exclaimed. "This is one church where I have never seen anyone look at a watch or a clock."
Digan said that the people who worship at CWM don't feel that they were forced to come there as a second choice. They feel welcome and safe there, and really don't want to be anywhere else. "It's not an alternative church," she said. "It's their church."
In fact, CWM has many straight members. They may have been attracted by the church's policy of acceptance and emphasis on equality. Marcum herself is one of those members. "The straight people at our church are there because they don't want to be at any other," Marcum said.
What all of these ministries have in common is a shared belief that God does not see sexuality, gender, color, or any of the myriad of things that prompt discriminatory attitudes and behaviors.
"For me, in my personal life," said Langley, "I believe that God loves me for just who I am."
To hear from a member of Cambridge Welcoming Ministries watch this short video:
