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Nate - Progressive Christian Gay Guy (Tulsa, OK)

Nate Black


Dernière mise à jour : 2/12/2009

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Sexe : Male
Statut : Célibataire
Age : 32
Ville : Tulsa (formerly Austin, TX)
Région : Oklahoma
Date d’inscription :: 30/04/2005

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samedi, décembre 20, 2008 

Humeur actuelle :  aventureux

The facts: President-elect Obama, a very progressive and justice-minded leader, chose Rick Warren to give the prayer at his presidential inauguration. Rick Warren pastors a very large evangelical church and he supported Prop 8 which aimed to ban marriage for lesbian & gay Californians.

The drama: Progressives and LGBT people everywhere are ticked off, upset and are demanding Obama disinvite Warren and choose a more inclulsive faith leader.

Look folks, we are reacting to Obama as if he is a Bush. As if we don't really believe he is a man of integrity. As if we don't really believe in his leadership. AND we are demonizing Rick Warren because he has done something we don't agree with.

Cut it out.

President Obama is the most powerful and progressive leader we have ever had. Everything about his campaign said this man is different. He is integrity. He is equality. He is leadership. And he is change.

Stop throwing a temper tantrum. Try on that this really is the wisest choice to make. What if Obama really knew what he was doing?

Example: What if this experience causes Pastor Warren to really get confronted with the injustice and lack of compassion of some of his beliefs, teachings and actions about LGBT people? What if this is the source of Pastor Warren leading a change in the American church?

If Obama is teaching us anything, it is to expand our vision. To take off the blinders that are creating our 'my way or the highway' tunnel vision.

Now. Standing in that Obama really knows what he's doing and is really committed to integrity and justice, you may still disagree with a choice he's made.

Instead of attacking him... or DEMANDING he do something... What would it be like to make a powerful request that acknowledged your faith in him AND requested that he choose someone else... or even better, created an interfaith group that gave inaugural prayers from several faith traditions. Such a group could be balanced with conservative and progressive faith leaders AND would have room for Pastor Warren.

Finally, let me say some things about Rick Warren. I disagree with his position on Prop 8. I disagree with some of his theology. And, I really respect him for his commitment to making a difference, helping people and being God's love in the world. He is not a bad person. He is not our enemy.

Our enemy is the mis-information that causes bias and fear.

When we go on the war path, attacking a human being who has been affected by the misinformation, we ABSOLUTELY give up our right to stand as people committed to justice and love.

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dimanche, octobre 05, 2008 
Hi Everyone,
I wanted to send an invitation to you all for this very special event in the life of our local MCC church, MCC United, which is celebrating its 35th Anniversary on Oct. 11th at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center.  Admission is $10.00.  Our denomination, the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Churches, is also celebrating its 40th Anniversary of ministry this month.  And, as you may know, October 11th is also National Coming Out Day.

Take a moment and imagine what life was like forty years ago for sexual & gender minorities... in their faith communities, in their jobs, in our culture, and in their families.  How many open, inclusive and/or affirming faith communities were there?  How many companies included sexual & gender minorities in their non-discrimination clauses?  With few exceptions, the answer is none.

Then Troy Perry answered the call to provide a safe place for sexual & gender minorities to worship and re-connect with God.  Out of this effort, MCC was born and the world has never been the same.  I know I'm an excited, passionate young man, but I don't think I would be too far off the mark if I say that I believe we can thank MCC for being cause in the matter of much of the societal & spiritual changes in attitudes, beliefs & behaviors towards sexual & gender minorities.

MCC now has churches all over the world, including places like Asia, the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and the Middle East, places where it is often dangerous and deadly to be open about being a sexual or gender minority.  The vision of MCC is continually expanding to be a community that values Justice instead of having a "just-us" mentality, to changing the conversation about what it means to be and live like Jesus, and we are answering a call to bring a message of integrity, hope and love to the world.

For more information on these and other initiatives MCC is leading, please visit:  www.mccchurch.org, www.wouldjesusdiscriminate.com
, www.inourownwordsmcc.org

I am personally so grateful for such a wonderful and supportive interfaith community here in Tulsa.  I know many of you have long relationships with MCC and have seen our local church through sunshine and storms.  I am committed that MCC United reclaim it's position as one of the flagship churches of our denomination, that we become a strong voice for justice and love in our community, and that we strengthen the bonds we have with all of you... our brothers and sisters.

Please come to this special event.  If possible, rsvp to search@mcctulsa.org.  If you are unable to attend and would like to send a message of congratulations and support, please write to search@mcctulsa.org.

The event information is below.  Please contact me with any questions.

Much love,
Nate Black  /  nateblackconsulting@gmail.com
Pastoral Search Team Co-Chair
MCC United
www.mcctulsa.org


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samedi, septembre 13, 2008 















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lundi, septembre 01, 2008 
You know the old axiom... "actions speak louder than words."

McCain demonstrated he does not have the presence of mind to be the President of the United States of America when he chose Sarah Palin as his Vice President running mate.  He clearly believes that America's religous conservatives are going to remain as clueless and willing to be manipulated as they were when they allowed themselves to be duped by the oil baron Bush and his vampire-like pro-corporate cronies who have sucked the soul out of everyday America.  He also clearly believes that those religous conservatives he actually can mind-warp enough to follow him, since he appointed Palin, still retain the integrity and influence of their collective voice.

Was he thinking of you when he chose Palin?

I believe that more and more religious conservatives are abandoning the mantras for which they have become known... like disregard for the poor and powerless, demonization of people from different religions, thinly veiled racism and sexism, and the spiritual rape and political persecution of our gay, lesbian, bisexual & trans brothers, sisters and children.

Maybe McCain was thinking of me when he chose Palin.  Maybe by aligning someone who seems to "speak for God" he hopes I will be shamed into silence...  It sure has worked against us before.

But today is a new day.

Fear-religion and fear-politik isn't inducing the same power-gaining response it once did.  People are finally listening to their hearts and minds instead of blindly submitting to the hate-filled rhetoric of rich preachers and traitorous politicians.

So we know who McCain thought he was thinking of... and lets show him he was wrong.

Please read the following letter from www.moveon.org.

Peace,
Nate
*******************************


Dear MoveOn member,

Yesterday was John McCain's 72nd birthday. If elected, he'd be the oldest president ever inaugurated. And after months of slamming Barack Obama for "inexperience," here's who John McCain has chosen to be one heartbeat away from the presidency: a right-wing religious conservative with no foreign policy experience, who until recently was mayor of a town of 9,000 people.

Huh?

Who is Sarah Palin? Here's some basic background:

  • She was elected Alaska's governor a little over a year and a half ago. Her previous office was mayor of Wasilla, a small town outside Anchorage. She has no foreign policy experience.1
  • Palin is strongly anti-choice, opposing abortion even in the case of rape or incest.2
  • She supported right-wing extremist Pat Buchanan for president in 2000. 3
  • Palin thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.4
  • She's doesn't think humans are the cause of climate change.5
  • She's solidly in line with John McCain's "Big Oil first" energy policy. She's pushed hard for more oil drilling and says renewables won't be ready for years. She also sued the Bush administration for listing polar bears as an endangered species—she was worried it would interfere with more oil drilling in Alaska.6
  • How closely did John McCain vet this choice? He met Sarah Palin once at a meeting. They spoke a second time, last Sunday, when he called her about being vice-president. Then he offered her the position.7

This is information the American people need to see. Please take a moment to forward this email to your friends and family.

We also asked Alaska MoveOn members what the rest of us should know about their governor. The response was striking. Here's a sample:

She is really just a mayor from a small town outside Anchorage who has been a governor for only 1.5 years, and has ZERO national and international experience. I shudder to think that she could be the person taking that 3AM call on the White House hotline, and the one who could potentially be charged with leading the US in the volatile international scene that exists today. —Rose M., Fairbanks, AK

She is VERY, VERY conservative, and far from perfect. She's a hunter and fisherwoman, but votes against the environment again and again. She ran on ethics reform, but is currently under investigation for several charges involving hiring and firing of state officials. She has NO experience beyond Alaska. —Christine B., Denali Park, AK

As an Alaskan and a feminist, I am beyond words at this announcement. Palin is not a feminist, and she is not the reformer she claims to be. —Karen L., Anchorage, AK

Alaskans, collectively, are just as stunned as the rest of the nation. She is doing well running our State, but is totally inexperienced on the national level, and very much unequipped to run the nation, if it came to that. She is as far right as one can get, which has already been communicated on the news. In our office of thirty employees (dems, republicans, and nonpartisans), not one person feels she is ready for the V.P. position.—Sherry C., Anchorage, AK

She's vehemently anti-choice and doesn't care about protecting our natural resources, even though she has worked as a fisherman. McCain chose her to pick up the Hillary voters, but Palin is no Hillary. —Marina L., Juneau, AK

I think she's far too inexperienced to be in this position. I'm all for a woman in the White House, but not one who hasn't done anything to deserve it. There are far many other women who have worked their way up and have much more experience that would have been better choices. This is a patronizing decision on John McCain's part- and insulting to females everywhere that he would assume he'll get our vote by putting "A Woman" in that position.—Jennifer M., Anchorage, AK

So Governor Palin is a staunch anti-choice religious conservative. She's a global warming denier who shares John McCain's commitment to Big Oil. And she's dramatically inexperienced.

In picking Sarah Palin, John McCain has made the religious right very happy. And he's made a very dangerous decision for our country.

In the next few days, many Americans will be wondering what McCain's vice-presidential choice means. Please pass this information along to your friends and family.

Thanks for all you do.

–Ilyse, Noah, Justin, Karin and the rest of the team

Sources:

1. "Sarah Palin," Wikipedia, Accessed August 29, 2008
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarah_Palin

2. "McCain Selects Anti-Choice Sarah Palin as Running Mate," NARAL Pro-Choice America, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17515&id=13661-10321281-.qo5dpx&t=1

3. "Sarah Palin, Buchananite," The Nation, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17736&id=13661-10321281-.qo5dpx&t=2

4. "'Creation science' enters the race," Anchorage Daily News, October 27, 2006
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17737&id=13661-10321281-.qo5dpx&t=3

5. "Palin buys climate denial PR spin—ignores science," Huffington Post, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17517&id=13661-10321281-.qo5dpx&t=4

6. "McCain VP Pick Completes Shift to Bush Energy Policy," Sierra Club, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17518&id=13661-10321281-.qo5dpx&t=5

"Choice of Palin Promises Failed Energy Policies of the Past," League of Conservation Voters, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17519&id=13661-10321281-.qo5dpx&t=6

"Protecting polar bears gets in way of drilling for oil, says governor," The Times of London, May 23, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=17520&id=13661-10321281-.qo5dpx&t=7

7 "McCain met Palin once before yesterday," MSNBC, August 29, 2008
http://www.moveon.org/r?r=21119&id=13661-10321281-.qo5dpx&t=8

Want to support our work? We're entirely funded by our 3.2 million members—no corporate contributions, no big checks from CEOs. And our tiny staff ensures that small contributions go a long way. Chip in here.

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee. This email was sent to Nathan Black on August 30, 2008. To change your email address or update your contact info, click here. To remove yourself from this list, click here. ..
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lundi, juin 23, 2008 
Matt sent me this comment, so I'd like to address it here...

"Dear Nate,

I have never communicated with you before but I have some questions for you that I think you are able to answer. My questions:

1. How can I come to understand certain verses in the bible that deal with homosexuality?

2. How does my homosexuality affect my faith

3. What are some good books that deal with this issue

Your help is much appreciated.
Much love,
Matt"

Dear Matt,
Thanks for the comment and the great questions.  I hope you are doing well.  You're doing a great job already with the first question.  The first step to learning is to simply ask... to consider the possibility that maybe there's another interpretation, another way of looking at things.  So for the first & third question, I'm going to refer you to a) some websites with great information and b) some websites with great communities of people asking these same questions.

Check these websites/documents out to get yourself up to speed on some different ways of understanding what the Bible says about sexuality:
Here are some videos:


..

The communities I was talking about are:
http://www.gaychristian.net  - wonderful message boards
http://www.soulforce.org/forums - wonderful message boards
http://www.mccchurch.org- Predominantly lgbt denomination
http://www.uccchurch.org - Mostly lgbt inclusive denomination


And now, the final question... "How does my homosexuality affect my faith?"  This is a fascinating question...  Even if you start from the place of knowing and believing that God made you and loves you as you are, the question of how your sexuality affects your faith is a profound one. 

I truly view my sexuality as a gift.  I thank God I am gay.  Has being gay always been easy?  Of course not.  But now that I've gone through some of that mess, I feel like I am wiser, more compassionate, and more committed to Christ than ever before.  Being gay has opened my eyes to all kinds of social justice issues, even ones where I may be guilty of causing harm.  Being gay, and knowing how gay voices have been excluded from modern Christianity, I am extremeley curious what Christianity might look like if things had been different... if LGBT people had always been included... if women had always been valued...  if people from all racial and financial backgrounds had always stood on equal ground...

Jesus is more real to me, His words have more life, His life is more compelling... because I am experiencing this life as a gay man.

I "get" oppression.  I "get" injustice.   But most of all, I "get" Love...  Loving God, Loving Myself & Loving my neighbor.

Peace,
Nate





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mardi, juin 17, 2008 
Man, what a ride.  After accepting the invitation to be the Marketing Co-Chair for Tulsa Pride 2008 back in December '07, I knew I was in for a lot of work.

What suprised me and continues to suprise me is how easy it was to do the difficult things the job required.  I wanted to bring a new spirit, a greater level of professionalism, and a community-building focus to the Tulsa community.

Now, after all the events are over, all I can say is that I am humbled by the incredible success of the Pride committee's efforts.  In spite of all kinds of challenges, this amazing grroup of people stepped up to do what needed to be done for our community.  People gave their money, countless volunteer hours, their creativity... they made sacrifices with their family lives and social lives... they made sacrifices with their work... and, oddly enough, most gave up actually being able to enjoy the events because of all the human power needed to carry them out.

Here are some of the volunteer names.... people to whom I am eternally grateful... people I think we should all recognize as leaders in our community who can really affect great change.


Zoe, April, Debby, Bonnie, Ed, CC, Bryce, Thom, Jenn, Ronnie, Zeke, Josh, James, Chris, Lincoln, Aaron, Jay, Jacob, Mateo, Sunny, Mary... and I know I'm forgetting lots of wonderful people. (I'll come back and add them as I remember
 their names.)

Toby Jenkins & Kristi Freeman were so dedicated, passionate, resourcefull, and brilliant in their roles as Co-chairs for the events.  They really impressed me with the quality of work they brought to the table... and I'm glad I can count them as friends today.

There are some great videos of the Parde and Festival at www.okgnn.net.

The Equality Festival was featured in the Sunday edition of the Tulsa World.  http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectID=11&articleID=20080615_11_A21_spancl981424&allcom=1

And, I want to say thank you to you... our sponsors and guests.  We put this event on for you and we hope you had a wonderful, enlightening experience.

Peace,
Nate
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mercredi, juin 04, 2008 
So this guy writes this blog about how upset he is that the ban on gay marriage in California has been overturned.

Go read his blog here... http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=194028640&blogid=394910215

I was inspired to adapt his words for the opposing arguement and posted a comment on his blog. Here is my comment and his "adapted" words in quotes.

Interesting blog.

Indulge me for a minute, if you will...

Regarding the passage of any anti-gay marriage legislation:

"So how did it start? What is the real problem or problems? These events are just symptoms after all. What is at the root of the problem?

Is it just the twisting of Scripture? Using one or two passages to create an entire philosophy for the condemnation of abortion or homosexuality? And this despite the clear evidence that God hates these sins of twisting scripture?

Is it the flat out denying of Scripture? The fulfilling of Scripture that many turn away to words and beliefs that tickle their ears?

Is it the failure to pray? This is severely neglected and keeps the Christian thinking, working, and creating in his own strength and wisdom.

Is it the secularization of the Christian community, the Church? Secular is not the elimination of God like many think. It is putting Him second! We are however on the way to eliminating Him in our culture. Today was one more step in that direction.

Is it the neglect and/or ignorance of Scripture? This too is pervasive among Christians. Not just liberals, but conservatives as well. However, we do see many more liberals among certain denominations like Episcopalians or Catholics. Not to celebrate these two groups and I know it does not speak to all of them, but they are at the forefront of Christian liberalism. It's shameful that we aren't!"

Have you ever heard the phrase, "Jesus was a liberal?" I have a feeling that Jesus would be frustrated and ashamed with how un-liberal we are with sharing God's love... and I'm including the liberals in that.

He said the GREATEST commandment was to love God and to love one another as we love ourselves.

What would it be like if we truly weighed EVERYTHING against the standard of love? I think we'd all have a lot of mess to clean up. I know I would.

What about this standard of love? Need a refresher? Go read 1 Corinthians 13.

Is using the name of God to demonize a child of God a loving thing to do?

Is using your power as a person in the majority to inflict suffering on people in the minority a loving thing to do?

What would Jesus do? He was the champion of those whom others rejected.
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lundi, mai 19, 2008 
This is from Peter Fisher's book, "The Gay Mystique," which was written in 1972, shortly after the Stonewall Riot.  I wanted to share these words with you.

"Coming out is always a gradual process - you cannot change your life overnight. But most gay people who have left the closet recall a particular moment or experience that was especially important, the point at which they really knew they were free and would never hide again. For me this moment occured at the end of June 1970 when the first march was held in New York to commemorate the Stonewall riot.

There had never been a gay march in the city before and nobody was sure how the police and the straight public would react. A good deal of contingency planning went on behind the scenes in case of violence. The crowd swelled and swelled, surpassing the wildest expectations. Suddenly we were off.

I doubt the spirit of that first march will ever be recaptured. The crowd was definitely beautiful. I had never seen so many different gay people, so many smiles, such radiance - where were the unhappy homosexuals I had heard of all my life?

Feelings ran high. We moved uptown past police lines, blue uniforms, billy clubs, patrol cars, flashing lights: I could smell the confrontation. Before we reached Central Park we were a tide flooding Sixth Avenue from sidewalk to sidewalk for blocks and blocks. We were strong, Our voices rocked the buildings as we passed. "OUT OF THE CLOSETS AND INTO THE STREETS!" We were gentle. "I am a lesbian and I am beautiful," read a sign. We were a tapestry, a riot of color, a madcap dance, the last American revolution.

I reeled in the glory of it, walked as I had never walked before, soared. I looked up at the walls of glass and stone, and the tiny faces looking down, and laughed and shouted: I'm gay and I'm proud! I hadn't shouted since I was a child. When had I really felt proud before? The years of hiding and hating myself and putting up with things and hurting and lying and wanting to scream ripped through me and exploded.

There's no going back after that. You can't feel those things and take them back to the closet and nurse them. When you know what it really means to be free, you know that freedom is life. Do you know how it tastes to be alive for the first time?

Oppression in any form requires the complicity of the oppressed. To come out is to refuse to oppress oneself, refuse to play the game. To come out is to assert one's validity and equality and to declare that one will defend himself. It is the only real form of self-respect.

There's no moral obligation to come out of the closet - or if there is, it is not one which any one homosexual can determine for another. We would never have been in the closet in the first place if we had not allowed others to make our moral decisions for us.

Freedom must be chosen."

- Peter Fisher 1972
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jeudi, mai 15, 2008 
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=20080515_16_A5_spancl887904

"Kern, R-Oklahoma City, said Oklahomans who support traditional families need to get more involved in policy fights ....or we will cede the victory to groups seeking special rights based ..able homosexual behavior.''

The "Clock In for Equality'' day is being spearheaded by Lambda Legal, a national organization that is committed to achieving "civil rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender people and those with HIV through impact litigation, education and public policy work,'' said Hector Vargas, the New York group's deputy director."

Please go read the full article and comment on it.

Here's my comment.

"74. 5/15/2008 2:51:03 PM, Nate Black, Tulsa
Back when I was a writer for the O'Colly at OSU, LGBT protection from employment discrimination was a hot topic. The article I wrote on the issue focused on my concern as a future employee in Oklahoma. Why would I put my career and thus my home and family at risk by working in a state where an employer could fire me soley because of who I am? Oklahoma is losing many sharp LGBT people to more accepting locales. And it's not just affecting LGBT people. I also know of straight young professionals who refuse to work for companies that don't protect ALL of their minority workers. If a company(state) is going to be bigoted towards gay & lesbian people, it will more than likely be bigoted towards racial & ethnic minorities, women, people with disabilities, etc.

Again, Sally Kern is only doing us a favor. She is being vocal about a sentiment that many people here have. We can react with hostility towards this poor, uneducated, scared woman... or we think a bit more globally and come up with creative solutions to change the hearts and minds of the people who Sally is speaking for.

Peace,
Nate Black"
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jeudi, mai 15, 2008 
This afternoon a dear friend sent me a text message alerting me that the California Supreme Court has affirmed the right of Gays & Lesbians to marry!

I was struck simultaneously with hope and doubt... and got on the HRC's website as fast as I could... and there it was...

California Becomes Second State to Recognize Marriage Equality for Same-Sex Couples

My eyes immediately filled with tears as joy flooded every fiber of my being.

"I am not forgotten,
I am not forgotten,
I am not forgotten...
Because God knows my name..."

Zephaniah 3:17 says that God is your midst, He is mighty to save, mighty to deliver, He will quiet you with His love and He will rejoice over you with singing.

"He knows my name,
He knows my everything...
He sees each tear that falls,
and He hears me when I call..."

My friends, I want you to know that I believe this amazing victory is God's way of letting you hear the song He's been singing over you.  You are not forgotten.

It is time to shed the past, the shame, the guilt... to let go of whatever is keeping you from being free to love, to laugh, to truly live.

These are the first view verses of a song called "No Limits" by New Israel... this is the song I think of when I contemplate God singing over me and you...

"I'm not a man, I cannot lie. I know the plans for your life, I'm asking you to dream again, believe again and take the limits off of me.

No I'm not a man, I cannot lie. I know the plans I have for you they're my design, so I'm asking you just to hope again and trust again and take the limits off of me.

All I'm asking is take the limits off, take the limits off, release me to accomplish what I promised you, take the limits off me, take the limits off release me release me..."

Friends, if you are in Tulsa, Oklahoma, I want to invite you and your family to come to MCC United this Sunday morning.  The website is www.mcctulsa.org.  If you're not in Tulsa, I want to invite you to find an MCC church in your area by going to www.mccchurch.org.

Much love,
Nate
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