Comments on: everything that rises must converge

By: Mandi Rice

Mandi Rice — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 22:47:52 +0000

This is a powerful reflection, Dave, and one that really resonates with me personally and professionally. I’m struck by how one parent’s response spoke to your spirit… how that story was an agent of grace in your life, and then in the lives of LGBTQ people and others in your church community. Just watching the interaction above between you and Vanessa, it seems like there’s a power in you also choosing to share your own story here.

By: Dave Neuhausel, NA 22

Dave Neuhausel, NA 22 — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 21:12:07 +0000

In reply to Vanessa Stricker, NA-22. Thanks Vanessa. Im be curious to learn more about your experience. I am happy to share more as well. Let's connect.

By: Dave Neuhausel, NA 22

Dave Neuhausel, NA 22 — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 21:07:13 +0000

In reply to Jer Swigart.

Thank you, Jer. Yes, that question has been ever-present since the beginning of the journey. Remarkably, the public process of our announcement toward full-inclusion occurred in January, 2017 – the same month that the Trump was sworn into office. The political / idealogical divisiveness was at a fever pitch. Within the church leadership we came to the decision toward inclusion despite the fact that not everyone in leadership had come to the same conclusions on LGBTQ affirmation. There was consensus within leadership that this was the right step but not everyone agreed to the point that we could universally affirm LGBTQ relationships. And, for that reason, we chose the language of “full inclusion” over “full affirmation”. We chose unity over uniformity. This posed a bit of a tension for those on both sides of the discussion… We wanted those who identified as LGBTQ to know that they would be seen and dignified in our community and we were clear that they could serve, lead and be “out” at every level of leadership AND they could be married in our community. Yet, we also wanted to include those who disagreed and/or were still I process re: what they thought. We wanted to work toward Unity over and beyond Uniformity. We wanted to live with that holy tension that seemed so difficult for our greater culture to do. So, to respond to your important question, I am learning that peacemaking requires that I am generous, patient, curious, and inclusive back toward those who who have rejected me or my convictions. This is certainly not safe for anyone (especially for my queer friends). But, I think it’s better than division, judgment, condescension, etc…

By: Micah Witham, NA-22

Micah Witham, NA-22 — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 20:04:34 +0000

Dave, thanks for sharing this important part of your journey with us. It’s clear that you have counted the cost along the way of moving towards a more open and expansive understanding of God and your neighbor/brother/sister. I wonder, like the Psalmist, how long will it be this way? I love the book of Acts and the evidence of God’s Spirit as confirmation to move in a certain direction. Grateful you’re following the fruit and evidence of God at work even across your own previously held “boundaries”.

By: Vanessa Stricker, NA-22

Vanessa Stricker, NA-22 — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 19:48:13 +0000

Thank you for sharing! I’ve gone through my own process of wrestling with my theology in this area, and my church is just beginning to engage the conversation together. I’m helping to figure out what this process will look like so I’d love to hear more from you about the process your church went through.

By: Jer Swigart

Jer Swigart — Wed, 16 Mar 2022 00:41:45 +0000

Dave. Thank you for wrestling this week…and for choosing to write this one. There isn’t a peacemaker I know who hasn’t sacrificed reputation among their communities of origin in order to step more fully into the restorative revolution. The question that lingers with me, though, is this: what does peacemaking require of me back in the direction of those who canceled me because their theology had no space for the grace that you speak of?