The Voice of God is Calling

The voice of God is calling its summons in our day;

Isaiah heard in Zion, and we now hear God say:

"Whom shall I send to succor my people in their need?

Whom shall I send to loosen the bonds of shame and greed?"

~From The Voice of God Is Calling #436 in The United Methodist Hymnal Words by John Haynes Holmes, written in 1913, based on Isaiah 6:8. (Note: "in our day" in previous hymnals was "unto men.")

In looking to write an inspirational message for this devotion, I really like the words in the above and am very happy the Hymnal Revision Committee changed "unto men" to "in our day." I strongly feel in addition to making the words gender neutral here, the new words speak to a relevance of timelessness; that they are relevant at all times.

Tuesday, October 11th was my 53rd birthday, also National Coming Out Day. I posted on my Facebook page a coming out picture with a brief message about identifying as a gay man. My coming out is still a work in progress but I am very thankful for Church Within A Church for giving me this opportunity to write a devotion. I am also thankful for Reconciling Ministries Network, Lambda Legal, and Garden State Equality for their work for equality for all persons regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity.

There are also many other justice issues in addition to sexual orientation which need addressing. They include racism, sexism, inequality of wealth, workers' rights to organize, ending the death penalty, ending wars, and supporting our veterans who come home from the wars.

I believe God very much wants us to strive for equality for all, at least for everyone to have the same opportunity to achieve. I also want to do some confessing. I do not consider myself an organizer. I am not one to usually urge others to follow my causes though I do some on Facebook. As far as sexual orientation and gender identity issues are concerned, I am definitely not a pioneer like Paul Abels, Julian Rush, Bishop Gene Robinson, and many others. It is important for there to be Christian voices out there advocating for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex, queer, and questioning persons, especially when there are way too many churches being the voice for hate and inequality. We are doing the good deeds Jesus wants when we advocate for equality.

I also want to congratulate DeLyn and Robyn on their upcoming ordinations. They are both very worthy of being ordained by CWAC. I also congratulate Annie and Jenna on their 2008 ordinations.

God bless everyone reading this devotion in the name of the Creator, Redeemer, and Holy Spirit. Amen.