Intersectionality has become an important point of growth for our community as we seek to love each other well and pursue justice together. At the retreat two years ago, we had the opportunity to learn from three guests who gave voice and expression to the realities of multiple marginal identities: Michael Blair, Jordan Sullivan, and…
Driving over the bridge to Hamilton last night I saw a rainbow. I hadn’t seen a real one through sun and rain for a while and though it was faint it was so very beautiful. One can’t help but see such an ethereal moment as wondrous. My rainbow sighting also reminded me of the polarization…
This year’s Generous Space Retreat ended three weeks ago, and I’ve finally recovered enough to reflect on it. Actually, “recovered” is an exaggeration. To tell you the truth, I didn’t feel nearly as exhausted as I expected after this year’s retreat, and I’ll tell you why. As Director of Community, I sometimes catch myself believing…
Meet Josh and Reed, an engaged Christian couple who appeared on the popular reality show “Survivor” last year. They attend Hillsong church in New York. Hillsong leaders recently released a public statement clarifying that they welcome LGBTQ+ people but will not allow them to hold positions of leadership. Josh and Reed were asked to step down from their…
Several members of the New Direction community face daily battles with depression and other forms of mental illness. The rejection, marginalization and isolation they often experience as LGBTQ+ Christians can exacerbate these realities. One of our hopes at New Direction this year is to talk more about mental illness and de-stigmatize it. Together, we can learn how…
Lately I’ve been having great conversations with straight cisgender Christians who ask how they can best support the LGBTQ+ Christian community. These are important questions, and I’ve been hearing more and more innovative, contextual ideas. As a catalyst to this ongoing conversation, consider the following suggestions… 1. Open up your homes. There are several…
Middle section, second pew from the front, left side. That’s where my family sat every Sunday morning. It provided easy access to the stage for my pastor dad, who was always positioned closest to the aisle. It gave me a sense of being under the watchful gaze of the whole congregation: significant, but scrutinized. Sunday…
Earlier this month, 75 people attended our annual Generous Spaciousness Retreat. Most were from southern Ontario, but some came from as far as Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, and New Brunswick! We spent three days together at a conference center on a frozen lake, laughing, crying, eating, singing, praying, listening to each other’s stories, and watching…
Navigating tension is a normal every day aspect of trying to serve well through the ministry of New Direction. It shows up in all sorts of ways, but I think one of the most significant underlying factors is that we seek to respond to two primary audiences. In speaking about money, Jesus said you can’t…
Here are some of the questions we get asked by church people: Do you believe homosexuality is a sin? Do you support gay marriage? Do you think gay people need to repent? Do you think gay people should be leaders in the church? How can we love gay people even though we believe gay relationships…