April 26, 2010 issue
Event supports people in sexuality struggles
By Connecting FamiliesREISTERSTOWN, Md. — About 70 people gathered April 9-11 for the 21st annual Connecting Families weekend.
Participants were families and supporters of people experiencing same-gender attraction, as well as people with Anabaptist connections who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender.
Chapter 10 of Acts, the story of Peter and Cornelius, provided the scriptural basis for the program. The story emphasizes the role of God’s Spirit in widening Peter’s attitude to include an “unclean” Gentile, with global results after other church leaders saw he was following God’s directive in expanding the reach of God’s grace.
Participants told stories of the pain and misery of “mis-mated” couples, followed by sorrow turned into joy. The group applauded partnerships of 20 and 30 years.
Several people reported having participated in Christian-oriented “reparative therapies” that left them unhealed and unfulfilled. Later coming to see themselves as part of God’s creation, under the biblical label of “very good,” they said, brought them to spiritual health.
Connecting Families first met in 1990 after several Mennonite couples saw a need for mutual support among families dealing with issues relating to same-gender attraction. While personal stories in earlier years were heavy with themes of hostility and rejection from family members and churches, this year’s sharing reflected an increase in themes of resolution and acceptance.
Comments
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The planning committee for Connecting Families welcomes all who are supportive of LGBT loved ones to join us at the next Connecting Families weekend, March 18-20, 2011, in Reisterstown, MD. Each year, it is a time of warmth and laughter, fellowship and spiritual growth. Attending Connecting Families helped me to know that there is still welcome and affirmation for me as a gay man in the Mennonite community. If you have questions about the retreat, feel free to contact me at forrest.moyer@yahoo.com. --Forrest Moyer, planning committee member
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