Wednesday, June 11, 2014

Excommunication?

Kate Kelly is facing communication. She is the founder of Ordain Women, a Mormon women's group that has been supporting/promoting women receiving the priesthood.

Excommunication.
 
In a report made three hours ago in the New York Times, Kelly said she was "shocked, dismayed and devastated" when she received a letter from her bishop of her congregation this Sunday passed informing her that a disciplinary hearing had been set for June 22.
 
I ran upon the article quite by accident.  I was reading about the Tony's from Sunday ceremony. How's that for gay.  There I was trying to decide if Sutton should have worn violet instead of whatever color that was when this story pops out of newsland.
 
Sister Kelly is, as stated in her letter, accused of "apostasy, defined as repeated and public advocacy of positions that oppose church teachings".
 

John P. Dehlin received a letter from his bishop on Monday.  As per the same article, Brother Dehlin has been given until June 18 to either resign or face excommunication.  Brother Dehlin has recently made commented that he no longer believes some of the fundamental teachings of the LDS church.
 
Excommunication.  The word gives me pause.  Huge, great, vast and silent pause.  Of course, If I had just kept my mouth shut about being gay back when I started this blog I wouldn't be as concerned as I am. And it is too late to back-peddle now -- even if I wanted to take that path.
 
So, what do I believe that would be grounds for one of my church leaders to question my own membership in the church?
 
That I am gay?  People don't get excommunicated for being gay. They don't get disfellowshiped for being gay either.  Before I was married I was disciplined in a church court, one that I chose not to attend. I asked my bishop to represent me honestly and I believe that he did -- but it was not for being gay. 
 
I was disfellowshiped for having made covenants of chastity and then breaking them.  And I understood the logic of the action -- though I was pained and embarrassed.  I found my letter of reinstating in a box a year or so ago and I relived that time all over again.
 
Do I think that gays should be able to marry?  Is it telling that I chose not to pursue a relationship with a man and, instead, married a woman.  Is it telling that I am trying to keep my covenants?  Probably not telling enough.
 
If I had a gun pointed at me I might have to say that I can't make that decision for anyone else.  Regardless of my personal belief, I couldn't say that I believe I have the right to marry someone I love, but someone else does not have that right. Whether I think it is moral or not, whether I believe it will be a chink in the armor that protects families or not, I am not comfortable telling someone what choice he needs to make. 
 
From what I understand about the pre-existence and the war in heaven, the same issue was put to a vote.  According to established church doctrine -- and using my very presence on earth as back-up -- I chose the side that wanted to make choices and not tell people what to do and how to do it.
 
Of course it is easy for me to say that because I write under a pseudonym.
 
What would I write if I didn't? 
 
 
 
 
 

3 comments:

  1. Wow. Such a thought provoking post. Thank you!

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  2. I'll have to be honest with you, Cal- I'm a little disappointed. Ms. Kelly and Mr. Dehlin have gone far above and beyond blogging about their questions and doubts. Jumping on the "the church is out to silence doubters" bandwagon does no one any service. Especially not you. You are a very intelligent, thoughtful person, and you know that you are not an apostate. Far from it. If you read the letter from Mr. Dehlin's Stake President, it is actually very loving, and more of an olive branch to reach out for conversation after Mr. Dehlin asked to be treated as a non-member and not be contacted by anyone in the church. Ms. Kelly, on the other hand, has actively recruited followers to openly oppose the direction of the First Presidency, has been repeatedly asked to stop her actions, and hasn't complied.
    I totally believe that the underlying issues that have brought these two people to this space deserve addressing and compassion. They deserve love and kindness, and for no one but their leaders to pass final judgment. You are not alone in feeling that anyone should be able to marry whomever they want. Agency is drilled into our hearts and to tell us to take that from loving happy law-abiding citizens feels wrong. That's not apostasy. You don't need to hide.

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