Newspapers / Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.) / July 1, 2006, edition 1 / Page 20
Part of Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
OPINION We are remodeling, but we are still open! yssen 336-774-1077 4019-A country Club Road • Winston-Salem, NC 27104 .» TWO sides to double your pleasure! ‘ Our main side features DJ Biii, spinning aii the top house tunz, while the hip hop side features the top urban hits played by DJ Midnyte. CASS WESTBROOK'S CABARET Every Friday NIte @ Midnight! July I4th-Tiffany Bonet & Aurora Scott. Hosted by Uniquea. July 21 St-special Benefit for PFLAG with Several Surprise Guests. Come show your support. Hosted by Aurora Scott. . . July 28th-Nellie Bottoms & Loreal St. Laurant. Hosted by Cass Westbrook. July 29th-Summer Price Party with DJ Bill, free Party Favors. Come out in your Favorite Pride Colors. Wild Wednesdays Dollar Night! r members & non-members $5 cover for 18-20 year olds $1.00 Domestic Beer $1.50 Well Drinks 2006 Talent Search — happens every 1st Thursday of every month. Mr. Odyssey Contest — takes place every 3rd Thursday of every monthf $100 cash prize to each contests winner! Thursday, July 20th: Mr. Odyssey Contest, $100 cash prize email: clubodysseync@hotmall.com web: www.aubOdyssey.info Open Tuesday - Sunday 9 pm until For booking information contact Cass Westbrook at the club from 9-11 pm on Tuesdays at 336-774-1077 20 JULY I .2006‘Q-NOTES Opinion by Charlie Smith Convenient memory loss The Reverend Dr. Kendall Harmon of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina stated in a recent issue of the Charleston Post and Conner that “The [Anglican] communion did not come apart because of the ordination of women. [But] it did come apart because of the ordination of gay clergy.” Apparently he has a very short and convenient memory (see “Affirmation of St. Louis,” 1977). Kendall Harmon sugarcoated and dis missed the viriousness of the fight 30 years ago against ordaining women to the priest hood, an apparent effort to validate his con tinuing viciousness “in the name of the Lord” against the full inclusion of gay and lesbian Christians within the Episcopal Church. He is not telling the truth about what happened in the 1970s and he is cer tainly not telling the truth about what is hap pening now. There was a time when those who object ed to the ordination of women and their licen sure as lay readers and lay ministers covered their faces or walked out of services when women administered the chalice or read from the scrip tures in many of the churches in our diocese. Some covered their ears during the readings if the scriptures were read by a woman. When my own mother was licensed in the 1970s, 1 well remember the pain that I felt for her when people we knew would do these things during services. Many fine women layreaders and layministers during this time were targeted with rumors that they were les bian feminists “out to prove something” by serving in these new capacities. When the 1977 “Prayer Book” was adopt ed, these same obstructionists angrily mut tered the words from the 1928 “Prayer Book” The Reverend Dr. Kendall Harmon of the Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina says that the Anglican Church is falling apart because of the ordination of gay clergy. at the same time that the rest of the congregation was worship ping with the “new” one. Contrary to Harmon’s sugges tion, the church did come apart over the ordination of women. It also came apart over the new prayer book — but most of all it came apart over the 1976 General Convention statement that gays and lesbians are children of God who have a full and equal claim with all other persons to the love, acceptance and pastoral concern and care of the Church. The statement went even further to say that gays and lesbians are entitled to equal protection of the laws with all other citizens, and that society should see that such protection is provided in actuality. Thirty years later the church is still com ing apart — not because of gay people, but because people like Harmon are still tearing the Episcopal Church apart in their attempts to exclude people they despise: gay and lesbian people of faith. Most Episcopalians alive today have never seen a copy of the 1928 “Prayer Book.” As of June 18, we have a woman as our new presiding bishop — but absolutely nothing has changed for gay and lesbian people with in the Episcopal Church of South Carolina in 30 years. As long as you agree to live a lie and stay in the closet, even with the full knowledge of the leadership of the dioceses in South Carolina, you can still be an employee, parishioner, dea con, priest or even a bishop in the Episcopal Church. Just like 30 years ago. It is only when you have the audacity to tell the truth about yourself and to have some integrity in your life that you incur the wrath of Harmon and the other zealots who have come to dominate the Episcopal Church in South Carolina in recent years. They are perfectly comfortable supporting the lies. Christ Himself must be laughing out loud at Harmons notion that his church might “come apart because of the ordination of gay clergy” Indeed, the church has been ordaining them and benefiting from their ministries for over 2,000years. I ' ' f . Connie J. Vetter Attorney and Counsellor at Law CJVLaw.com 704-567-5530 V'arnaJorc Buildin' Chnrlorto
Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
July 1, 2006, edition 1
20
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75