Top Five Questions Asked About Being a Bisexual Minister
Recently, I wrote a piece for The Huffington Post on my experiences as a bisexual minister. Below is an excerpt and link to the full piece.
I have been ordained as a minister in the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) for 35 years. About 12 years ago, I experienced an awakening—I realized that the confusing feelings I had had all my adult life came from being bisexual. Through the process of coming out as bi to myself, my loved ones—husband, teenage sons, brothers, father—and friends and colleagues in the church, a number of questions have risen to the surface as those most frequently asked. I thought it would be helpful to others to share those questions and my answers here…
Continue reading this piece on The Huffington Post.
If you have any comments, I’d love to hear your thoughts here.
2 Responses
Rev. Edwards,
I want to thank you. I am a firm Christian, who is also struggling with being bisexual. I am 18, and have been bisexual for about two years, and have always wondered and feared that it was incompatible with my faith, and hated myself for it. I have never had a prejudice against homosexuality, but when these bisexual feelings came forth in myself, I was ashamed. I have prayed to God above in many different ways, asking Him why, asking Him to take it away, asking for Him to accept it, asking Him to help me accept it. You have been a blessing to me today, in your views on bisexuality and the Christian faith. I feel that your words hold truth and wisdom, and they have helped me to accept myself a little more, and to have faith in Jesus a little more. God bless you and keep you! It would be greatly appreciated if you would pray for me.
Dear Cynthia,
You are so very welcome, Cynthia. And my thanks head toward you for your courage to take your whole self to Christ–your choice to live an authentic life. I want to share with you two other thoughts.
First, some years ago we developed Ten Affirmations of GLBT Spirituality. It is available on line: http://www.welcomingresources.org/affirmations.htm. I hope they are helpful to you.
Second, I want to add that I have learned an immense amount from the LGBT couples I know about how to be in a covenant for life. They have sustained their love for one another without any of the supports straight couples enjoy and with innumerable stumbling blocks placed in their way. My walk in life led me to marriage with a lovely man but it could have taken me to a woman. I am grateful to God that the way forward for LGBT couples is improving every day. I am confident that your relationship with whomever God’s future holds for you will be a blessing to you and to the world. I will certainly add you to my daily intercessions.
The peace of Christ be always with you, Janet