Thank you for sharing this deep part of your journey. I have experienced making huge decisions like this, and they don't happen overnight. You know the story in the sound of music when Maria is telling the captain something that the mother superior says, when a door closes God opens a window. This is my prayer for you, that God is opening up a huge window for you and all the light that it brings. I love you my brother and wish for you peace beyond understanding. Gloria
Look at you continuing to inspire, lift up, and represent. It's evident to all of us that admire and care for you that this journey, this strength you've nurtured and pushed out with love and respect for your whole self, is the life that every human of every age should aspire to live.
I can't wait to see and hear what's next, as those creative juices flow loud and proud --struttin to the beat of your own blinged out drum. I am so here for it!
Look for me in the crowd, screaming with joy, and waving the flag with pride.
You have so much goodness and light in you...where ever your path takes you it remains a part of you. You are a gift..thank you for sharing your wisdom and brave heart with us through your writing. You speak your truth which clarity and humility...you guide us on our way by the example of your own connection to your self...it is beautiful to witness even from a distance. Pride month is the perfect time and place to send you off on your way to what is to be or to come. I for one am looking forward to the rainbows, the wind, the dark clouds, the sunshine, and the many aspects of your beautiful self that by no chance I was fortunate to have made a connection with in this sweet life. Cheering you on from the sidelines and joining you in our collective transformation. Much love my friend 🧡
Matt, I am so glad you found your heart. Admitting major changes because it is right for our soul is difficult. So proud to know you. Looking forward to what is next for you. Life is ongoing and ever changing
What a courageous letter, borne from the crucible of discernment. I hope that Jesus-loving communities that see ourselves as 'progressive' will consider unexamined monogamonormativity so that we don't continue forcing people of conscience, like you, to choose between adherence to the cultures of our gatherings and being true to "the sound of the genuine" (as Howard Thurman puts it) in ourselves as we faithfully serve. A multiplicity of love, sincerely received and given, is love, after all. May you *and* the Beloved Community continue to be rewarded for your truth-telling this season.
Mathew David, as you articulated quite well you thought this through with God’s help as you clearly said in your letter. The only issue that bothers me is there are still so many obstacles for the LGBTQ+ community to be with our church.
Separate from that I’m so happy for that you’re following your heart and following your journey that fits you. I was thinking today about how nice it is to be back in June again. Yes my birthday is at the beginning of June but Pride celebrations are back and more this year are needed.
I’m wishing you a path for a great journey. I give to you all my love and caring that you move through this with joy.
I will miss you as a formal colleague, but am glad we remain siblings in the Divine. Blessings on your continued life and creativity as a (small-p) priest into which we are all baptized. Please, make some music for all of us!
Matthew David, I am not kidding but you were so strongly on my heart these past couple of days. Your post explains this. Sending you all the love from Dublin, Ireland. I’m so grateful you are well and I celebrate your decisions and I celebrate you. Much love 💜💜💜💜💜
I am deeply moved and grateful for your heart-sung process of writing this letter to release you from the (P)riesthhood. I would love more conversation, as this touches on things that impact me personally, and that I care about in inarticulate ways. What's the way to continue the conversation?
I think the best place for deeper conversation about this, and future posts about this process, is here in the comments. If you’re willing to ask specific questions, I’ll do my best to engage.
You sang your song “In the Image of Love” at an event at Christ Church in Portland years ago, and it has remained in my internal catalog ever since. Thankful for you and your many gifts, and I look forward to seeing you flourish in a new chapter!
I am deeply impressed by your christal clear discernment. I imagine that it to have been quite a „difficult birth“ – a turbulent journey you have lived through in so many different ways (emotionally, physically…) until those lines and thoughts stood so clear and authentic in front of you and inside of you. How strong is that? And what an expression of an inner freedom you started to gain back – in my view one of the strongest expressions of the life giving Spirit working in this world. Halleluja to that!
To hear how you as a queer person still had to experience organized church sadens me a lot, though…
Thank you tremendously for sharing this. Who knows how this will effect others on their journey as well…I already feel like it influences mine. Thank you brother.
Blessings on your ongoing journey! Wishing you much much creativity and musicality!
And yes! Happy Pride!!
Sending love from Austria!
P.s. I’d love to know what you‘d wish a child to hear growing up in faith about faith+ queerness. Is there a way to exchange about this?
Thank you for sharing this deep part of your journey. I have experienced making huge decisions like this, and they don't happen overnight. You know the story in the sound of music when Maria is telling the captain something that the mother superior says, when a door closes God opens a window. This is my prayer for you, that God is opening up a huge window for you and all the light that it brings. I love you my brother and wish for you peace beyond understanding. Gloria
Maaaatt, you gorgeous phenomenal soul, you!
Look at you continuing to inspire, lift up, and represent. It's evident to all of us that admire and care for you that this journey, this strength you've nurtured and pushed out with love and respect for your whole self, is the life that every human of every age should aspire to live.
I can't wait to see and hear what's next, as those creative juices flow loud and proud --struttin to the beat of your own blinged out drum. I am so here for it!
Look for me in the crowd, screaming with joy, and waving the flag with pride.
You have so much goodness and light in you...where ever your path takes you it remains a part of you. You are a gift..thank you for sharing your wisdom and brave heart with us through your writing. You speak your truth which clarity and humility...you guide us on our way by the example of your own connection to your self...it is beautiful to witness even from a distance. Pride month is the perfect time and place to send you off on your way to what is to be or to come. I for one am looking forward to the rainbows, the wind, the dark clouds, the sunshine, and the many aspects of your beautiful self that by no chance I was fortunate to have made a connection with in this sweet life. Cheering you on from the sidelines and joining you in our collective transformation. Much love my friend 🧡
Matt, I am so glad you found your heart. Admitting major changes because it is right for our soul is difficult. So proud to know you. Looking forward to what is next for you. Life is ongoing and ever changing
What a courageous letter, borne from the crucible of discernment. I hope that Jesus-loving communities that see ourselves as 'progressive' will consider unexamined monogamonormativity so that we don't continue forcing people of conscience, like you, to choose between adherence to the cultures of our gatherings and being true to "the sound of the genuine" (as Howard Thurman puts it) in ourselves as we faithfully serve. A multiplicity of love, sincerely received and given, is love, after all. May you *and* the Beloved Community continue to be rewarded for your truth-telling this season.
Mathew David, as you articulated quite well you thought this through with God’s help as you clearly said in your letter. The only issue that bothers me is there are still so many obstacles for the LGBTQ+ community to be with our church.
Separate from that I’m so happy for that you’re following your heart and following your journey that fits you. I was thinking today about how nice it is to be back in June again. Yes my birthday is at the beginning of June but Pride celebrations are back and more this year are needed.
I’m wishing you a path for a great journey. I give to you all my love and caring that you move through this with joy.
Love, light and blessings to you. I can almost hear your deep sigh of relief. You be you. Always.
A Chapel Alumni
Nancy
I will miss you as a formal colleague, but am glad we remain siblings in the Divine. Blessings on your continued life and creativity as a (small-p) priest into which we are all baptized. Please, make some music for all of us!
Matthew David, I am not kidding but you were so strongly on my heart these past couple of days. Your post explains this. Sending you all the love from Dublin, Ireland. I’m so grateful you are well and I celebrate your decisions and I celebrate you. Much love 💜💜💜💜💜
Wow! This is so amazing and brave! Thank you for boldly speaking your truth!
A mother's hug to you, a courageous and honest man. Proud of you, though we've never met.
ditto. tee hee
Sending love & prayers your way. You are so freaking brave!
Blessings as you follow your calling+heart+dreams+visions!
I am deeply moved and grateful for your heart-sung process of writing this letter to release you from the (P)riesthhood. I would love more conversation, as this touches on things that impact me personally, and that I care about in inarticulate ways. What's the way to continue the conversation?
I think the best place for deeper conversation about this, and future posts about this process, is here in the comments. If you’re willing to ask specific questions, I’ll do my best to engage.
You sang your song “In the Image of Love” at an event at Christ Church in Portland years ago, and it has remained in my internal catalog ever since. Thankful for you and your many gifts, and I look forward to seeing you flourish in a new chapter!
I am deeply impressed by your christal clear discernment. I imagine that it to have been quite a „difficult birth“ – a turbulent journey you have lived through in so many different ways (emotionally, physically…) until those lines and thoughts stood so clear and authentic in front of you and inside of you. How strong is that? And what an expression of an inner freedom you started to gain back – in my view one of the strongest expressions of the life giving Spirit working in this world. Halleluja to that!
To hear how you as a queer person still had to experience organized church sadens me a lot, though…
Thank you tremendously for sharing this. Who knows how this will effect others on their journey as well…I already feel like it influences mine. Thank you brother.
Blessings on your ongoing journey! Wishing you much much creativity and musicality!
And yes! Happy Pride!!
Sending love from Austria!
P.s. I’d love to know what you‘d wish a child to hear growing up in faith about faith+ queerness. Is there a way to exchange about this?
I'd like to know too!!!