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Sep 5, 2019
7 min

Part 2: Unclearly Queer? Hearing from Couples who are Presumed Straight/Cis

Photo by Sharon McCutcheon on Unsplash This is the second post in a 2-part series featuring the voices of a diverse sub-group of folks connected with Generous Space. Some are gay, some trans, some queer, bi, or pan, but they share one thing in common: they tend to be mistaken as straight and cisgender at least partly because of the people they’re married to. You can find Part 1 here. (For brevity, we’ve condensed responses and/or chosen a representative selection from among t

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Unclearly Queer? Hearing from Couples who are Presumed Straight/Cis

Generous Space Ministries

Sep 4, 2019
8 min

Unclearly Queer? Hearing from Couples who are Presumed Straight/Cis

Their relationships are sometimes referred to as “straight-passing” or “straight-presenting,” though these terms can seem to wrongly imply that they’re trying to slip under the radar, when in fact, they’re not. Their statements below reveal that the assumptions made about them afford them a complex mix of privilege and erasure. Part 1 of this interview series is below… and you can find a link to Part 2 at the bottom of this post. (For brevity, we’ve condensed responses and/or

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Affirming or Non-Affirming Church Involvement – Hearing LGBTQ+ Voices

Generous Space Ministries

May 5, 2018
13 min

Affirming or Non-Affirming Church Involvement – Hearing LGBTQ+ Voices

In our Generous Space Groups across Canada, we open our meetings with a vision statement about “seeking the unity for which Jesus prayed.” We know our deep need of one another, even when we disagree – we see tensions as opportunities to learn to love across difference. Lately, we’ve seen tensions surface not so much about the expected topics of same-sex marriage or gender identity, but about the seemingly innocuous subject of church attendance. As the Director of Community, I

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From Mixed-Orientation Marriage to Queer Covenant: A Ceremony of Release and Embrace

Generous Space Ministries

Feb 16, 2018
3 min

From Mixed-Orientation Marriage to Queer Covenant: A Ceremony of Release and Embrace

A couple of weeks ago, Wendy wrote a blog post about mixed-orientation marriages in the Generous Space Community. (Mixed-orientation marriages (MOMs) usually include one spouse who is straight, and one who is on the LGBTQ+ spectrum.) In Wendy’s blog post, she acknowledged that there is no single “right” path for MOMs. There are all kinds of factors that influence the way couples choose to proceed. Some LGBTQ+ spouses have more fluidity in their attractions than others. Some c

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Generous Space & Mixed Orientation Marriage

Generous Space Ministries

Feb 1, 2018
5 min

Generous Space & Mixed Orientation Marriage

Recently a very poignant blog post was shared by the poster couple for mixed orientation marriages after a viral post five years ago. This recent post announces their intention to divorce. The post is long, but worth the read. On social media, it has elicited all kinds of opinions and responses. In the Generous Space community, we have beloved family members who are navigating mixed orientation marriages or being queerly covenanted in a variety of ways. One simple sentence do

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The Youth Group’s Closet: When a Youth Comes Out (part 2)

Generous Space Ministries

Oct 19, 2015
6 min

The Youth Group’s Closet: When a Youth Comes Out (part 2)

There are a number of reasons why a student might choose to come out to more than one person at a time. They might be concerned about gossip and hearsay, and telling everyone at once ensures no one hears about their sexual orientation through the rumour mill. They might be testing the waters, attempting to find out quickly whether or not your group will be a safe space for them to be honest about who they are. Regardless of their reasons, your response is likely the respon

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The Youth Group’s Closet: When a Youth Comes Out (part 1)

Generous Space Ministries

Oct 13, 2015
7 min

The Youth Group’s Closet: When a Youth Comes Out (part 1)

In my introductory post, I reminded us that we all have LGBTQ+ youth in our midst whether we are aware of them specifically or not. Now we are beginning to look at how to prepare our ministries to approach and respond to particular situations that may arise, and since this past Saturday was National Coming Out Day, I think it’s most appropriate to begin with how we respond when students come out to us. This blog will specifically look at a scenario where a youth chooses you

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Guest Post: uncertain spaces by Rob Goetze

Generous Space Ministries

Oct 7, 2015
10 min

Guest Post: uncertain spaces by Rob Goetze

As a kid, I used to love dot to dot worksheets. There was always a great sense of satisfaction when I reached the last few dots and I could tell that I’d gotten it all correct because the picture of the dog emerged without any weird shaped ears. There are times in all of our journeys when we are in the midst of connecting the dots, and we don’t quite know what will emerge. That’s why having the opportunity to look back and see how everything fit together can be so gratifyin

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The Youth Group’s Closet: An Introduction

Generous Space Ministries

Sep 30, 2015
5 min

The Youth Group’s Closet: An Introduction

For the past decade I have worked in youth ministry in the context of Baptist churches, though since Sept. 2014 I’ve moved to parachurch non-profit ministry. I now have an amazing job with New Direction that allows me to support and connect with LGBTQ+ youth from all over Canada (and some in other countries) who are wrestling with reconciling their Christian faith with what they know and are learning of their sexuality and gender. If you work with teens, you know that growi

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Why would an LGBTQ+ Christian attend a non-affirming church?

Generous Space Ministries

Aug 25, 2015
10 min

Why would an LGBTQ+ Christian attend a non-affirming church?

released a public statement clarifying that they welcome LGBTQ+ people but will not allow them to hold positions of leadership. Josh and Reed were asked to step down from their leadership roles as a result, nonetheless, they have chosen to continue participating in this congregation. In the ongoing social media conversation about this, some people have treated Josh and Reed as heroes, while others see them as brainwashed fools. I thought it might give us more context to hear

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Generous Space Ministries

Apr 16, 2015
3 min

This ….. changes everything.

One of the reasons I have so loved being engaged in the conversations at the intersection of faith and sexuality over the last decade plus is the very reason some people seem to avoid entering the discussion. I have found, over time, that this conversation invites you, eventually compels you, and if you resist – persistently challenges you, to rethink ……. everything. Well maybe not your grandma’s recipe for spaghetti sauce …… but everything in terms of your faith, your valu

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Generous Space Ministries

Apr 10, 2015
5 min

My Year as a Heathen

[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/3″][vc_single_image image=”4752″ style=”vc_box_outline” border_color=”grey” img_link_large=”yes” img_link_target=”_self” img_size=”full”][/vc_column][vc_column width=”2/3″][vc_column_text]Middle section, second pew from the front, left side. That’s where my family sat every Sunday morning. It provided easy access to the stage for my pastor dad, who was always positioned closest to the aisle. It gave me a sense of being under the watchful gaze of th

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Generous Space Ministries

Feb 5, 2015
5 min

Who is Welcome at the Table?

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]On the final morning of last month’s Gay Christian Network (GCN) conference in Portland, which our staff from New Direction attended, it was clear that the conference organizers had gone to great lengths to figure out how to serve communion to 1300 participants from multiple denominations. It may have taken more time to explain how to receive communion than it did to receive it. Besides the twenty-some stations offering wafers, white bread,

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Generous Space Ministries

Jul 14, 2008
2 min

Agreeing with someone I disagree with

I am deeply saddened by the turmoil of my brothers and sisters in the Anglican Church worldwide. And I am grieved that to the public, homosexuality seems to be the ‘hot button’. I read an article today about gay bishop Gene Robinson. This past Sunday, Gene delivered a sermon in St. Mary’s in London. It appears that he didn’t even get through his first sentence before a heckler stood up to call him a heretic. Shouting, “Repent heretic”, the man was led out of the church while

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BLOG

Part 2: Unclearly Queer? Hearing from Couples who are Presumed Straight/Cis

Unclearly Queer? Hearing from Couples who are Presumed Straight/Cis

Affirming or Non-Affirming Church Involvement – Hearing LGBTQ+ Voices

From Mixed-Orientation Marriage to Queer Covenant: A Ceremony of Release and Embrace

Generous Space & Mixed Orientation Marriage

The Youth Group’s Closet: When a Youth Comes Out (part 2)

The Youth Group’s Closet: When a Youth Comes Out (part 1)

Guest Post: uncertain spaces by Rob Goetze

The Youth Group’s Closet: An Introduction

Why would an LGBTQ+ Christian attend a non-affirming church?

This ….. changes everything.

My Year as a Heathen

Who is Welcome at the Table?

Agreeing with someone I disagree with

GENEROUS SPACE MINISTRIES

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