I have listened "deeply" for over 30 years to the whine of gays and lesbians demanding acceptance. Apparently, I still don't get IT. They got their way. Because I haven't accepted their theology or conclusions, I have apparently not listened deeply enough. I am still a shallow thinker. I have listened to these "kissing Judases" tell me how homophobic, uninclusive, and oppressive I am, and still I don't get it.

I "listened deeply" over the struggle of the ordination of women till it became clear that the consciences of those (a small minority, I should hastily add) who opposed the departure from tradition, faith, and reason were told they must ordain women or face less than divine retribution because He/She had spoken at General Convention (The Episcopal Church's final and absolute authority). The will of the Church must be done, regardless of the consciences of the few who only want to believe what the Church held and taught for nearly 2,000 years. God apparently changed His mind and I was not keeping up. One bishop told us that men wrote the Bible and men (presumably women as well) could rewrite it, so get with the program and think more "deeply."

When sodomite acceptance was being pushed on the Church, I tried to go deeper into the hearts and minds (but not loins) of those pushing for the new morality, but I kept coming up against the brick wall of Scriptural prohibition, a non-existent tradition and a reason that kept coming up against the hard medical facts of anal sex. I just couldn't go deeply enough, apparently. When one of my closest friends and my brother-in-law both died of AIDS, I started looking for a deeper place to hide, but just couldn't find it.

Having blessed gay and lesbian priests and soon gay marriage, the Episcopal Church wants me to go "deeper" into witnessing and blessing same sex marriages, utilizing all the liturgical resources available to the church, with the joyful anticipation that God will bless you and you will be a blessing. What will I do if, in time, transgendered Episcopal priests show up and demand the right to become bishops, should I go to a deeper place and look for the answer?

A shallow thinker might ask, if reparative therapy is "oppressive and hate-filled" and persons should not be obliged or expected to change their sexual orientation, why is it acceptable for a person wanting a sex change operation to get a pass and eulogized for their boldness in coming out as a woman instead of a man (or vice versa)?

I haven't darkened the doors of All Saints, Pasadena, California, in a while where the arch priestess of lesbianism, Susan Russell hangs her collar. She recently accused Bishop Greg Brewer of Central Florida of "institutional homophobia" over the baptism of a child of two gay men, so I'm sure I would be heard for my orthodox point of view with "deep" understanding. Where else but in an inclusive church full of love and acceptance would a shallow thinker like myself find true understanding, love, and acceptance? Perhaps, they could make me an honorary member of Integrity as a true sign of their love towards me!

After all, a Church that can accept a Bede Parry, Gene Robinson, Jack Spong, Walter Righter or Heather Cook (oops she's gone) should be able to accept a harmless orthodox and "shallow" thinker like myself!

END