For the Soul of the Church

On the other side of the coin, many people of color have found themselves needing to condemn the positions of some in their communities. “I have been very disappointed with my black brothers and sisters,” said Jayne Oasin, an African-American Episcopal priest who has principal responsibility for anti-racism programs at the national office. “They don’t connect the dots of oppression to realize that when you scratch a homophobe, or an anti-Semite, the next level down is a racist.” Lyn Headley-Deavours, the justice missioner for the “The Oasis” in the Episcopal Diocese of Newark, echoed Oasin’s comments: “In the black community, there’s an awful lot of assuming that ‘it doesn’t apply to us.’” She linked this to internalized oppression and offered sadly, “I hate the shame and self-hatred and breeding of further oppression that is so destructive.” Oasin, Headley-Deavours and several other black leaders all named a sensitive issue: significant numbers of gays in black churches remain silenced. Noting serious concerns about safety, these leaders indicated that many black church leaders are gay but not “out,” and that homophobia is sometimes voiced at the expense, and amidst the silencing, of the most dedicated members of their congregations.  [more]