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Home > About MCC San Francisco > Ministries and Programs > Spiritual Growth Programs - Coming Out |
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Coming Out & Coming Home to Spirit |
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Coming Out |
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If you need someone to talk to about coming out, please be in touch with us by email. |
Coming out as a gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered
person is a unique story for each of us. It is a mixed bag of emotions
and experiences. Part of coming out is relief and acceptance --
of finally realizing the whys of being different and finding the
comfort of others that are like you. Unfortunately, coming out
often includes a "cutting off" from family, friends, colleagues
and church -- initiated by us, them or both.
We of MCC want you to know that God does not cut you off because of your new found sexual identity. In fact, the life of Jesus exemplifies the reaching out of God to those who are rejected by society or of less fortune than others. You, as are all, are welcome in the family of God and Christ. Your "coming out" may be a quick or a long, complex process. It usually involves positive and negative feelings and experiences. It may occur when you are a teenager or as a young or older adult. You may have already gone down the road of "straight" relationships, marriage or children. Your sexual coming out experience may have been an affirming, consensual experience, or it may have involved or been preceded by troubling confusion or sexual abuse. Families and friends may be accepting or rejecting -- regardless, they are certain to be concerned for your welfare and fearful of the unknowns in your future. Unsettling issues surrounding your religious upbringing and spiritual beliefs are likely to come into play in your coming out -- both initially and over the long term. Many have experienced a "spiritual coming out" that starts during the mental/physical coming out and then takes much longer time to evolve. Because of religious homophobia, initially there is often rejection, or spiritual dormancy, frustration and anger towards God and organized religion. It is our prayer that in your coming out, you will consider continuing or starting an active, prayerful relationship with God. MCC participants readily acknowledge that this can be a great comfort in your "coming out" process and in the continuing experiences of your life. MCC provides a place for Christian openly gay role models. Please know that you are a fully welcomed member of God's family in any MCC and a growing number of inclusive theology churches throughout the U.S. and the world. God has not rejected you, only many churches. |
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