Sean Major-Campbell | Speaking truth to power

IT WAS an “if I perish, I perish” moment! The Rt Rev Mariann Edgar Budde, delivering the homily at the inauguration service for President Donald Trump, spoke a profoundly prophetic word. She never shouted. She never raised her voice. She was never rude.

In an age when many have become impressed by guttural sounds in preaching, the Episcopal Bishop was calm as she brought an inspired word. She was not there as anyone’s judge. She never demeaned any individual or group of people.

She spoke truth to power, that many preachers would dare not say as they serve a political status quo. The hypocritical silence of many, resonates with the diatribe of the head priest Amaziah to King Jeroboam II, in Amos 7:13. “Don’t prophesy anymore at Bethel, because this is the king’s sanctuary and the temple of the kingdom.” But the Prophet Amos was resolute in comforting the afflicted while afflicting the comforted.

While it is true that liberals have been silent about certain truths concerning an overreach on the part of some gender advocates, it is also true that the reality of gender and sexual diversity are facts of life. Suggesting to a child that he or she may be another gender since he or she or they like a certain colour or toy is inappropriate. And while more religious leaders have been a source of abuse and cruelty to children than drag queens, subjecting children to lectures by drag queens may also be considered offensive when their parents would not approve of same.

That said, if we are honest, regardless of your perspective, many are able to agree with the truth expressed when Bishop Mariann Budde said, “I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now. There are gay, lesbian and transgender children in Democratic, Republican and independent families, some who fear for their lives.” We all know this to be true.

My heart goes out to those intersex persons whom I have met through their sharing with me the truth of their biological reality. I must admit that the first time a man/woman confided in me this truth, I was speechless. There are Jamaicans who have been born with genitalia that is not clearly defined. However, their parents wanted a boy/girl and the doctor simply agreed with the binary construct and declared a particular gender for the birth records.

In some experiences, the individual at puberty appeared to display more characteristics in a particular direction. Such individuals find themselves in a situation where the world around them is demanding that they be X when they understand themselves to be Y. Therein lies the problem with binary constructs. With the best of intentions, to make things easier on the mind, the use of binary constructs fails to engage with grey areas which are neither black nor white.

To treat the gender issue of male and female as absolute and unchanging opposites is a denial of what happens in nature and an insensitive attack on fellow human beings whose experience of gender is not consistent with their biological sex. While I will be condemned across social media, my heart goes out to our many siblings for whom gender, and sexual diversity is not represented in the main.

The Ethiopian eunuch again fails to find a place in a world of binary constructs. The eunuch is ostracised since they are usually not married. Not parents. Not a gyalis. May not necessarily wish to be defined withing binary constructs. Not welcomed by so many in the 21st century church. It is, however, clear that the Ethiopian eunuch was one of the earliest converts to Christianity. And do not forget that one of the reasons eunuchs were outcasts in the ancient world was because some had sexual relations with “other men”.

We may know that Bishop Mariann’s message is a prophetic word since it is consistent with the prophetic tradition in various ways. She is not afraid of speaking truth to power. Her sermon was applicable. It had currency with a particular people at a particular time and in a particular place. If these are lacking, the word is irrelevant and fails the test for consideration as being prophetic. Some of what passes off as prophetic today is nothing more than foretelling versus forthtelling. But foretelling and forthtelling work together. Not something using the generalised technique of daily horoscopes.

A prayer breakfast should exceed the characteristics of politicians and preachers blowing each other’s trumpets. Suffice to say that while there are fellow Christians now calling for her to be deported, we can see how increasingly many Christians continue to be the very opposite of light of Jesus the Christ. The most destructive force against the Church’s mission and evangelism are bigoted Christians blinded by their self-righteousness.

I close with words from Episcopal (Anglican) Bishop Mariann Budde: “The vast majority of immigrants are not criminals. I ask you to have mercy, Mr President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away, and that you help those who are fleeing war zones and persecution in their own lands to find compassion and welcome here.”

Fr Sean Major-Campbell is an Anglican priest and advocate for human rights and dignity. Please send feedback to c olumns@gleanerjm.com and seanmajorcampbell@yahoo.com.