Biblical scholar in Hebrew and Hebrew Bible: special interest in translation textual plurality, (Septuagint, Dead Seas Scrolls, Samaritan Pentateuch, Aleppo Codex, Leningrad Codex); feminist, womanist and post-colonial biblical interpretation; prophets and prophecy in the Ancient Near East and ancient Israel
Episcopal priest, product of the Black Church, author, blogger, preacher, teacher, lecturer, public speaker
I listened and read your sermon today Professor Gafney. I also sent it to others in the ministry I am acquainted with.
It is profound and I did not want it to end. Perhaps you can give us a part 2 about how best to embrace our queer brothers. We clearly have so far focused on rejecting them wholesale
I want to thank you for taking this stance.
My initial response was, “you embrace queer kin the same way you embrace anyone else.” But that is insufficient. Embraces are only appropriate in a relational context. And relationships are built upon respect and trust that must be earned. Thus my response is to honestly assess history of speech, action and interaction and ask honestly if a person or community has shown themselves to be worthy of that trust and respect. And then do the hard work of repentance and reparation with no expectations.
Have you read Was Yosef on the Spectrum: Understanding Joseph Through Torah, Midrash, and Classical Jewish Sources? I highly recommend it. I’m autistic myself, and Dr Levine’s theory tracks with my own experiences as an autistic, non-binary, queer kid (that didn’t have words for any of that until adulthood). It might be an excellent companion conversation for this sermon. It’s worth digging into the recent history of neurological minority people as well. It is still today common for us to be sold to and enslaved by exploiters who desire to control our gifts. We are rarely paid for our labor. Many have had their fundamental human rights stripped from them and are incarcerated, drugged, and sterilized simply for being different in ways threatening the authoritarian status quo.
You mention the Virgin Mother in this one. Have you done a talk on the Greek origins of the word “virgin,” the sexual freedoms of the Virgin Goddesses, their power, and their tendency toward independence from men? If so, I’d love to read them.
Bertha Beauman
August 14, 2023 1:26 amI listened and read your sermon today Professor Gafney. I also sent it to others in the ministry I am acquainted with.
It is profound and I did not want it to end. Perhaps you can give us a part 2 about how best to embrace our queer brothers. We clearly have so far focused on rejecting them wholesale
I want to thank you for taking this stance.
Lovingly your Sister in Faith
Wil
August 14, 2023 10:28 amMy initial response was, “you embrace queer kin the same way you embrace anyone else.” But that is insufficient. Embraces are only appropriate in a relational context. And relationships are built upon respect and trust that must be earned. Thus my response is to honestly assess history of speech, action and interaction and ask honestly if a person or community has shown themselves to be worthy of that trust and respect. And then do the hard work of repentance and reparation with no expectations.
Lē Silveus
October 20, 2023 12:37 amHave you read Was Yosef on the Spectrum: Understanding Joseph Through Torah, Midrash, and Classical Jewish Sources? I highly recommend it. I’m autistic myself, and Dr Levine’s theory tracks with my own experiences as an autistic, non-binary, queer kid (that didn’t have words for any of that until adulthood). It might be an excellent companion conversation for this sermon. It’s worth digging into the recent history of neurological minority people as well. It is still today common for us to be sold to and enslaved by exploiters who desire to control our gifts. We are rarely paid for our labor. Many have had their fundamental human rights stripped from them and are incarcerated, drugged, and sterilized simply for being different in ways threatening the authoritarian status quo.
Lē Silveus
October 20, 2023 5:06 pmPS- I’m new to your sermons and am loving them. 🙂
You mention the Virgin Mother in this one. Have you done a talk on the Greek origins of the word “virgin,” the sexual freedoms of the Virgin Goddesses, their power, and their tendency toward independence from men? If so, I’d love to read them.