Comfort and Affliction

by Michael Frosolono

  Miz Lizbeth bellowed. “Preach the word, Reverend Eric! Preach the word!”

  Eric went on. “While I’m on this roll call of Biblical imperatives we ignore, Holy Scripture not only allows but insists upon sexual practices and societal conventions vastly different from our present understanding of normalcy and legality. To name a few: execution of non-virgin brides, adulterers, and married couples who have sex during the wife’s menstrual periods. A widow of a childless husband must have sequential intercourse with the husband’s brothers until she bears a male child to inherit the husband’s estate. Also promoted are sex with prostitutes for husbands, although not for wives; slavery and sex with slaves; and marriage of girls eleven to thirteen years old.” Eric shook his head. “Faith-based intellectual honesty requires us to observe all of these prohibitions and approved behaviors, if we’re going to accept homosexuality as a sin. The idea boggles the mind, doesn’t it?

  “Let’s consider the sin of Sodom, which all too many people confuse with homosexuality. Yes, Sodom gives rises to sodomy, another term applied to homosexuality. The prophet Ezekiel precisely defined the sin of Sodom: This is the sin of Sodom; she and her suburbs had pride, excess of food, and prosperous ease, but did not help or encourage the poor and needy. They were arrogant and this was abominable in God’s eyes. Ezekiel seems to inveigh against something other than homosexuality. Was he confused? I think not.

  “The original Hebrew, Aramaic, and Greek texts of Holy Scripture do not contain a word for homosexuality in the present context because the authors did not understand sexual orientation. The concept of sexual orientation did not develop until the late nineteenth century. The word homosexuality first appeared in an English translation of Holy Scripture in 1958.”

  Several people seemed to be enjoying the sermon in contrast to the resentment showing on a few other faces. “All of the preceding ideas aside, the most important factor for us to consider about these Old Testament ideas comes straight from St. Paul. His epistles and those attributed to him, such as Hebrews, thoroughly explain a fundamental thought for Christians: The so-called Biblical Laws, commonly thought of as Levitical Codes, do not apply to Christians, either as means to salvation or as directions for behavior. The sacrificial life and death and resurrection of Jesus Christ negated these former rules for Christians—for those of us who accept Jesus as the Messiah. Remember, the observant Jew, St. Peter under direct orders from God, ate foods Leviticus forbade.”

  A shout of “Praise God!” came from someone in the rear of the sanctuary. Eric pressed on. “I spoke a few minutes ago about intellectual honesty. Some of you surely must be waiting for me to explain away St. Paul’s prohibitions against homosexuality. His pronouncements on this subject seem to be straightforward condemnations. As I outlined for the Old Testament, if we accept St. Paul’s condemnation of homosexuality, we also must accept his other condemnations about behavior, issues like the role of women in our church affairs.” Eric looked directly at Allison and Miz Lizbeth. “Some of our female members will be glad to discuss the sins of women speaking out and participating in leadership roles in our church. Interestingly, I don’t see many of our female congregants wearing hats today as St. Paul commanded.

  “Church scholars currently debate exactly what St. Paul meant with the Greek words typically translated as homosexuality. Some eminent heterosexual theologians believe St. Paul’s words, or at least how they have been translated, provide an example of Holy Scripture not saying exactly what it means. We don’t need to explore such linguistic concerns. We also don’t need to engage in a discussion of how St. Paul was a product of his time and how human society has evolved since then. We can use a much simpler approach. While St. Paul experienced the power of the risen Christ on the Damascus Road, the great evangelist had no direct personal contact with the living Christ of the Gospels. Why I do I emphasize this point? Certainly not to negate the great impact St. Paul had on our theology.

  “Importantly, neither the Old Testament prophets nor the Jesus of the Gospels left any recorded words condemning homosexuality. Some persons believe the purported sin of homosexuality for Biblical Israel was so obvious that the condition required no comment. Obviousness, however, did not restrain the Prophets and Jesus from forcibly preaching against other sins. If homosexuality merits the extreme condemnation received today in some circles,” Eric paused for effect before continuing in a louder voice, “why didn’t the Prophets and Jesus rail against it?” He continued in his normal pulpit voice. “Furthermore, homosexuality does not appear in the Ten Commandments, which many people in this county proudly display on signs in their front yards.

  “Our consideration of homosexuality should include what many people regard among Jesus’ most important words when asked to define the greatest Commandment: You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. I believe the New Testament meaning of neighbor includes heterosexuals and homosexuals, as well as prostitutes, tax collectors, and other sinners.

  “From our beginning, the Community of Believers has welcomed all who profess belief in God as Parent, Son, and Holy Spirit, and who commit to living as best they can according to Jesus’ great commandment. All of us have sinned, homosexuals and heterosexuals alike; all are eligible for incorporation into the Community of Believers. No sin justifies exclusion or expulsion from the Community.”

  Eric looked at his watch. “I must bring this sermon to a close. Some of you already are anxious about getting to Sweet Gum Barbecue and Fish Lodge before our Baptist and Holiness brothers and sisters. In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.”

  John Carlyle motioned for the choir and congregation to stand. “We will close with verses one and six of Hymn 549, “Where Charity and Love Prevail”:

  Where charity and love prevail, there God is ever found;

  brought here together by Christ’s love, by love are we

  thus bound.

  Love can exclude no race or creed if honored be God’s name;

  our common life embraces all whose Maker is the same.”

  Eric gave the benediction at the front of the chancel and walked along the central aisle to the front of the church. “Jackson,” Miz Lizbeth said in a firm voice carrying across the sanctuary, “wheel me behind Reverend Eric. We must stand with him.” Jackson did as instructed. Allison, Joseph, Raymond Taliaferro, Charles Thomas, and several other congregants followed to stand with Eric at the front doors of the church.

  A protective buffer or a show of solidarity? Eric asked himself. Same thing, he realized.

  Allison, Eric, and Joseph ate lunch in the On The Square Restaurant. From their table at the front window, they saw several people putting the final decorative touches on the gazebo in the city park across the railroad tracks bisecting Vickery. Approximately one hundred folding chairs occupied most of the lawn in front of the gazebo. “Mr. Taliaferro sure knows how to organize things,” Joseph said. “Look at how many white carnations festoon the gazebo.”

  “Festoon?” Allison asked. “You mean adorn?”

  “My choice of descriptor seems manlier.”

  “We should probably make our way to the gazebo,” Eric said. They crossed the railroad tracks and joined the several people milling about the park or already seated.

  “Eric,” Allison said, “why don’t you find Raymond and Charles?”

  “Let’s stake out some seats on the front row,” Joseph said. “I’ll move a couple of chairs away from the aisle so Miz Lizbeth can sit with us.”

  “Sounds like a plan,” Eric said. He saw Taliaferro and Thomas enter the back of the gazebo. Eric walked to meet them as the string orchestra in the gazebo began Pachelbel’s Canon, often played at weddings. “You guys ready for the big event?” he asked Taliaferro and Thomas.

  “We are,” Taliaferro said.

  “Indeed,” Thomas said.

  They sat together waiting for
two o’clock, the stated time for beginning the ceremony. The Reverend Paul Wright and Bishop Jacob Lion came to the front row to shake hands with Miz Lizbeth and Jackson. The two Methodist officials sat across the aisle from Miz Lizbeth.

  Exactly at the stated time, the orchestra and two trumpeters transitioned into Mendelssohn’s classical Wedding March. When the music finished, Eric walked to the front of the gazebo. He touched a finger to the FM microphone on his lapel to make sure the sound system operated correctly. Satisfied with the result, he announced, “Friends, we gather together on this fine afternoon to witness the ceremony formally uniting Raymond Wilson Taliaferro and Charles Lawson Thomas. The commitment between Raymond and Charles transcends the present laws of church and state. Now, will Raymond and Charles please come forward to stand with me?”

  Eric opened the ceremony he had adapted from the United Methodist Service of Christian Marriage. “Raymond and Charles come before us to give themselves to one another in what they and I believe is a holy commitment.” Eric looked from one side of the audience to the other. “By your presence, you also must believe in the holiness of this commitment.” He once again spoke to Raymond and Charles. “I ask the two of you in the presence of God and these friends to declare your relationship with one another through the grace of Jesus Christ, who calls you into relationship with himself as acknowledged in your baptism.

  “Raymond, will you have Charles to be your beloved partner, to live together in a holy relationship of commitment? Will you love him, comfort him, honor and keep him, in sickness and in health, and forsaking all others, be faithful to him as long as you both shall live?”

  “I will,” Taliaferro said.

  Eric asked the same question of Thomas and received an equally strong affirmation. Turning to the assembly, Eric invoked the people to approve the relationship. “Will all of you, by God’s grace, do everything in your power to uphold and care for Raymond and Charles in their committed relationship?”

  Following scripts the ushers had distributed, the congregation answered, “We will.”

  Taliaferro, in response to Eric’s nod, declared, “I, Raymond Wilson Taliaferro, take you, Charles Lawson Thomas, to be my life partner.”

  “I, Charles Lawson Thomas, take you, Raymond Wilson Taliaferro, to be my life partner.”

  Taliaferro and Thomas spoke in unison, “To have and to hold from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, until death parts us. This is our solemn vow.”

  Both men put expensive gold rings on each other’s fingers. Eric said, “These rings symbolize the outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace, signifying to us,” he swept his right hand across the assembled people, “the relationship between Jesus Christ and his church, and the holy relationship between Raymond and Charles.”

  The congregation replied “Amen.”

  Eric brought the ceremony to a close. “You, Raymond and Charles, have declared your consent and vows before God and these people assembled here. May God confirm your covenant and may you be filled with God’s grace.” Eric lifted his hands skyward. “I declare Raymond and Charles to be life partners in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Those whom God has joined together, let no one put asunder.”

  “Amen,” came from the people.

  Taliaferro and Thomas embraced and exchanged a kiss.

  “Mrs. Elizabeth Andrews, better known to most of you as Miz Lizbeth, will host a reception at her home for Raymond, Charles, and all in attendance here today,” Eric said. “There will be food, libations of all kinds, music, and, if the Spirit so moves anyone, dancing. The festivities will begin as soon as we can gather at the Big House.”

  When Eric, Allison, and Joseph entered the Big House, they saw Big Al, Sister Ruth, and Cathy talking with Miz Lizbeth in the great room. Cathy and Joseph immediately left the room together. Big Al and Sister Ruth moved across the room to stand with Eric and Allison. “Miz Lizbeth tells me Reverend Eric conducted a great commitment ceremony for Mr. Taliaferro and his partner,” Big Al said.

  “I hope so,” Eric said.

  “He did a superb job,” Allison said.

  Big Al took a deep breath. “As you probably know, most of my black brothers and sisters don’t like the idea of homosexuality.”

  “Not even the men who practice on the down low?” Eric asked.

  Big Al shook his head. “I’m not as courageous as you with respect to it.”

  “We need to choose our battles carefully. I’m not upset you didn’t make an appearance at the gazebo. Hey, you’re here at the reception.”

  “Yes,” Sister Ruth said, “and my husband shouldn’t worry so much. He can do only what he’s capable of doing along whatever path the Spirit leads him.”

  “That’s right,” Eric said. “The Holy Spirit leads all of us in the directions we should go.”

  “Thanks for your understanding,” Big Al said.

  Allison asked Sister Ruth, “Did you see where your granddaughter and my son went?”

  “Probably where they can be together without any direct adult supervision,” Sister Ruth said.

  “Joseph knows all of the good hiding spots on this property. Miz Lizbeth frequently invites him out here.”

  “Do you have any reservations about Catherine and your son being so close?” Sister Ruth asked.

  Allison shook her head. “I’ll give you two responses. If you mean any racial reservations, no, definitely not. If you mean am I worried about any sexual consequences, I have every reason to believe your granddaughter exercises great control over my sometimes impetuous son. I couldn’t be happier the two of them like each other so much. What about you?”

  “We feel the same.”

  “You, like so many single mothers, have raised a fine young man,” Big Al said. “We love him.”

  “You’ll have some help during these teenage years,” Sister Ruth said pointing to Eric.

  Allison smiled but did not comment.

  “Shall we go out to the deck and enjoy the late afternoon breeze?” Eric asked. The others followed his lead.

  “Look, Joseph and Cathy are fishing in the lake. I might have known,” Allison said.

  “Does Joseph catch a lot of fish in the lake?” Big Al asked.

  “He does,” Allison said. “He fishes out here as often as he can.”

  “Do you clean the fish he catches?” Sister Ruth asked.

  “Miz Lizbeth makes him throw what he catches back into the lake. She says she’ll let him keep any trophy-sized fish he can land. So far, no trophies to hang on his bedroom wall, despite his persistence.”

  “Is Joseph allowed to fish from a boat?” Sister Ruth asked. “I wouldn’t like for Catherine to be out on the water alone with him.”

  “Ruth,” Big Al said, “you know Catherine swims very well.”

  “Miz Lizbeth,” Allison said, “absolutely prohibits Joseph from going out on the water without an adult present. He understands the rules and will obey them, if he wants to keep fishing in the lake.” She smiled. “Even so, I’ll caution him about the matter, telling him to stay on shore, with or without Cathy.”

  Bishop Lyon and Reverend Wright, both holding drinks, joined the group. “Good to see all of you,” the district superintendent said. “I hope you’re well.”

  “Extraordinarily so,” Big Al answered.

  “We haven’t met, Ms. Stevens,” Bishop Lyon extended his hand.

  Allison shook hands with the bishop. “A pleasure to meet you, Bishop.” She offered her hand to Reverend Wright. “I know you are Eric’s district superintendent, and I’m also pleased to meet you.”

  “We probably need a loose definition of ‘supervision’ in relation to Eric. Have you undertaken the task of taming him?”

  “I want Eric to be a little wild and not boring,” she said.

  The district superintendent laughed heartily. “He came close to stepping onto the wild side this afte
rnoon. Thankfully, he remained on the reservation, even if at the border.”

  “Eric struck exactly the right notes this afternoon,” the bishop said. “I particularly liked the way he used relationship rather than union or marriage in the ceremony.”

  “Thanks,” Eric said.

  “Do you expect any blowback from your congregation?”

  “Some congregants will be unhappy. They may be the noisemakers.”

  “Did you ask your SPRC to approve your conducting the service?” Bishop Lyon asked.

  “I’ll bet he didn’t,” Reverend Wright interjected. “He prefers the approach of asking forgiveness after the fact to seeking permission before the fact.” Reverend Wright turned to Big Al. “Reverend Eric did consult with me and I gave him the requisite bureaucratic cover.”

  “Eric, if the repercussions escalate, Paul and I have your back, so to speak. We support what you did and the way you did it,” the bishop said.

  “Thanks for your support today and for your future support,” Eric said. “I hope the two of you won’t face any problems resulting from your presence at the ceremony.”

  “Some controversy might be a good way to further the discussion on homosexuality,” the bishop said. “We assigned Eric the task of bringing Aldersgate fully into the twenty-first century.” The bishop spoke directly to Big Al. “Our job will be to do the same with the larger church.”

  Eric saw Big Al’s increasing discomfort with the direction and tenor of the conversation. “My glass is empty, as is yours, Allison. Why don’t we all go back into Miz Lizbeth’s great room for refills and greet some of the other guests?”

  The bishop gave what Eric interpreted as a smile of approval. “Well said. All this theological talk makes me thirsty.” He looked toward the pond. “Who are those two young people catching fish and throwing them back in the water?”