Non Fluffy Wicca

Transgender Methodist Minister Reappointed - News Story - WRC | Washington:


WASHINGTON -- A transgender United Methodist minister will be reappointed to lead his Baltimore congregation, church officials announced Thursday at a regional convocation.

The Rev. Drew Phoenix was greeted with applause after telling 1,600 members of the church's Baltimore-Washington conference that he had gone through "spiritual transformation" in the past year, since changing his name from Ann Gordon and receiving medical treatment to become a man.

"It is my intention and hope that by sharing my story that we commit ourselves as Christians and as United Methodists to become educated about the complexity of gender," Phoenix said. "Each of us is a beloved child of God -- no exceptions."

Phoenix, 48, has led St. John's United Methodist Church for nearly five years. Bishop John Schol said the church's 50-member congregation was fully supportive. Schol said no objections were raised during a closed-door meeting of the clergy earlier Thursday. The denomination bans actively gay clergy but does not have any rules about transgender pastors.

The conservative Institute on Religion and Democracy issued a statement Tuesday saying the group objects to any acceptance of sexual identity changes. Mark Tooley, director of the group's United Methodist project, said a change in gender identity conflicts with "God's order of creation."

Schol urged church members to pray for Phoenix. "This isn't an issue. This is a human being," Schol said. He encouraged ministers and church members attending the annual conference through Saturday to discuss the decisions of church leaders with their congregations. "Many people would say let's just sweep it under the carpet, but in this conference, we're a people of integrity," Schol said.

St. John's, a church that describes itself as diverse and inclusive, was about to close its doors when Phoenix arrived, and has more than tripled its membership since, Schol said.Although the denomination does not have a transgender policy, a minister from Baltimore quit the church after a sex change in 2002. Phoenix said he does not fear being forced from the church. But he said not everyone will agree with his service as a pastor. "What's most important to me is that we're creating conversation," Phoenix said.

Posted by mikki at 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I'm going through a period of changing my definitions of self. I have had several medical issues of late that will cause a lot of significant life changes. I have been trying to take all of this in, and process what these changes will mean in practical terms. So please bear with me and I will get back into the swing of things presently.

Posted by mikki at 11:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Italy behind the times:

Italy: Normally a fashion leader, Italy has waited 20 years to come up with it's own version of a familiar Satanic panic. Six people associated with a kindergarten have been arrested in connection with allegations similar to those which swept America a couple of decades ago.

Some victims spoke of esoteric and satanic rituals, where adults forced them to drink human blood, exited from wounds that the same persons caused.




The pupils described the intimate parts of the body of the arrested persons and mentioned also piercing and tattoos, which a child at such a tender age wouldn't know, if he or she has not seen them before.




The little victims described the dreadful scenes saying: In the villa where they took us, a man cut his arm and coerced us to drink his own blood which he poured in a glass, with other substances. Then they made us do a series of strange games, sort of performances with masked adults and massages to female teachers with oil.

The Catholic Church has recently been whipping up hysteria about Satanism in Italy, promoting exorcism, and church representatives have been behind outrageous stories in the press.

Italy rocked by satanic, drug-induced sexual abuse in kindergarten—Malta Star, 26th April 2007.

Posted by mikki at 03:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

nwi.com :: news:


CEDAR LAKE | The parents of a 16-year-old Hanover Central High School freshman say they expect an apology from school officials for sending their daughter home Tuesday for wearing a pagan symbol to celebrate a religious holiday.

Andy Pecenke, of Cedar Lake, said his daughter Sky Holeman has been a practicing pagan for three to four years.

Pecenke said he, his wife, Sharene Pecenke, and Sky are of that religion.

"I've been a member of the Order of Bards, Ovates and Druids for 13 years," Andy Pecenke said, adding that May 1 celebrations are a centuries-old tradition. "It signifies the end of spring. It's one of the lunar holidays," he said.

The pentagram his daughter wore below her eye on her upper cheek is about the size of a quarter, Pecenke said. "They told her it was too distracting," he said.

"They don't send kids home on Ash Wednesday," Pecenke said.

Hanover School Board Vice President Marilyn Kaper said Tuesday she could not comment as "I have no facts about this issue." Kaper said Superintendent Michael Livovich is out of town.

"If I get an apology from the school, I'll be happy," Pecenke said. "It is discrimination and a violation of civil rights. If harassment continues, then I might have to take legal action. I would prefer to not go that route."

In March, an eighth-grader at Hanover Central Middle School was suspended for spidery lines of makeup on her face in keeping with a style she described as "goth" or "emo."

At that time, Hanover Central Middle School Principal Bob McRae declined comment specific to that case, but said the school does have a dress code that prohibits anything distracting or inappropriate.

Posted by mikki at 03:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)