Purposed

Created on Monday, 02 February 2009 00:00

Written by Rev. Denise Cordova

This past weekend, we watched the Lifetime Movie “Prayers for Bobby.” Beyond all of the tears and gut-wrenching heartache that we experienced while watching this true story, something motivational happened. Through the religious distortion and emotional thrashing revealed in the movie, a seed took root.

I am purposed. It’s not that I wasn’t aware of the destruction that has occurred in the wake of biblical misinterpretation. It’s not that I haven’t heard the “call” of injustice in this world. I think I became a bit complacent.

It’s easy to become complacent when your life is comfortable and you don’t overtly experience day to day injustice. It’s easy to become complacent when familial battles have subsided and acceptance is victorious. Complacency happens when we fail to look beyond ourselves and/or become convinced that there is nothing more we can do beyond what we are already doing.

After the movie, my complacency got knocked on its rear and I am purposed. It needed to happen. There have been times when I have silently wondered whether or not I’m the right person to lead a ministry like Light of the Soul UCC in this community. After all, there are other open and affirming ministries in the area being lead by more prominent and heterosexual people. History confirms the rarity of an openly queer person leading a mainline Christian church; much less leading a Christian church to mega status.

Don’t misunderstand, my objective has never been to Pastor a mega church, but contemplation of a lifetime of bi-vocationalism is sometimes overwhelming. My objective has always been preach the “good news” to the disenfranchised, but lately I’ve been wondering if the disenfranchised are hearing us.

After the movie, I heard the words of Mordecai to Esther (Esther 4:14b) “…Who knows? Maybe you were made [queer] for just such a time as this." Then I realized, it is me who is not hearing the disenfranchised through the thick complacent wax in my ears. The movie purposed me. Maybe it’s a better description to say I was “re-purposed.” Either way, as long as there is one person on earth who still believes that they are condemned because of their orientation, I am purposed.