Dear friends,
I am currently in Seoul attending and speaking at a workshop organised by the Asian Women’s Resource Center for Culture and Theology for leaders from Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Philippines, Hong Kong, and Singapore who are serving the lgbtq+ community. I’ll be speaking on Toward a New Ecclesiology for the Full Inclusion of LGBTQ+ Christians in Asia: Kintsugi and The Wounded Healer.
I was surprised to find out how harsh and challenging the situation is for our siblings in Korea who came out as lgbtq+ affirming. Some have been asked to step down from ministry, while others were not allowed to be ordained just because they said they are affirming. They themselves are not even queer, but have paid the high cost of losing their ministries and careers with the churches they belong to, in order to stand in solidarity with the lgbtq+ community. It was heartbreaking to hear their stories and I told them they are not alone and so brave. Please keep me and all the participants in prayer, as we encourage and inspire each other with our stories from all over Asia.
This Sunday, Alvin will be sharing with us how the practice of justice is worship. I appreciate his thoughtful and moving insights, and invite you to come join us as we worship together as one body.
See you on Sunday!
Shalom
Pauline