Curious

Hey all, I’m Brittany.  I’m 24 and I’ve been in New Zealand for a couple of years now.  Currently I’m a youth pastor, and a chaplain over at Massey University with a vested interest in that great controversial topic of faith and sexuality.

I know a lot of people experience a struggle as part of their coming out process that sounds like a little voice saying “God hates me because I’m gay.”  I lucked out and never went through that - I had a questioning time in my faith where I heard the little voice saying “Everyone SAYS God hates you because you’re gay.”  Which is a lot different.

At university I studied World Religions to find out what other faith groups believe or act out regarding LGBTQ people.  I’m still learning.

What I’d like to do through these forums, and through hopefully working with Rainbow Youth, is (at the very least) create a database of gay-friendly churches and faith groups in Auckland.  I am currently in the process of contacting groups and congregations to find out where they stand, as I know even the tearm “gay-friendly” can mean different things to different people.

If you are interested in being your unique LGBTQ etc. self, and still pursuing your individual faith, please express some interest in this forum, and we’ll see where that takes us!

Thanks guys,

Britt Kusserow

Hey there. if you had read ‘the blender that is me’, you’ll notice my spiel on christianity+Homosexulity.  My ex followed a movement called ‘The Church of Grace, Faith and Union’ which was not only a slap in the face when it came to spiritual belief but he followed it so strongly that up until only a few weeks ago I was still following the practices of that faith. we have been seperated now for just over a few months and my philosophy on the Lord remins the same “What is true and good to yourself is what the Lord cares about. He only stops caring when we chose to go against our morals”

Hi!  Thanks for directing me towards your post, I looked through a few the day I signed up to Curious but I had missed that one and it was good to see some other thoughts.  Have you heard of a book called Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood pal?  It’s pretty “irreverent” but your comments about John being gay made me think of it.  It’s a fictitious account of where Jesus might have been (and what he might have been doing) in the “missing years” between 12 and 33.  Told from the point of view of his best friend, “Biff.”  If you’re not easily offended, I highly recommend checking it out.  Funny stuff.

I’m glad that the toxic religion out there has not turned you away from seeking your own spirituality.  I’m pretty liberal in the sense that I think different people look for and gets different things out of different faiths.  What saddens me is when religious people are told they can no longer BE religious for one reason or another, and it’s nice to see people can be stronger than that lie. 

We have the ability to be whoever we want to be, regardless of religion, sexuality, or gender. No I am not offended easily so I may look it up. Currently I’m at a turning point where I don’t know where my life is taking me so my faith i have to put to the side for a bit while i sort all my other stuff out!!