Why Des is marching

I have been a member of the Uniting Church (previously Methodist) all my life (43 years), and yet because of the silence in the church did not "come out" until I was 28 years old. I believe that this has left me with a lot of emotional scars, and has had a big impact on my spirituality. After great struggle I came to accept myself, and God's unconditional acceptance of me, which has given me a sharpened vision of the love and grace of God.

I am marching primarily because I think that the church has to stand alongside gay men and lesbians and proclaim their lives as "Gods good gift". To value Gay man and lesbians (and infact all marginalised minority groups of society) the church has to stop its judgemental and discriminatory action, and learn to celebrate life and God's freedom.

I believe that I am part of the body of Christ, and therefore by marching with other Christians ( both Gay and Straight) I am communicating that the Uniting Church is inclusive and seeks to celebrate and value diversity. We will be upholding (or even proclaiming) the 1987 Uniting Church National Assembly decision that Sexual orientation is not a barrier to membership of the Uniting Church.

Unfortunately, Sexual orientation is a barrier to full participation in the life of the church because of the church's indecision about ordination of Gay/Lesbian Clergy, and unwillingness to bless Gay and Lesbian relationships. There remains discrimination in the church, so I also think that marching in the Mardi Gras will communicate to some conservative, ignorant and prejudiced members of the church that there are Uniting church people who are willing to stand up and be counted, and to demonstrate their solidarity with Gay and Lesbian people.

I am angry with the slow pace of change in the church - we have been debating the ordination issues for 16 years in the UCA and for many years in the constituent churches, and I feel that, there has been little willingness to engage in dialogue with Gay men and Lesbians, from many parts of the church, and especially from the evangelical or conservative parts of the church. The more flexible church members have tended to remain silent on the issues for fear of conflict, or maybe even loosing their jobs, but this is no reason to avoid acting for what is justice.

Des Perry

Friday, 20 February 1998