Comfort and Affliction

by Michael Frosolono

  “Trouble?”

  “Not for me.” Eric took a cup of coffee into his office and began to sort through his email and telephone messages. He had deleted most of the messages when Mary came to the office door.

  “Reverend Jameson, Mr. Taliaferro and Mr. Thomas to see you.”

  “Show them into my inner sanctum.” He rose to greet the two men. “Good to see you again on this happy morning. Coffee?”

  “No, thank you,” Taliaferro said. “We emptied the pot at my house before we left.”

  Eric indicated Taliaferro and Thomas should take seats. “You have something on your minds other than what we discussed the other night at Miz Lizbeth’s?”

  “Charles and I wish to be married,” Taliaferro said.

  “We love each other,” Charles said, “so to hell with the consequences.”

  “Charles,” Eric asked, “what about the political consequences?”

  “We’re effectively out of the closet after Wednesday’s session in court,” Charles said. “Better to go public while we can control release of the information. Besides, I’ve got another year before the next election. If the House wants to remove me as Speaker, I’ll feel no compunction against revealing what I know about most of the members, things they don’t want made public.”

  “How can I help?” Eric asked.

  “Marry us—officiate at our wedding,” Taliaferro said.

  “It would be my pleasure, despite the problems involved.”

  “What problems do you foresee?” Charles asked.

  “First of all, Charles, as you of all people surely must know, the State of Georgia prohibits marriage between homosexuals of either gender. Secondly, the United Methodist Church does not allow its ministers to conduct ceremonies for such unions.”

  “What’s your position?” Taliaferro asked, with a grin on his face.

  “I figure we can do an end run, dazzle the authorities with a little fancy footwork.”

  “How so?” Taliaferro asked.

  “I need to check out a couple of things with my district superintendent. If he agrees, I’ll officiate at what we’ll call your commitment ceremony somewhere other than at this church and without my ministerial accouterments. Would this tactic work for you?”

  “Better than prolonging the current situation,” Taliaferro said.

  “Charles says he’s willing to deal with the political repercussions for him when you two go public. What about you, Raymond?” Eric asked Taliaferro.

  “I make money, a lot of money, for people in this town and county. If any of my clients want to give up the financial benefits I provide over an idiotic principle, so be it. I won’t lose any sleep over the prospect.” Taliaferro looked at Charles. “Anyway, we’ve got a lot stashed away, our own money invested, so we don’t need any clients.”

  “Nothing like financial independence,” Eric said.

  “Let me know if you need any investment advice.”

  “Thanks for the offer.” Eric saw no need to reveal any details about his own financial independence, derived from his family’s legacy and his own investments.

  Eric called his district superintendent, who answered on the third ring. “Paul Wright here, Reverend Jameson.”

  “Caller ID or prescience on your part?”

  “Modern technology for the identification. My prescience leads me to wonder: Have you stirred up trouble at Aldersgate and need pastoral counseling?”

  “About to increase the intensity of affliction for some of the comfortable. I’d like to alert you to a couple of issues.”

  “You want to talk now?”

  “If you’re free this afternoon, I can drive to Athens. I’d rather we talk face to face.”

  “Sounds serious.”

  “Could be.”

  “Come on over to Athens. Can you be here at two?”

  “I’ll be there. Thanks.”

  After the exchange of greetings and other pleasantries, Reverend Wright asked, “What’s on your mind, Eric? Hope you’re not having too much trouble at Aldersgate.”

  “Nothing I can’t handle.”

  “Good. What brings you here?”

  “A request for some advice and consent.”

  “Before hearing what’s on your mind, I’d like some information.”

  “Ask away.”

  “Is Ms. Allison Stevens, the lawyer who prevailed in court the other day in Alexander County, one of your congregants? The Athens Banner-Herald printed a big article about the trial in the local news section.”

  “Yes! Allison and her teenage son are members at Aldersgate. She represented the plaintiff, Raymond Taliaferro, who also is a member of Aldersgate. Ralph Whitfield, the defendant, left the congregation soon after I arrived.”

  “I’m not at all surprised about Mr. Whitfield’s leaving Aldersgate. The outcome of the trial indicates Alexander County may very well be coming into the modern age.”

  “I expect a lot of rear-guard fighting.”

  Wright rubbed the neat beard on his chin. “The paper indicated Mr. Taliaferro’s homosexuality became public in the trial, although I fail to see any relevance whatsoever to the legal proceedings. Did you know about Mr. Taliaferro’s sexual orientation?”

  “I did, which is my segue into the reason why I’m here.”

  “Pray tell.”

  “Mr. Taliaferro and his partner approached me this morning to see if I would perform a public commitment ceremony for them.”

  “Who’s his partner?”

  “Charles Thomas.”

  “My God in heaven! You surely don’t mean the Speaker of the Georgia House of Representatives?”

  “The one and the same.”

  “The contretemps about to descend upon our fair state boggles my mind.”

  “I’ll clean up one of our Army sayings to describe the situation: Gobs of fecal matter will soon hit the fan.”

  “What did you tell Mr. Taliaferro and the Speaker?”

  “First, I couldn’t legally marry them under Georgia law and the current rules of our church.”

  “And?”

  “I said I would perform a public commitment ceremony outside of Aldersgate.”

  “Where?”

  “The gazebo on the downtown square in Vickery would be a good place, open to the public.”

  “Go on.”

  “I won’t wear my clerical garbs, and won’t refer in any manner to the United Methodist Church.”

  “Even so, I suspect you have memorized the section in our Book of Discipline relevant to our clergy participating in such unions.”

  Eric repeated Item 6 in the section concerning Unauthorized Conduct for United Methodist Clergy. Ceremonies that celebrate homosexual unions shall not be conducted by our ministers and shall not be conducted in our churches.

  “How do you propose getting around the first part of that onerous prohibition?”

  “You could withdraw my certification as a United Methodist minister and then reinstate me after I perform the ceremony.”

  “An unnecessary tactic.”

  “I infer you don’t agree with the prohibition?”

  “Eric, I will not decertify and then recertify you.” When Eric did not immediately reply, Wright slapped his knees and gave a great whoop of exhilaration. “Well, Eric, you go ahead as you’ve outlined, keeping your ministerial certifications. Some of us don’t approve of the current Georgia law and the present Book of Discipline on homosexual marriage, unions, or whatever.”

  “How would Bishop Lyon react?”

  “Oh, we’ll be on the same page.”

  “Would you come to the commitment ceremony?”

  “I wouldn’t miss it. Maybe Jacob will come with me, both of us in an ex officio capacity.”

  “If you prefer, I’ll ask the editor of the local newspaper to not mention you and the bishop in any news story she might write.”

  “Ms. Joan Mitchell?”

  “She’s the one.”

  “Don’t ask
for any favors. If Jacob and I attend, it’s open season with nothing to hide. If the theological and legal fecal matter starts flying, we’ll use the occasion to further the discussion on homosexually in the direction we long ago should have moved.”

  “So I should soldier on?”

  “Exactly as you’ve outlined. You realize the potential cost to you?”

  “I have a great lawyer and two superb allies.”

  “And you’ve never run from a fight, have you?”

  “When possible, I prefer to pick the battleground.”

  “What about your congregation? How will they react?”

  “Some favorably, a few with outrage, most with indifference.”

  “Do it, and let’s see what happens.”

  “Yes, sir. Thanks.”

  “No, Eric, thank you for your courage and sensitivity. What a grand way to comfort and afflict.”

  The bailiff and Judge Prentice entered the courtroom at five o’clock in the afternoon. Ralph Whitfield and Dean Scott sat at the same table they occupied during the trial. Joan Mitchell watched from the front row. Several members of the Whitfield family and a few of his friends filled the benches behind Joan.

  The bailiff announced the judge and when the resultant noise in the courtroom subsided, Prentice asked sternly, “Counselor Scott, I believe your client has something to tell this court?”

  “He does, Your Honor.”

  “Let’s hear what he has to say.”

  “My client, Your Honor, expresses tremendous regret for—”

  “Mr. Scott, I have little interest in what you might have to say, unless you also want to apologize for your behavior in court yesterday.”

  “I’m sorry if I offended this honorable court.”

  “Well and good. Now, I want to hear directly from your client, and nothing more from you unless he gets out of line.”

  “Yes, Your Honor.” Scott sat down beside Whitfield.

  “Mr. Whitfield,” the judge said, “stand and deliver what you have to say, and it had better be good.”

  Whitfield rose to his feet, obviously struggling to keep his emotions under control. “Your Honor, I sincerely apologize for my behavior yesterday and for any unintended insults against Your Honor and this court.” Whitfield sat.

  “Remain standing.” Once Whitfield stood again, the judge asked, “Does your apology also apply to Counselor Stevens?”

  Whitfield clinched his jaws. “Yes, Your Honor.”

  “Are you sincerely sorry for your behavior or simply attempting to get out of jail?”

  “I’m sincerely sorry, Your Honor. My emotions got the best of me and I lost my good judgment. I didn’t want to lose my family property again. I ask for your forgiveness.”

  “Mr. Whitfield, I’ll let you out of jail tomorrow morning. Your fine remains in place. More importantly, I cannot absolve you of any criminal acts the GBI and district attorney may bring against you. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Your Honor.”

  “I advise you to watch what you say. Do not give this court a reason to incarcerate you again. Do you understand?”

  “I do, Your Honor.”

  “Your apology, insincere as it may be, forms part of the official record of this court.” Judge Prentice looked at Joan, furiously taking notes. “I expect the public will soon be fully informed about the proceedings today.”

  “I understand, Your Honor.”

  “Bailiff, escort this man back to the county jail. He may be released at ten o’clock tomorrow morning, if he has paid his fine and keeps off my radar.”

  Scott jumped up. “Your Honor, I have a certified check for ten thousand dollars to pay Mr. Whitfield’s fine.”

  “Give the check to the clerk of court.” Prentice glared at Whitfield. “Court adjourned.”

  “How was your meeting with the district superintendent?” Allison asked Eric as they enjoyed a late afternoon cocktail at the parsonage, Wild Turkey for him and Beefeater gin and tonic for her.

  “The meeting went well.”

  “Better than you expected?”

  “Yes. The district superintendent indicated he and Bishop Lyon may attend the Taliaferro-Thomas commitment ceremony. They won’t take an explicit part in the process.”

  “Aren’t the three of you pushing Methodist discipline pretty far beyond its present limits?”

  “I suppose the fundamentalists and conservatives could cry foul.”

  “The prospect doesn’t bother you at all, does it?”

  “We need to have a full, free, frank, and open discussion about homosexuality and how we should treat our gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender brothers and sisters with Christ’s compassion and with his true justice.”

  “You do love a good fight. Think you’ll win this one?”

  “We might lose a few more battles.” Eric made the Churchill victory sign with the forefinger and little finger of his right hand. “Ultimate victory will come.”

  CHAPTER 22

  Sunday, 21 September

  John Carlyle came to the front of the chancel after finishing the responsive reading. “Reverend Jameson requested the choir perform Hymn 548, “In Christ There is No East or West”, as our special music for today. The choir asks the congregation to join with us in singing verses three and four.” He gave a soft chuckle. “The choir will end the performance with a special Amen.” He started to turn away, then reversed himself. “If you are willing and able, please join hands with your neighbors as we sing verses three and four.”

  The choir proceeded through verses one and two; the congregation joined the choir as directed with verse three:

  In Christ is neither Jew nor Greek, and

  neither slave nor free; both male and female

  heirs are made, and all are kin to me.

  In Christ now meet both east and west, in

  him meet south and north; all Christly souls are

  one in him throughout the whole wide earth.

  Many of the congregants in the nearly filled pews held hands with their neighbors. Some people reached from pew to pew and across the central aisle. Attendance at the morning services had increased steadily with Eric’s tenure. I wonder, he thought to himself, if we’ll have more or fewer people in the pews next Sunday?

  Jackson Williams stepped to the small pulpit as the congregation finished singing. “Our Scripture for today comes from the Third Chapter of Galatians, verses twenty-six through twenty-nine:

  ‘Now before faith came, we were imprisoned and guarded under the Law until faith would be revealed. Therefore the Law was our disciplinarian until Christ came, so that we might be justified by faith. But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to the promise.’”

  Jackson left the pulpit to sit beside Miz Lizbeth. Eric rose to deliver the sermon. “As I’ve said before, being a minister often involves two major functions, comforting the afflicted and afflicting the comfortable. I’m not here to afflict anyone today, although some of you may be uncomfortable with this sermon. Such discomfort often arises because of a profound misunderstanding about what Holy Scripture actually says concerning the subject of this sermon.

  “Today’s bulletin gives the sermon title as Welcoming Brothers and Sisters into the Community of Believers. A more pertinent sermon title is Welcoming Homosexuals into the Community of Believers.”

  A stir of unease swept through the sanctuary. George Hannover glared at Eric. Raymond Taliaferro and Charles Thomas, seated on the second row, smiled at each other.

  “Recent events in our church life, especially the unfortunate appearance of Biblical ignoramuses at the services we held for Mas
ter Sergeant Phillip Rollins and also the events in court last week involving some of our brothers and sisters, compel me to speak out on this issue.

  “I will not delve into a scientific discussion of homosexuality, its causes or a misleading Biblical rationale for treatment of what most psychiatrists consider a normal variation in human sexuality. My justification for welcoming homosexuals into our fellowship rests upon more straightforward Biblical principles. I will preach the Bible today, while keeping in mind how our consideration of Holy Scripture requires application of the great gifts of intelligence and love that God bestowed upon us.

  “Much of the unfortunate Christian hostility against homosexuals arises from a mistaken view of Biblical inerrancy. As typically postulated, Biblical inerrancy means Holy Scripture exists without any error whatsoever—theological, historical, or scientific. Obviously, in view of our current understanding of science, we must be extraordinarily careful when invoking Biblical inerrancy to explain all human knowledge and its application.

  “I am well aware of Leviticus 20:13, which provides a false justification for condemnation of homosexuality: If a man lies with a male as with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination; they shall be put to death; their blood is upon them. For some Biblical scholars and other discerning individuals, the Levitical prohibitions against homosexuality represent a Holiness Code originally pertaining only to the priestly class. Other equally astute scholars and individuals fervently believe these Levitical admonitions apply to all Jews as well as to all Gentiles.

  “This debate continues and likely will not be settled to everyone’s satisfaction in the near future. We can, however, rationally circumvent this controversy of narrow versus general restrictions on homosexuality by delving deeper into Leviticus and other books of the Bible appearing to condemn homosexuality. These same books also contain prohibitions and extreme, even deadly, sanctions against behaviors we now consider either acceptable, deserving of only mild punishment, or downright silly: disobedience in children, Sunday work, wives wearing coats made with cloth from two different types of threads, farmers planting more than one type of crop in a single field, women attending church services with uncovered heads, women speaking out or taking leadership roles in church, interracial marriage, birth control, discussing or naming a sexual organ, seeing our parents naked, and treatment of women as anything but property.”