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Vision statement
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Jesus in Love supports lesbian, gay, bi trans and queer (LGBTQ) spirituality, with an emphasis on art and literature. It promotes artistic and religious freedom and teaches love for all people, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. It is based on these beliefs: God loves all people, including sexual minorities. The creative process is sacred. The queer visions, especially the gay Jesus and LGBT saints, will free people to experience the divine in new ways and lead to a more just world.
Jesus in Love was founded by lesbian Christian author Kittredge Cherry as her personal gift to the world.
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Queer religious role models for our time are presented in this month's newsletter. Leading the way is Dietrich Bonhoeffer, an influential 20th-century theologian who loved another man.
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Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Eberhard Bethge: Anti-Nazi theologians and soulmates
Influential German theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a Nazi dissident whom many scholars believe experienced same-sex attraction. Speculation about his likely gay orientation focuses on his love for Eberhard Bethge, who was his best friend, confidant and biographer. The possibility of a gay Bonhoeffer is especially significant because conservatives use him as a role model for government resistance in their opposition to marriage equality. More info
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Pioneering lesbian minister retires
Pioneering lesbian minister Nancy Wilson was honored in July as she retires as moderator of Metropolitan Community Churches.
Jesus in Love publisher Kittredge Cherry worked closely with Nancy from 1991-94 as MCC's ecumenical field director. More info
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St. Wilgefortis: Bearded woman
 St. Wilgefortis prayed to avoid marriage to a pagan king -- and her prayers were answered when she grew a beard! People have honored this virgin martyr since the 14th century, but today some wonder about the queer causes behind her beard. More info
(Credit: St. Wilgefortis sculpture in Prague, Curious Expeditions)
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New LGBTQ Christian books: Aug 2016
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" The Prince's Psalm" (novel about love between Bible's David and Jonathan) by Eric Shaw Quinn
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Holy fool and hermit loved each other
Sixth-century Syrian monks Symeon and John were were joined in a same-sex union and lived together as desert-dwelling hermits for 29 years. After a tearful split-up, Symeon went on to become known as the Holy Fool of Emesa. More info
(Credit: "Symeon and John" by Jim Ru)
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Seneca Falls to Selma to Stonewall:
Four women reformers honored as saints 
A vision of equality that inspired people "through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall" is celebrated as a holy feast day honoring four 19th-century American women reformers. President Obama connected women's liberation, LGBT equality and African American civil rights when he spoke of the truth that guided people "through Seneca Falls, and Selma, and Stonewall." More info(Credit: "Four Women for Freedom" by Tobias Haller) |
Kuan Yin: Queer Buddhist Christ figure
 Kuan Yin, the androgynous spirit of compassion in Buddhism, is sometimes thought of as a queer Christ figure or LGBT role model. Buddhists celebrated the enlightenment of Kuan Yin on July 22 this year.
Writer-scholars Toby Johnson, Hsiao-Lan Hu, Patrick Cheng and others explore how Kuan Yin unites male and female. More info(Credit: "Kwan Yin is Coming" by Stephen Mead) |
Mary and Martha: Sisters or lesbians?
 Mary and Martha of Bethany were two of Jesus' closest friends. The Bible calls them "sisters" who lived together, but reading the Bible with queer eyes raises another possibility. Maybe Mary and Martha were a lesbian couple. They formed a nontraditional family at a time when there was huge pressure for heterosexual marriage. More info(Credit: "Mary and Martha" by Bernardino Luini) |
Saint Boris and George: United in love
 Saint Boris, a popular medieval saint in Russia and Ukraine, loved George the Hungarian. As LGBT people continue to face discrimination in their homeland, may remembering the queer love between Boris and George help bring equality. The feast day of Saint Boris is July 24 -- the same day that same-sex marriage became legal in New York in 2011. More info(Credit: "Saints Boris and George the Hungarian" by Robert Lentz) |
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Gentileschi shows strong Biblical women
 Baroque artist Artemisia Gentileschi inspires people with her paintings of strong Biblical women -- created despite the obstacles that she faced as a woman in 17th-century Italy. Many queer people and our allies can relate to her battles against discrimination and sexual violence. More info
(Credit: "Judith and Her Maidservant" by Artemisia Gentileschi)
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Donate now for Jesus in Love
Please give now to support the Jesus in Love Newsletter and Blog.
Your contributions bring resources to LGBTQ people and allies. Thank you!
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Jesus in Love's LGBT saints series is featured in the LGBT Religious Archives Network's July newsletter. Jesus in Love publisher Kittredge Cherry was consecrated to professional ministry 27 years ago on Aug. 6, 1989. See vintage photos. I close with a quote from theologian Dietrich Bonhoeffer: "God does not love some ideal person, but rather human beings just as we are, not some ideal world, but rather the real world."
Blessings,
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Kittredge Cherry
Publisher, Jesus In Love Newsletter |
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Jendi Reiter's Two Natures is the spiritual coming-of-age story of a NYC fashion photographer during the 1990s AIDS crisis. Toby Johnson, author of Gay Spirituality, calls it "An entertaining novel and a pleasure to read."
Pre-order at: http://bit.ly/JendiReiter
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Under an atheist father he grew up free of prejudices peddled by ancient men. Did his struggle for homosexuals and women parity in the Church cost him his life? The only biography of the 33-Day Pope by an author who knew the man. www.JohnPaul1.org |
Looking for a new way to highlight the interactions of Jesus with women? Trudie Barreras has written a series of dramatic monologues including 'The Woman at the Well Witnesses', 'Rescued by Jesus', 'Martha's Story' and more. For more information, contact tbarreras@bellsouth.net. Photo by Shirley Cooper. |
By Kittredge Cherry
with art by Douglas Blanchard
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TrinityStores.comInnovative religious art Cards, plaques, T-shirts, mugs, candles, and framed prints Save 10% on products associated with any feast day this month.
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Santos Queer presenta en las fechas adecuadas durante todo el a�o tanto santas y santos como m�rtires, h�roes, heroinas y personas consagradas de especial inter�s para las personas lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y transexuales (LGBT) y sus aliados.
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By Kittredge Cherry
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