Gay Christians Find Their Own Place of Worship

[uledy.livejournal.com]

Struggling for acceptance, gay Christians find their own place of worship

SEOUL, Aug. 13 (Yonhap) -- On Sunday evenings, the Rev. Daniel Payne begins his sermon beneath the glint of a disco ball. Standing before a small congregation on love seats and bar stools, he talks about piety, prayer and prejudice -- a topic his flock is all too familiar with.

They are members of the Open Doors Community Church, a congregation of mostly gay and lesbian-identified Christians who reject the notion that their sexuality conflicts with their faith. Unwelcome at more traditional houses of worship, the church has taken up space in the Moonlight Tavern in the back alleys of Itaewon, a district of Seoul known as a centerpiece of the foreign community.

"I want to give thanks for bringing this group together," says Payne, clad in khaki shorts and a shirt with a clerical collar. "It's great that we can have such an open community of people who can just come as they are and just love, and know that God loves them, too." It's a scene of odd juxtapositions.

Some tattooed and pierced, some in button-ups and ties, the group is a mix of expats and native Koreans. Against a backdrop of black-lit vodka bottles and martini-glass chandeliers, they recite traditional prayers, sing modern Christian-rock anthems and participate in group discussions about the challenges of living a Christ-like life.

Though they have finally found a home in Itaewon, it hasn't been easy for the group to find a permanent place of worship.




Rev. Daniel Payne (All photos courtesy of Curtis File)

"We've received negative feedback from the beginning," says Pascal, an Australian teacher who's been with the church since it first formed in November 2011. "A lot of the churches think we are a gay-conversion group, but once they find out what we really do, it starts to cause trouble."

According to Pascal, the group initially began holding services in a traditional church. When the directors discovered the group was accepting of homosexuality, not trying to cure it, the lead priest asked them to leave, fearing his job would be on the line. They've also been largely ignored by the rest of the international church community in Seoul.

All three times Payne has attempted to join the Association of International Ministries of Korea (AIM), he says, his requests were either ignored or rejected with vague promises of a review process that never eventuated.

"Mostly it's been biblical responses that are used to justify our exclusion," he says. "They'll quote the bible to me and tell me why accepting homosexuality is wrong, and I'll show them the verses that say otherwise. Sometimes we don't get an answer at all."

Despite several e-mails and phone calls, the organization's spokesperson, David Hwang, could not be reached for comment. A former AIM member, Pastor Bill Moyers, echoed the responses Payne said he has received.

"AIM is an organization of biblical ministries that follows a biblical way of teaching and life," he said. "It's my understanding that, with the information we've been given, Open Doors doesn't fit that criteria."

The struggle the congregation has faced trying to be accepted in the country's church community are nothing compared to the personal struggles of some members.

"I remember feeling different and hating Korea when I figured that I was looking more at the players than the ball during soccer matches," says Lee, Payne's Korean partner who asked that his firstname be withheld. "Being brought up under conservative Christians and scholars made me learn very quickly how to put on a different persona and cope with it without it being suspected that I'm gay."

Lee was only outed to his parents after they listened to voice recordings he had made in his middle school years and says that was a mistake he regrets.


Thousands of people, both Koreans and expats, took part in a parade during the Queer Culture Festival in Seoul in June in a march of solidarity.

"I didn't want them to know that I was gay when I wasn't at peace with myself," he says. "It was a struggle. My life has been deeply influenced by Confucianism, and I have never dared to create havoc as a Korean."

Despite living with Payne, he says his parents either don't know, or choose not to acknowledge the relationship. Other members voice their concerns about living in a conservative society, even temporarily.

"You get asked a lot if you're married or if you have a girlfriend," says Pascal. "Relationships are important here. I just wear my wedding ring and when people ask I tell them it's complicated.'"

Public opinion in Korea is at least showing some signs of change. This year marked the sixth anniversary of the Queer Culture Festival held in central Seoul.

Thousands of Koreans and expats, young and old, flooded the downtown area in a march of solidarity. Similar in tone to other Pride Festivals around the world, floats sponsored by local clubs and sports drinks featured dancers and cross-dressers, while a flock of people holding colorful signs marched behind them.

Rows of booths promoting safe sex, gender awareness and community spirit lined the Cheongye stream in central Seoul where a post-parade concert was held. Such opportunities allow Open Doors to spread its message to a wider audience.

"We've got to go out and be a church," says Payne. "It's not about where we worship -- it's about showing love and behaving like Christ. I pray that everyone can find that strength."


Source: Yonhap

Comments

[pikapika217.livejournal.com]

Bless

[sks2k5.livejournal.com]

As a gay Korean-American(-Canadian) Christian, I find this very interesting...hmm.

I will say that during my visit to Korea last month, basically everyone said that I needed to get a girlfriend ASAP. -_-

[turdferguson.livejournal.com]

this is really awesome that there are inclusive churches out there. a lot of lgbt youth who still want to remain faithful to their religion face a lot of identity issues that may lead to a form of crisis. i remember reading a lot of psychology journal/scholarly journal articles especially from this one guy, i think his name is mark yardhouse, who maintains that sexuality should never be the main focus of identity formation and that since youth are malleable they can pray the gay away, essentially. also since our souls and bodies are on loan from god, they have to put christ first. lawl it sounds insane to nonbelievers but this is one of the main tenets of christianity or catholicism. obvs i don't agree, i think churches should actually be at the forefront of acceptance of the lgbt community since religion is a huge influence in our culture. that's gonna take 5ever though with their track record -_-

tldr i know

[julietislimited.livejournal.com]

oh god this just made me cry.
so many feelings ♥

[deerlike.livejournal.com]

On Sunday evenings, the Rev. Daniel Payne begins his sermon beneath the glint of a disco ball.

Has there ever been a more perfect opening line to an article? Thanks for posting, op, it was definitely a worthwhile read.

[oonalala.livejournal.com]

Seeing as how Jesus spent his days ministering to social outcasts in fields and homes (not temples), a bar room congregation of people shunned for their sexuality sounds pretty Christian to me.

I think Jesus would approve!

[aeries-amethyst.livejournal.com]

IAWTC (Y) <3

[kaorutenshi.livejournal.com]

perfect comment

[the-erotomanic.livejournal.com]

rev. daniel payne is posing with a condom mascot, right?

[woohyun.livejournal.com]

omg you're right! LOL

[the-erotomanic.livejournal.com]

thanks for confirming. ^_^

[the-erotomanic.livejournal.com]

yeah, it's a great a condom mascot.

how'd you meet him? is he australian?

[the-erotomanic.livejournal.com]

oh cool! i wonder if he's been to the philippines.

[mjspice.livejournal.com]

Oh cool! :D

[xrninja.livejournal.com]

Sounds wonderful -- hopefully this is a sign of slow but sure change in Korea. Dealing with coming out/living as a gay Asian (-American in my case) is painful and difficult enough as it is. Trying to maintain a relationship with God while not having an accepting and open-minded church community makes it so much harder.

[swhyeon1991.livejournal.com]

I was looking more at the players than the ball during soccer matches

Umm pretty much every time I watch any kind of sports tbh lolol

[atelierlune.livejournal.com]

God bless, Reverend Payne.

[shinobu-k.livejournal.com]

This post is heart-warming and gives hope to a lot of people, I think it's great they're doing something so they can get a better future. Even if they can help only one person, it'd be worth the effort.

[45s.livejournal.com]

this is really awesome. also a huge fuck you to that guy who said 'there are no homosexuals in korea"

[asnindie.livejournal.com]

The man is really courageous and I really hope Korean society can come to accept homosexuality.

[10135.livejournal.com]

"[...]it's about showing love and behaving like Christ. I pray that everyone can find that strength." bless him and everyone sending this message out there!

[kokkikokki.livejournal.com]

this was a good read. inspiring. thanks op.
and also, more power! <3

[shineebambi.livejournal.com]

That man is amazing for starting that church and giving these people a place to worship free of judgments they don't deserve

[rennehollic.livejournal.com]

If all priests were like this, I believe we would be living in a wonderful place. (I know some that are seriously idiots!)