A year and a half ago we reported that Jay Bakker, the son of Jim and Tammy Faye, had been deleted from the speaker schedule at the 2005 Exodus Freedom Conference. The reasons for the cancellation may have something to do with an interview he gave to gay new source QNotes about the conference in which he says:
“I think what the church has done to the gay community is horrible and wrong,” he said with a start. “My family went through so much hurt and rejection from the church. I wanna’ go back and show them how hurtful they’ve been.
“There will be people there because they don’t think God wants them to be gay. And then there are others who think this is their last chance. I don’t want them to think this is their last chance. God’s going to love them no matter if they’re straight or gay.
“I would never tell anyone that they have to change their sexual orientation or they’re going to hell. I just want to tell them that God loves them. I know I serve a loving and compassionate God — but I don’t think the gay community has been shown that.”
That view of God’s grace does not mesh well with Exodus’ “truth in love” that identifying as gay is sinful. But though Jay was dumped, Exodus did keep Jerry Falwell.
Jay Bakker has a new church he has started, called Revolution, which meets in a bar and ministers to the tattooed and pierced segment of the population. The Sundance Channel is running a new reality show documenting Jay and his church called One Punk Under God.
I got a chance to see the first episode and, well, it really wasn’t compelling reality television. For one thing, Jay seems nice rather than edgy and it looks like no one is going to get drunk and fight or throw anyone else off the island.
But it did document a sincere and devout man who was deeply hurt by the trauma of his childhood and who now wants to bring God’s grace to those who have been rejected by religion. (I especially liked that his notebook he uses when on speaking engagement is adorned with one of his church’s stickers that says “Equal Rights is a Moral Issue”). One can’t help but think that Jesus would have been more comfortable in Jay’s church than he would in Jerry Falwell’s.
Next Wednesday, Jay will be facing the consequences of what happens when a young struggling Christian preacher decides that he is called to support and defend gay Christians (previews suggest it isn’t pleasant). I plan on tuning in to see if Jay discusses Exodus and his removal from their roster.
One can’t help but think that Jesus would have been more comfortable in Jay’s church than he would in Jerry Falwell’s.
Amen to that.
Good on him! I’d visit his church if it were in my city!
I went to a special event in a church that featured his mother and her good friend (singer songwriter) Dotty Rambo.
Jay Bakker is being VERY brave, and I grieve with him that his mother is dying. I met her, and I had with me one of a lot of teenagers who are a big part of my life. Up close and personal with her, and her husband-was a revelation.
Jay looks to be deeply sincere and I know he gets that from his mother.
I know what it feels like to be an openly out supporter of gay and trans folks…and I get what is the equivalent of ‘nigger lover’ had to be during the civil rights era.
And trust me, there’s a lot of homophobic black folks who hate my guts. So in that I feel for this young brotha’
I admire what he’s doing, the church the even I went to took place in, catered also to a seriously mixed congregation. A lot of the pierced and tatooed were in attendance there too.
I’m glad to see this generation of Bakke doing good and committed work.
He learning the Jesus way, and he’s following it. Does it matter if you walk that path with Doc Martens or barefoot…it’s just that you’re walking it at all?
Regan said “there’s a lot of homophobic black folks who hate my guts.”.
Regan, I never thought of that before, but now that you mention it its obvious to me that this would happen. I’m so sorry to hear this and so honoured that despite this you stand up for us anyway. Knowing this makes your advocacy of equality so much more precious to me. I can never thank you enough for your dedication and help to LGBTs.
my son will send me DVDs of the Sundance programs since i can’t get Sundance. i am looking forward to it. keep up the good work.